Jeep Wrangler Has an EV Sister: The 2026 Jeep Recon Delivers 650 HP and Trail-Rated Talents
Jeep is adding a stylish, mid-sized, all-electric SUV, poised to pave the way for EV off-roaders. Here's what we learned about the upcoming Jeep Recon.
My daughter and her friends call anyone who attempts to dampen their good time a “fun sponge,” sopping all the joy out of a situation. While I’m a mom of older kids now, I still can’t help but feel like a bit of a fun sponge. And let’s face it, for some of us, as we have lived life, we’ve become a bit more cautious, a little more set in our ways; it might even feel like a rut. The Jeep Recon is designed to help you snap out of it.
As I got a sneak peek of the 2026 Jeep Recon, I wondered if this cool new off-roader could help me be a little less of a fun sponge. Starting at $65,000, there are some big expectations to live up to.
The Jeep Recon was announced in 2022, but we didn’t learn much else about it. Until this week, anyway. The new Recon is all-electric, yes. The doors come off, yes, and the rear windows do, too. The Recon, though it looks small in photos, is a little bigger than the 4-door Wrangler. The Jeep Recon looks and feels like a kick-ass, bona fide Jeep. I’d bet it’s as fun as it looks.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
The Jeep Recon is Part of the Company’s Growing EV Lineup of Adventure-Ready SUVs
Jeep’s been the king of off-roading for a long time, but what Jeep is doing with the Recon today is allowing off-road aficionados the ability to go out into the wild almost silently. Sort of like the Wagoneer S, but with more adventure infused. Powered exclusively by two electric motors that deliver a crazy 650 HP, the Recon goes from zero to sixty miles per hour in 3.6 seconds, and it produces 620 pound-feet of torque for a zippy ride on the road. Perfect for both highway hauling and slow rock crawling. Because remember, EVs have 100% at 0 mph, so this thing will crawl without breaking a sweat.
And of course, the Recon will be able to go off-road, because Jeep has given the Recon its Trail Rated designation. That means the Recon has passed multiple off-road tests and can handle varied terrain. And unlike its Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe plug-in hybrid cousin, it will have a lot more electric range to do so.
About 250 Miles of Range Will Get You to the Mountains and Back
Of course, range anxiety is the king of most EV-related stress, and a big talking point for anti-EV fun sponges. What kind of range are we talking about? The Recon gets up to 250 miles of range, and the Moab trim I got a look at gets 230. The Recon uses an off-road app called Trails Offroad, which provides trail locations and ratings. Jeep also employs Dynamic Range Mapping so owners can plan trips and “know when and where to charge.” The Recon can tow up to 3,300 pounds when properly equipped, but know that doing so will affect your range. However, Jeep announced today that they’re partnering with Tesla so their customers use an NACS adapter at Supercharger networks across the nation.
And when you’re out on the road, Jeep’s traction management system, called Selec-Terrain, gives you multiple drive modes to use. The standard options are Auto, Sport, Snow, and Sand. There is a toggle switch in the center console to control the modes, so it’s easy to use. The Moab trim also includes Rock mode to the standard drive mode options.
You may be concerned that when you take the doors off, you won’t be able to jam out. Don’t worry—The Jeep Recon’s speakers are mounted under the seats so you won’t miss a beat. The only issue is you’ll have to decide if you want to listen to music or the sounds of nature all around you.
Rock mode will enable the driver to engage in two-pedal driving, but in the event the driver gets into some steep terrain, they can turn on hill-descent control, and the Recon will operate at a set speed so you don’t have to think about anything but steering.
Jeep Says Recon is Ready to Live Up to the Trail Rated Reputation
The Recon does not look like an EV. It has boxy, rugged good looks. The grille has the iconic seven slats that illuminate along with the LED headlights. There are knobby tires, hinges on the exterior of the doors, removable doors, and a spare tire rack on the back, so it doesn’t depart very far visually from the Wrangler design ethos. But it’s definitely its own vehicle. It just looks like it’s ready to whisk you off on an adventure. Just keep some emergency cash on hand.
The ground clearance of the Recon is 9.1 inches, and it is equipped with a skid plate to protect the batteries and underpinnings. You can hit the trails without worrying about messing up the battery pack or the underpinnings of your fun off-roader. The Recon comes equipped with 33-inch tires mounted on 18-inch wheels on the Moab trim, so it looks beefy.
I loved the Recon Moab with green exterior paint and tan interior, named Joshua Tree. It looked a little elevated. Other colors we got to see were a bright orange, matte black, metallic gold, and flat gray. They all looked like their own distinctive characters in the different colors, and I can’t wait to see them out on the road.
The Recon has dual motors that operate in full-time four-wheel drive. It features a locking differential setup, allowing you to flip a switch and direct power to both rear wheels. On the other hand, the Recon will go into rear-wheel drive only when “rear-drive propulsion is more efficient,” says Jeep.
The Recon is Designed to Be Cozy for Families, Too
The Recon’s interior is rugged and good-looking. The black interior feels way more utilitarian, and the surfaces all seem very cleanable. This is important when you’re off-pavement in the dust and dirt. Floor mats are rubber, and they have a cool pattern on them. The upholstery is synthetic leather. The steering wheel is angled and cool-looking. There are grab handles inside, with white textured panels behind them. These panels add some depth visually.
You wanna share your good time and let people know you’re letting loose and freeing yourself from some of your daily stressors? There are five seats in the Recon, and that means you’re good for a day out on the trails with your friends and/or family. The seating is comfortable and spacious, and though the cargo area isn’t huge for long camping trips with five people, you can probably work out a comfortable weekend with two or three. The second row sets fold flat, so that helps.
The Interior Technology Elevates the Experience
The Recon’s interior is rugged and good-looking. The black interior feels way more utilitarian, and the surfaces all seem very cleanable. This is important when you’re off-pavement in the dust and dirt. Floor mats are rubber, and they have a cool pattern on them. The upholstery is synthetic leather. The steering wheel is angled and cool-looking. There are grab handles inside, with white textured panels behind them. These panels add some depth visually.
The dashboard has a blend of materials that look well-thought-out. If I were buying a Recon, I might spring for the Moab because I love the tan “Joshua Tree” interior exclusive in that trim. I liked the contrast of the black and brown synthetic upholstery and have no qualms about wiping it down when it gets dirty. No worries about some extra expensive leather here!
The Recon lets you know where you are in the woods with its navigation system, which works using UConnect 5, Stellantis’ multimedia system. This system lives in the 14.5-inch touchscreen. The multimedia system also houses a premium standard stereo system. There aren’t a bunch of knobs and buttons, only a couple for the stereo controls.
All the HVAC controls are in the multimedia system. This, I have to be honest, is something that still stresses me out and will need to be tested for ease of use. The 12.3-inch driver information display is also digital and customizable.
As an EV, It Comes With More Than Enough Cargo Space
Like I mentioned before, the Jeep Recon is just a tad bigger than the 4-door Wrangler. The Wrangler is 188.4 inches long and 73.9 inches wide. Recon is 193.3 inches long and 74.8 inches wide, and since it’s an EV without a transmission tunnel, it means more cargo space.
Daily life in the Jeep Recon seems like it will be a cinch. Storage includes a locking center console that is a decent size. The Recon also has open storage below the cupholders. The front passenger space is comfortable. Front and rear leg room is good, as is headroom.
That said, we will need more time in the Recon to know for sure. The Recon has two lower tether anchors and 3 top tether anchors in the rear seat, and two cupholders are housed in the folding center armrest.
I was only able to take photos and videos of the Recon; I was not able to drive it. So stay tuned for updates on how it actually behaves on and off the road. I worry that I am now really smitten with the Jeep Recon after this sneak peek, but only a true fun sponge would say something like that. We’ll have to wait until early next year to find out.
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