2026 Jeep Recon Is a 650-HP Off-Roader EV With Removable Doors
Jeep's second EV on our shores is more rugged, more capable... and more powerful?!
Jeep on Tuesday debuted the 2026 Recon, what it is calling the first Trail Rated all-electric model. As the rugged sibling to the existing Wagoneer S, the Recon goes big on blocky design, boasts lots of ground clearance, and can go open-air exploring in a way we haven’t seen in the electric space.
The basic platform is familiar: this is STLA Large, the same setup that underpins both the Wagoneer S and the Charger Daytona. Ditto the 400-volt, 100.5-kilowatt-hour battery pack, and the dual electric motors each acting on one axle. Power is up over the Swagoneer, with Jeep quoting a fulsome 650 horsepower and 620 pound-feet of torque. Don’t worry: there’s an array of solid steel skid plates protecting the battery pack, as you’d expect of something ready to tackle trails. Yet stick the thing in Sport mode and it will clip off a run to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.6 seconds.
With 33-inch all-terrain Nexen tires on the launch Moab trim, the Recon boasts 9.1 inches (232 millimeters) of ground clearance. The all-important off-roading angles are 33.8 degrees of approach, 23.3 degrees of breakover, and 33.1 degrees for departure. Jeep has given the rear electric drive motor a 15:1 ratio for improved low-speed torque; the front motor runs an 11:1 ratio.
Given this sort of off-road capability and the blocky shape, it’s perhaps not surprising that Jeep is quoting just 230 miles (370 kilometers) of range for the Recon Moab. Future models will stretch that further to 250 miles (402 km), but buyers are still taking a hit versus the road-biased Wagoneer S. Of course, the trade-off with an electric off-roader is much less energy expended during off-roading.
Speaking of those boxy looks, the Recon has more of a new-Cherokee vibe than an electric Wrangler. In fact, Jeep says it was the classic XJ-era model of the ‘80s and ‘90s that inspired its look. Like a Wrangler, the Recon has removable doors, and Jeep has simplified the setup so that folks don’t need tools to do it, either. The rear quarter windows and swing gate class can also be removed, and Jeep’s available Sky One-Touch Power Top opens up the roof, too. In terms of footprint, the Recon is largely similar to the upcoming 2026 Cherokee in width and wheelbase, but tacks on an additional 5.2 inches (132 mm) in vehicle length, bringing it to 193.3 inches (4,911 mm).
The interior of the Recon blends tradition with technology. The clean dashboard design is very Wrangler, though the 14.5-inch central touchscreen sure isn’t. It sits beside a 12.3-inch instrument panel which, in true Jeep fashion, is customizable. The infotainment system includes Jeep’s Trails Offroad app, which provides turn-by-turn, obstacle-by-obstacle navigation through trails in the US and Canada. The center console features Jeep’s typical rotary-dial shifter plus a drive mode selector backed by a red panel; below there is a large storage cubby for items like tablets or purses. The center console is framed by strong, metallic-finish grab handles. There are exposed bolts throughout the cabin, though our favorites are the ones attached to the straps on the door pockets. Owners can remove these and fit aftermarket bits as they see fit.
With the Recon, Jeep is debuting a Joshua Tree tan interior; a typical black is also available. Buyers can expect recycled materials throughout the cabin, including the headliner and carpets. Expect a lot of space, too: up to 65.9 cubic feet (1,866 liters) behind the front seats with the second row flat, plus a 3.0 cu ft (85 L) frunk.
How much for all of this? Jeep USA is quoting $65,000 pre-destination for the Moab trim; Canadian pricing “will be shared at a later date” according to a company spokesperson. Production of the 2026 Jeep Recon will begin early next year.
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Kyle began his automotive obsession before he even started school, courtesy of a remote control Porsche and various LEGO sets. He later studied advertising and graphic design at Humber College, which led him to writing about cars (both real and digital). He is now a proud member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), where he was the Journalist of the Year runner-up for 2021.
More by Kyle Patrick
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Hahahaha,,,,, sorry, it really is just an electric wrangler and when you're out in the bush with a trunk full of dead batteries that supposed 650 hP rating is going to do you absolutely zip, zero, nada worth of good!
But for you posers that wanna impress the burger stand crowd be my guest! I do like the Joshua Tree tan interior though, but I think I'll just keep my 2002 TJ with the 4.0 that refuses to die!
Just a thought for a new topic that would be handy for all the new vehicles on the market.
I would like to see pricing on all of these wizz bang monster sized central touchscreens that the manufacturers love so much, because they WILL FAIL and when they do, if you manage to limp the thing home it's going to cost thousands of dollars to repair, and I think the buying public deserves to know the true cost of these things.
Call me a relic, but I much prefer real knobs and buttons that don't fail over an attention grabbing device that probably causes as many accidents as talking on the phone.