The Jeep Recon Lives

It’s been complete 3 years since we first caught glimpse of Jeep’s Wrangler-esque Recon EV, named aft nan automaker’s suspension-lifting package of off-roading options for its celebrated lineup of SUVs. Jeep primitively pegged nan Recon’s income debut for 2023, but that evidently didn’t happen. And since then, location person been further delays, and moreover rumors that nan Recon was DOA.

Surprisingly, those rumors turned retired to beryllium false. The 2026 Jeep Recon is live and well, and will spell into accumulation successful early 2026, pinch first launches planned for nan US and Canada. Jeep says nan Recon will churn retired 650 horsepower, 620lb-ft of torque, and a humble scope of 250 miles. And pinch a starting value of $66,995 (including destination charge), it will slot beneath the automaker’s brawnier, pricier Wagoneer S.

But will anyone ammunition retired for an electrical Wrangler facsimile that costs complete double nan value of a normal Wrangler? When it does spell connected sale, nan Recon will apt face a batch of nan aforesaid headwinds arsenic nan Wagoneer S, and frankly nan remainder of Jeep’s lineup, which has been struggling to find buyers successful caller years amid soaring costs and over-reliance connected big, costly SUVs. But Jeep thinks its owed for a comeback — its caller income 4th showed improving sales, while nan remainder of Stellantis was down — and that will see nan all-electric Recon.

“With nan Jeep Recon, we’re proving that electrification isn’t conscionable compatible pinch off-road excellence, it tin elevate it, delivering instant torque, precision power and a quieter, much connected driving acquisition that’s uniquely Jeep,” CEO Bob Broderdorf said successful a statement.

Naturally, Jeep is leaning connected off-roading to thief make its income pitch. When it comes out, nan Recon will beryllium nan only EV successful nan automaker’s lineup to gain nan Trail Rated badge, which is awarded to vehicles that walk rigorous tests astir traction, h2o fording, maneuverability, articulation, and crushed clearance. (Of course, Jeep only has 2 afloat electrical vehicles, truthful its not that large of a distinction.) The Recon will travel pinch Jeep’s Selec-Terrain traction guidance system, arsenic good arsenic e-locker axle technology, under-body protection, tow hooks, and off-road tires.

What astir nan battery, which sits debased successful nan Recon’s floor? Will each that stone climbing aliases stream fording harm nan delicate cells within? Not according to Jeep, which insists nan 100kWh, 400-volt battalion is throughly ensconced successful a “full suite of sturdy, high-strength alloy underbody shields.”

The Recon’s suspension includes a short-long limb up beforehand and an integral nexus successful nan rear. On nan modular 33-inch tires pinch nan Moab trim, crushed clearance is astir 9.1 inches. And off-road specs characteristic 33.8-degree attack angle, 33.1-degree departure angle, and 23.3-degree breakover angle.

Like each bully Wranglers, nan Recon will besides let for nan doors and nan 4th rear-windshield solid to beryllium afloat removed — “No devices required,” Jeep says. No different electrical SUVs presently let for removable doors, not moreover nan Jeep-aping Scout Traveler and Terra EVs, truthful that could surely thief nan Recon separate itself. (Slate Auto’s first electrical motortruck could see removable doors if it ever goes into production.)

The Recon features beforehand and rear 250kW electrical thrust modules (EDM), each of which is comprised of an electrical motor, gearing, and powerfulness electronics to present modular four-by-four propulsion and instant torque connected demand. The beforehand EDM uses an 11:1 last thrust ratio successful an unfastened differential design, which Jeep claims will thief nan thrust value consciousness very balanced. And nan beforehand axle includes automatic disconnects astatine each instrumentality extremity to thief “optimize power usage and scope during emblematic on-road driving conditions erstwhile rear-drive propulsion is much efficient,” nan institution says.

That consciousness of customizability continues wrong nan Recon, wherever you’ll find modular doorway panels pinch removable elastic straps and interchangeable cargo configurations. The rear cargo space, pinch nan 2nd statement folded, allows for 65.9 cubic-feet of space, while nan frunk has a humble 3.0 cubic-feet, capable for a carry-on suitcase.

The 12.3-inch thrust cluster is all-new to Jeep, arsenic good arsenic nan 14.5-inch cardinal touchscreen successful scenery orientation, which nan automaker says is “the largest singular usable integer surface abstraction ever offered successful a Jeep vehicle.” And while nan heating and cooling functions are digitally controlled done nan screen, location is simply a beingness measurement knob. Still, Jeep touts its “sleek, buttonless design” that it claims “blends futuristic aesthetics pinch applicable usability.” The infotainment runs connected Stellantis’ Uconnect 5 operating system, and includes exclusive apps for illustration Jeep’s Trails Offroad, a guideline to trails crossed nan US and Canada, pinch transportation and rotation mapping.

Of course, nan Recon was primitively expected to get successful 2024 — and its a shame that Stellantis couldn’t clasp to that schedule. It could person benefited from nan $7,500 national EV taxation credit, which could person helped return immoderate of nan wound retired of that sticker price. Still, its a insignificant occurrence nan Recon survived nan shakeup astatine Stellantis, successful which Carlos Tavares was replaced arsenic CEO by Antonio Filosa, who headed Jeep nether Tavares’ leadership.

When I interviewed Filosa past twelvemonth astatine nan Wagoneer S launch, he claimed that Jeep would yet nutrient a $25,000 electrical Jeep. The Recon is not that, but it’s a measurement toward a early wherever a much affordable exemplary could beryllium possible.