2026 Jeep Recon First Drive: More Than Just an Electric Wrangler
- The 2026 Jeep Recon launches as the brand’s first true, off-road-oriented electric vehicle, arriving with a 670-horsepower dual-motor setup, a $66,995 starting price, and a delayed rollout that...
- Announced initially in 2022 as a 2024 model, the 2026 Jeep Recon faced multiple delays before production finally got underway, as reported by The Drive.
- With a dual-motor configuration pushing out 670 horsepower and 620 lb-ft of torque, MotorTrend notes that the Recon stands as the most powerful Jeep to date.
The 2026 Jeep Recon launches as the brand’s first true, off-road-oriented electric vehicle, arriving with a 670-horsepower dual-motor setup, a $66,995 starting price, and a delayed rollout that places it on the unibody STLA Large platform, according to reporting from MotorTrend and The Drive.
Pricing, Specs, and the Long-Delayed Launch
Announced initially in 2022 as a 2024 model, the 2026 Jeep Recon faced multiple delays before production finally got underway, as reported by The Drive. The vehicle arrives priced at $66,995 including destination, according to The Drive’s review. Underneath its rugged styling, the Recon shares a unibody platform with the luxury-oriented Wagoneer S EV. The launch model utilizes the Moab trim, featuring a 100.5-kWh lithium-ion nickel-manganese-cobalt battery pack running on a 400-volt architecture. According to The Drive, the Moab trim delivers a verified range of 222 miles, while a forthcoming Overland model is slated for 240 miles due to an aero- and weight-friendly wheel-and-tire setup. Charging performance allows the battery to replenish from 5 to 80 percent in as little as 28 minutes at a fast charger, or approximately 6.8 hours using a Level 2 home charger, per The Drive’s reporting.
Power Output and On-Road Performance
With a dual-motor configuration pushing out 670 horsepower and 620 lb-ft of torque, MotorTrend notes that the Recon stands as the most powerful Jeep to date. Jeep estimates the SUV accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds when Sport mode is engaged, outpacing the gas-powered Wrangler Rubicon 392 by nearly a full second. Despite its straight-line speed, reviewers noted mixed on-road manners. MotorTrend observed that because the Recon Moab is engineered primarily for off-road use, its pavement ride is bouncy, causing noticeable head toss over highway whoops due to soft suspension tuning. The Drive similarly characterized the on-road experience as lacking stability and refinement despite the sheer acceleration, noting that knobby tires add drama when pulling into traffic from a stop.
Off-Road Hardware and Trail-Rated Capabilities
As the first “ordinary” electric Jeep to wear a Trail-Rated badge, the Recon Moab packs specialized equipment to handle rough terrain. According to The Drive, the vehicle features virtually full underbody armoring, a waterproofed battery and electrical system allowing a two-foot fording depth, and a push-button electronic locking differential on the rear axle. The Moab trim rides on 33-inch all-terrain tires, yielding a 33.8-degree approach angle, a 23.3-degree breakover angle, and a 33.1-degree departure angle, as detailed by The Drive. MotorTrend noted that while the Recon drives larger than a four-door Wrangler—measuring 193.3 inches long and 2.3 inches wider—its floor-mounted battery pack helps lower its center of gravity, keeping the SUV planted on twisty canyon roads despite the limitations of its knobby tires.
