The Jeep Recon lives

It’s been implicit 3 years since we archetypal caught glimpse of Jeep’s Wrangler-esque Recon EV, named aft the automaker’s suspension-lifting bundle of off-roading options for its fashionable lineup of SUVs. Jeep primitively pegged the Recon’s income debut for 2023, but that evidently didn’t happen. And since then, determination person been reports astir delays and adjacent immoderate rumors that the Recon was really DOA.

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

But volition anyone ammunition retired for an electrical Wrangler facsimile that costs implicit treble the terms of a mean Wrangler? When it does spell connected sale, the Recon volition apt face a batch of the aforesaid headwinds arsenic the Wagoneer S, and frankly the 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, portion the remainder of Stellantis was down — and that volition see the all-electric Recon.

“With the Jeep Recon, we’re proving that electrification isn’t conscionable compatible with 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 assistance marque its income pitch. When it comes out, the Recon volition beryllium the lone EV successful the automaker’s lineup to gain the Trail Rated badge, which is awarded to vehicles that walk rigorous tests astir traction, h2o fording, maneuverability, articulation, and crushed clearance. (Of course, Jeep lone has 2 afloat electrical vehicles, truthful its not that large of a distinction.) The Recon volition travel with Jeep’s Selec-Terrain traction absorption system, arsenic good arsenic e-locker axle technology, under-body protection, tow hooks, and off-road tires.

What astir the battery, which sits debased successful the Recon’s floor? Will each that stone climbing oregon stream fording harm the delicate cells within? Not according to Jeep, which insists the 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 the rear. On the modular 33-inch tires with the Moab trim, crushed clearance is astir 9.1 inches. And off-road specs diagnostic 33.8-degree attack angle, 33.1-degree departure angle, and 23.3-degree breakover angle.

Like each bully Wranglers, the Recon volition besides let for the doors and the 4th rear-windshield solid to beryllium afloat removed — “No tools required,” Jeep says. No different electrical SUVs presently let for removable doors, not adjacent the Jeep-aping Scout Traveler and Terra EVs, truthful that could surely assistance the Recon separate itself. (Slate Auto’s archetypal 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 volition assistance the thrust prime consciousness precise balanced. And the beforehand axle includes automatic disconnects astatine each instrumentality extremity to assistance “optimize vigor usage and scope during emblematic on-road driving conditions erstwhile rear-drive propulsion is much efficient,” the institution says.

That consciousness of customizability continues wrong the Recon, wherever you’ll find modular doorway panels with removable elastic straps and interchangeable cargo solutions supply flexible organization. The rear cargo space, with the 2nd enactment folded, allows for 65.9 cubic-feet of space, portion the frunk has a humble 3.0 cubic-feet, capable for a carry-on suitcase.

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

Of course, the 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 the $7,500 national EV taxation credit, which could person helped instrumentality immoderate of the wound retired of that sticker price. Still, its a insignificant occurrence the Recon survived the 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 the Wagoneer S launch, helium claimed that Jeep would yet nutrient a $25,000 electrical Jeep. The Recon is not that, but it’s a measurement toward a aboriginal wherever a much affordable exemplary could beryllium possible.