2026 Jeep Recon First Look
Going places most electric vehicles can't — with the doors off.
Jeep
QuickTakes:
Among its rivals, Jeep pioneered the path to electrification, adding a plug-in hybrid Wrangler for the 2021 model year. Half a decade later, the Wrangler's primary rivals, including the Ford Bronco, Toyota 4Runner, and Toyota Land Cruiser, still can't match the electric-only driving capability of the Wrangler 4xe.
Given that early lead in electrification, the new 2026 Jeep Recon comes as no surprise. An electric SUV with genuine off-roading capability, the 2026 Recon is not the first of its kind, but it should be more affordable than alternatives like the GMC Hummer EV SUV and Rivian R1S.
Jeep says the Recon will have a base price of $65,000 (not including the destination charge), and the new electric SUV won't start rolling down its assembly line in Toluca, Mexico, until early next year. However, with the upcoming Scout Traveler targeting a base price below $60,000, the pressure is on Jeep to ensure the Recon is worth that price premium.
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2026 Jeep Recon Gets Purposeful Design and Durable Materials
Classic Jeep design cues define the Recon, but if you expected an electric Wrangler, this isn't it. Resembling the box it came in, the Recon looks like a traditional SUV. However, like the Wrangler and the Gladiator pickup truck, the Recon's doors are removable — and without needing tools. Roll down the windows, remove the rear quarter and tailgate glass, open the roof, and the Recon delivers the immersive driving experience that makes a Wrangler so irresistible.
Architectural design appears to be the guiding theme for the Recon's interior. Jeep says it used recycled materials to craft the durably outfitted cabin, and the Recon features artificial leather upholstery, all-weather floor mats, and customizable storage solutions. Heated front and rear seats and ventilated front seats are available.
A swing-out tailgate holds the Recon's full-size spare tire. It grants access to 30.3 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 65.9 cu-ft when you fold the back seat down. Additionally, there is a 3.0 cu-ft front trunk under the Recon's hood.
Jeep
2026 Jeep Recon Debuts New Large-Screen Uconnect 5 System
The new Recon might look rugged and vaguely retro, but the tech is thoroughly modern. For example, the Uconnect 5 infotainment system features a new 14.5-inch touchscreen with embedded climate controls and pairs with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display.
Highlights include Amazon Alexa compatibility, navigation with Dynamic Range Mapping, an integrated Trails Offroad app, a new Jeep smartphone app, and an 11-speaker Alpine premium sound system. Wireless smartphone charging and a digital rearview mirror are also available.
Advanced driver-assistance systems include standards such as blind-spot monitoring, along with autonomous parking assist. A driving technology called Active Driving Assist is also available, offering adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist. It requires drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel.
Jeep
2026 Jeep Recon Offers Performance On and Off the Road
Jeep equips the Recon with a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive propulsion system. The 250-kilowatt front and rear electric motors produce 650 horsepower and 620 pound-feet of torque, which can accelerate the Recon to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. Depending on the version, the maximum driving range estimate is 250 miles, and the 100-kW battery can DC fast-charge from 5% to 80% in less than 30 minutes.
The Recon is packaged and tuned for off-road capability. That's especially true of the Recon Moab, which sits on 18-inch wheels wrapped in 33-inch all-terrain tires and offers generous approach, breakover, and departure angles, along with 9.1 inches of ground clearance. The Moab models also have a Rock mode, a hill-hold function, and a 15:1 final drive ratio for the rear motor to ensure the Recon's "Trail Rated" capability. This Jeep can tow up to 3,300 pounds, but the payload rating is a skimpy 850 pounds.
Jeep plans to sell the Recon globally. As consumers around the world continue to switch to EVs, that bodes well for the model's success. It helps that only a few electric SUVs are designed to go places and do things that Jeep claims the Recon can.
Written by humans.
Edited by humans.
Christian WardlawChris says his first word was "car." For as long as he can remember, he's been obsessed with them. The design. The engineering. The performance. And the purpose. He is a car enthusiast who loves to drive, but is most passionate about the cars, trucks, and SUVs that people actually buy. He began his career as the editor-in-chief of Edmunds.com in the 1990s, and for more than 30 years has created automotive content for CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, the New York Daily News, and others. Chris owns Speedy Daddy Media, has been contributing to Capital One Auto Navigator since 2019, and lives in California with his wife, kids, dog, and 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata.
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