2026 Jeep Recon EV Scopes Out a Market that May Not ExistAutoweekMark VaughnWed, September 9, 2026 at 6:51 PM UTCAdd us on Google2026 Jeep Recon EV Hits Market that May Not ExistStellantisThe 2026 Jeep Recon is a competent, capable off-road vehicle that can get up some pretty impressive trails in Moab and elsewhere with or without all of its doors and windows. But is there a market demand for such a rig?Electric vehicles make up only about 6.5 percent of the total US new-vehicle market as of the first half of 2026, down from 7.5 percent last year. While you can dicker about when the EV market will come back, the fact of the matter is it's still relatively small. And the typical EV buyer tends toward the pointy headed scientist and balding software engineer, not the hairy, grunting cave man who likes to go out into the desert and break differentials.Nevertheless, Jeep has introduced this new Recon EV, riding on the same electric car platform that supports the Wagoneer S and—no kidding—the Dodge Charger Daytona, neither of which has sold very well at all. Does it make sense to add a Jeep variation to that platform? It does if platform sharing is all about spreading the hardware across as many brands as you can to maximize sales, but maybe not if no one's buying them.Mark VaughnIt's too bad because, as I said, the product itself is pretty good. Jeep says the Recon is "electrified and trail ready... the only fully electric Trail Rated SUV, delivering rugged capability in a fully electrified form."AdvertisementAdvertisementWith an electric motor on each axle, the Recon delivers 670 total combined horsepower and 620 lb-ft of torque, the latter, as you'll recall from physics class, available instantly. That powertrain is good for 0–60 mph in 3.6 seconds, which ain't bad for such a large SUV.But perhaps because of that huge horsepower, range is only 240 miles EPA. Does the market demand 300 miles of range nowadays? 400? 500? The market will decide.The electric motors were designed in-house by Stellantis, umbrella organization over Jeep. They're identical front and rear making 250 kW each, or 335 hp. They're used in all three of the STLA Large-platformed electric vehicles, with the differences between the three coming down to gearing (they'll be followed by models from Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, and Maserati.) They're not motors alone but what Stellantis calls electric drive modules (EDMs) combining an electric motor, gearing, and power electronics into a single, compact unit.Stellantis electric drive modules (EDMs) combine an electric motor, gearing, and power electronics into a single, compact unit.StellantisFor the Jeep Recon, engineers tailored the throttle pedal to deliver torque "in a controlled and precise manner for a satisfying off-road driving experience."Mark VaughnThe first model of Recon, the only one we drove, is called the Moab. As its name suggests, it's set up for more serious offroading. Moab's rear EDM uses a 15:1 final drive ratio that delivers more torque multiplication to get up steep hills and over big rocks. It also gets an electronic locking differential to ensure torque gets to both rear wheels when engaged. The driver can go from open differential to fully locked at the flip of a switch. The front EDM, meanwhile, uses an 11:1 final drive ratio in an open differential design that "balances performance with comfort." On the freeway, the front axle automatically disconnects when not needed to help optimize energy use and range during typical on-road driving conditions when rear-drive propulsion is more efficient.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Moab also has large-diameter half shafts and "stout" constant velocity (CV) joints to make sure you get home, too. The 100-kWh, 400-volt battery pack is protected with a full suite of sturdy, high-strength steel underbody shields. Meaty 33-inch A/T tires help, too.The Recon looks strong, especially with all four doors and all the glass but the windshield removed. In that condition you can see how sturdy the body is. I asked an engineer how stiff it is and he couldn't come up with a comparison.It'll ford 34 inches of water.Stellantis"Is it stiffer than a Wrangler?" I asked."Oh yeah, much stiffer than that," he said.You won't hear any squeaks out on the trail, for sure. And out on the trail is where we went. Jeep brought in actual Rock Rollers from the Jeepers Jamboree in Georgetown, California, the actual guys who lead the Jeeps up and over the Sierra Nevada from the western foothills all the way to Lake Tahoe.AdvertisementAdvertisementThese guys set up a course to show off the Recon's off-road prowess, including what looked like an accurate reconstruction of the Rubicon Trail's Little Sluice Box. I toggled up into "Rock Mode," one of five modes available in the Jeep brand-exclusive Selec-Terrain traction management system, and crept into it."Screeeeee," the undercarriage complained as I slid over one rock. "Ker-crunch," it said as I slammed the whole rig onto another rock, landing hard on the skid plate. The Recon took it all.StellantisOn some long, steep, downhill stretches, I left it in Rock Mode and the Jeep equivalent of hill descent control took over, grabbing individual disc brakes to keep descent speeds to a crawl. You can also get it to crawl uphill.With its longer wheelbase and wider track, the Recon is not as maneuverable as a Wrangler, nor does it have the Wrangler's breakover angle to creep over the biggest rocks, but it'll get you almost anywhere you want to go. Jeep listed four trails in Moab where they'd taken Recon Moabs—Fins 'N' Things, Poison Spider, and two others I can't recall—but no mention was made of the Rubicon. I'm going to assume it'll make it at least to Rubicon Springs, and probably all the way to Tahoe, but I might have to come back and try that out for myself.StellantisBack on the highway, it was indeed smooth and quiet, no doubt because I had all the windows and doors on mine. When I first drove it I was a little surprised by the quick steering. It felt overboosted. But you can adjust that in a hard-to-find submenu to make it all more manageable.AdvertisementAdvertisementUltimately, it comes down to guessing whether there's a market for this thing. Sticker price starts at $66,995 including destination when it comes to showrooms early next year.What else is out there that competes with it? The all-electric Rivian R2 starts at around $45,000, the R1 at $80,000. The also-electric Scout Traveler may start at around 60 grand whenever it gets here. For gas-powered competitors the Ford Bronco starts at a little over $40,000, and the Land Rover Defender about matches the Recon's starting price.Maybe once a few harder-core Jeepers try it out it might get popular. Who knows?