2026 Jeep Recon First Drive: Quick on Pavement, Happier Off ItMotorTrendMiguel CortinaWed, September 9, 2026 at 4:01 AM UTCAdd us on Google2026 Jeep Recon First Drive: Fast, Capable, CostlyJeepIt's a strange time in the automotive industry. Just a few short years ago, automakers were tripping over themselves to bring more EVs to the U.S. market. But then the incentives to buy them dried up, and regulations and attitudes swung back in favor of vehicles vehicles equipped with more familiar powertrains. In the face of all this uncertainty, products that were conceived and developed when the industry was rushing toward electrification are now arriving—whether buyers want them or not.One of those vehicles is the 2026 Jeep Recon, the venerable brand's first true, off-road-oriented EV. The Recon has been in development for some time and has been marked by several delays that have pushed back its launch. Built using the same unibody-based platform employed by Jeep's other electric model—the Wagoneer S—the Recon is aimed at buyers looking for an EV that can get down and dirty off-road.For the next few years, this is about as close as we'll get to an electric Wrangler. But after getting behind the wheel of the Recon on some of Northern California's winding roads and rugged trails, we learned that the two vehicles are different. The Recon isn't an electric Wrangler so much as it is its own Jeep, with its own character.JeepThe Most Powerful Jeep to DateIf you've ever driven a Wrangler, you know speed isn't its defining trait (unless it's the Rubicon 392). The Recon, on the other hand, is the most powerful Jeep to date. For now, there will be only one configuration available, with a dual-motor setup producing 670 hp and 620 lb-ft of torque. Jeep estimates the Recon can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds with Sport mode engaged. That's almost a second quicker than the gas-incinerating 392, in case you were wondering.AdvertisementAdvertisementBehind the wheel, those numbers are hard to ignore. During our drive, we confirmed that the Recon is quick, eager, and more than happy to put its power down. Delivery is mostly linear, but with this much power available, you need to be mindful of how far you press the accelerator.Jeep is also launching the Recon exclusively in the Moab trim, which is tailored for off-road driving. Its all-terrain tires still offer plenty of grip on pavement, allowing us to launch the SUV quickly and pass slower vehicles with ease. There's so much power, in fact, that we occasionally wondered whether the Recon really needed to be this quick. Still, every horsepower and lb-ft is welcome.JeepOn twisty roads, the Recon felt planted, thanks in part to the familiar EV benefit of mounting the heavy battery pack in the floor, helping to lower its center of gravity. No, the Recon is no sports car, but it will go faster and is more agile than you might expect through the canyons. The knobby tires predictably limit its overall agility, though, and they squeal frequently when pushed hard. The Recon is also a relatively large vehicle, one that drives and feels bigger than a four-door Wrangler. It's quite a bit longer at 193.3 inches versus 188.4 inches in length (it's also 2.3 inches wider and a shade taller), although its 112.9-inch wheelbase is far shorter than the Wrangler's 118.4-inch number.Ride quality is one area where it could improve, however. Because the Recon Moab is primarily designed for off-road use, its pavement manners are rather bouncy and jouncey. We experienced more head toss than we would have liked, and after we drove over a series of whoops at highway speeds, the Recon continued bouncing longer than we'd prefer. The suspension is soft, which helps the Jeep absorb large bumps, but those motions aren't settled immediately. Instead, they play out over a longer period, with the suspension's considerable travel making itself felt inside the cabin.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe rest of the on-road experience is decent. The cabin is notably quiet despite the all-terrain tires and thick A-pillars, with wind and tire noise remaining relatively subdued at freeway speeds. We'd like the steering to provide more feedback, as it feels somewhat muted, but most drivers will find it perfectly acceptable.JeepHitting the TrailOur NorCal jaunt included a custom trail set up by Jeep with several obstacles, including pitch and roll, articulation, water fording, and rock-crawling tests. With 9.1 inches of ground clearance, the Recon handled all of them without breaking a sweat.The Recon Moab is equipped with a version of Jeep's Selec-Terrain drive modes, including Auto, Sport, Sand, Mud/Snow, and Rock. It also features an electronic locking differential to help distribute torque equally. We experienced up to 32 degrees of roll during our testing and found the Jeep easy to maneuver through the articulation section.Throttle mapping changes depending on the selected drive mode, but we still had to learn how to apply just the right amount of throttle during the slow-speed tests. With so much power available instantly, the accelerator is more sensitive than it would be in an internal combustion Wrangler, so it takes some adjustment.AdvertisementAdvertisementUnlike the ride on pavement, the Recon felt completely at home off-road. Its suspension became much more composed as soon as we reached the trail. Although we weren't traveling nearly as quickly as we had on the road, the Recon handled uneven terrain with a confidence that suited its mission.It's also super easy to remove the Recon's doors and rear windows. No tools are required, and during our drive we put away the rear windows in seconds. The doors can be pulled on or off in a couple minutes tops, which is super impressive. Jeep also offers the Recon with a panoramic roof or the Sky One-Touch power soft top, which opens the entire roof in seconds for a true open-air experience.JeepThe EV StuffAs capable as the Recon is on the trail, it isn't as impressive when it comes to the fundamentals of being an EV. Its 100.5-kWh battery pack is on the large side, but it provides only 222 miles of EPA-rated range—underwhelming by today's standards.That's the price of the Recon's all-terrain tires, tall, boxy shape, and 6,000-plus-pound mass. The result is a range figure that may be difficult for many drivers to swallow if they plan to use the Recon as their primary vehicle or if they're looking to get further afield off pavement. On our drive, we started with a 92 percent charge and an estimated 190 miles of range according to the onboard computer. We plugged into a Level 2 charger for an hour during lunch and ended the drive with less than 40 miles remaining. We didn't experience range anxiety, but the situation could have been more serious if the lunchtime charge hadn't been available.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Recon's 400-volt architecture and CCS DC Level 3 charging plug also put it at a disadvantage when charging. Although the Recon can charge at Tesla's Supercharger network stations across North America, buyers need to use an adapter to do so. But most important, newer EVs use 800-volt systems, which allow them to charge more quickly. Jeep estimates the Recon can add 100 miles of range in 10 minutes at a DC fast charger and charge from 5 to 80 percent in 28 minutes. Those aren't bad figures, but we've seen better from today's EVs. The Rivian R2, a direct competitor to the Recon, added 130 miles in 15 minutes and 210 miles in 30 minutes during our testing. We have yet to test the Recon in our independent road-trip and charging evaluations, but we hope its real-world performance isn't too far behind Jeep's estimates.As an EV, then, the Recon has some work to do.JeepWhen and How MuchThe Recon also faces something of a challenge when it comes to pricing. Starting at $66,995, it's a pretty expensive proposition, especially when you compare it to the all-new Rivian R2 Performance, which currently starts at $57,990 and offers more advanced technology, a smoother ride, a more refined cabin, and similar straight-line acceleration. It doesn't provide quite the same level of off-road capability as the Recon Moab, though its ground clearance is 0.5 inch higher.As mentioned, for now, the Recon is launching only in the Moab trim. An Overland version, designed with greater emphasis on on-road driving, will arrive in January. Jeep hasn't announced pricing for that model, but we don't expect it to differ dramatically from the Moab.AdvertisementAdvertisementAre the Jeep faithful ready for an EV that can take its doors off and get after it off-road? Time will tell whether the Recon's formula will win them over.Photo credit: JeepPhoto credit: JeepPhoto credit: JeepPhoto credit: JeepAdvertisementAdvertisementPhoto credit: JeepPhoto credit: JeepPhoto credit: JeepPhoto credit: JeepAdvertisementAdvertisementPhoto credit: JeepPhoto credit: JeepPhoto credit: JeepPhoto credit: JeepAdvertisementAdvertisementPhoto credit: JeepPhoto credit: JeepPhoto credit: Jeep