HEALDSBURG, California – The electric 2026 Jeep Recon does all the “Jeep Things.”
Jeep’s first electric off-roader met the challenges that have defined Jeep’s appeal for decades with ease as I drove a ruggedly handsome Recon Moab over mud, rock, hills and highways in rural Sonoma County.
Electrification brings new challenges along with power and capability, though. The Recon’s greatest obstacle is more likely to be driving range than off-road hazards.
The Moab claims up to 222 miles range on a charge. That’s less than many other new electric SUVS, though none of those competitors' SUVs match the Recon’s off-road ability.
The performance metric that counts more with buyers may determine the Recon’s success.
How much?
Prices for the Recon Moab will start at
$65,000, excluding a $1,995 destination charge.
The Moab is likely to be at or near the top of the Recon’s price range.
Less-expensive models with fewer features should follow, though the next trim level will be a swanky Recon Overland – badged a 2027 model – early next year.
Jeep hasn’t revealed details about the Overland, but expect more luxury and less off-road equipment.
Other trim levels will follow, as demand warrants.
Jeep executives told me the Recon Moab will be in dealerships shortly.
Jeep Recon by the numbers
The Recon is a five-passenger midsize SUV. It has removable doors, side and rear windows for open-air driving. Power folding fabric roof and panoramic sun roof are available.
The Recon Moab I drove had a pair of electric motors that generate 670 hp and 620 pound-feet of torque.
Full-time, all-wheel drive is standard, with five drive modes:
- Auto
- Snow
- Sand
- Rock
- Sport
Up to seven skid plates protect the Recon’s underside.
There’s no low range of gears: Electric motors’ torque output renders that staple of internal combustion off-roaders unnecessary.
The doors are removable, but bring a friend: The front doors weigh about 70 pounds each, the rear, 60.
Driving impressions
I drove a well-equipped Recon Moab for a day, from small-town Healdsburg on highways, country roads, a narrow and twisting mountain road and a short but demanding off-road course that included punishing dips that elevated each wheel in the air, water fording and a short but challenging rock garden.
The EV's massive output renders boasts about power and acceleration increasingly irrelevant, but you’ll never have to worry about reaching highway speed on an entrance ramp.
The suspension is smooth on road and capable off, with generous wheel articulation, with 24 inches of fording ability. Recon’s interior is surprisingly quiet, even over rough roads and at highway speeds.
Speaking of quiet, you have to drive a near-silent EV through the wilderness to fully appreciate how different it is from a rattly, roaring internal combustion engine. It’s hard to put a value on feeling less like an intruder on a serene trail, but it will make electric off-roaders popular.
How much will the Recon’s range matter to you?
The Moab's estimated range, 222 miles, is expected to be surpassed to 240 from the upcoming Overland.
Those are short by the standard of modern EVs, but few, if any match the Recon’s off-road capability, which adds weight.
Rivian’s midsize R1S All-Terrain Large SUV is probably the most appropriate EV for comparisons. Like the Recon, it’s designed for challenging off-roading. The R1S has an EPA-estimated range of 289 miles.
Among similarly powerful AWD midsize electric EVs without off-road aspirations, the Chevrolet Blazer SS EV promises up to 302 miles on a charge; Ford Mustang Mach-E GT 280; Tesla X and Y 329 and 327 miles, respectively.
The Recon’s range won’t have any impact on daily driving for owners who charge at home, but it’ll add charging stops to vacation travel and weekend getaways.
Heritage styling, signature features
The Recon’s off-road ability may recall the Wrangler, but its styling consciously echoes another Jeep icon: the 1984 Cherokee.
Key exterior design features include:
Upright windshield
Square headlights
Seven-slot grille (non-functional)
Short overhangs
A low beltline for good visibility when off-roading
Optional power-folding fabric roof
Side-hinged tailgate
Exterior-mounted full-size spare
Removable doors
Removable side and rear windows
The silver Jeep I drove had 4XE badging to identify it as an EV. There are also exterior “Moab” badges and decals and red front and rear recovery hooks.
To deliver top-notch sound and open-air driving, Jeep moved the Alpine audio system’s speakers from the doors to under the seats.
Modern interior – to a fault?
The front passenger seat has a dash-mounted grab handle for ‘whoopsy’ moments and help stepping in over the Moab’s 9.1-inch ground clearance. Rear passengers get B-pillar mounted handles.
The interior of my test car was a persuasive tan synthetic ‘leatherette.’ Jeep calls the color Joshua Tree, in honor of one of the many precious back-country zones likely to attract Recon owners.
To deliver top-notch sound and open-air driving, Jeep moved the Alpine audio system’s speakers from the doors to under the seats.
The carpet is made entirely from recycled materials, as is 34% of the Recon’s acoustic insulation.
The 14.5-inch landscape orientation touch screen is bright, clear and responsive. Jeep eschewed physical controls for climate functions like temperature, fan, ventilated seats and heated seats and steering wheel. Those features are always visible, anticipating the frequent complaint that nobody wants to go two or three menu levels down to warm the seat and steering wheel on a bitter winter day.
The center stack and console have physical dials for volume, tuning, drive mode, rear differential lock, hill descent control, lane departure assist and the like.
I’m usually a stickler about physical climate controls, but the Recon’s layout was inoffensive over the course of a day’s drive.
2026 Jeep Recon Moab key features
Full-time four-wheel drive
670 hp, 620 pound-feet of torque
Removable doors, side and rear windows
9.1 inches of ground clearance
24-inch water-fording
33.8- and 33.1-degree approach and departure angles, respectively
23.3-degree breakover angle
Up to seven skid plates
Standard power glass sunroof available
Power opening fabric Sky Top available
CCS DC fast-charging port
100.5 kWh battery
400v charging system
14.5-inch touch screen
Permanently displayed haptic climate controls
12.3-inch instrument cluster display
Five drive modes
33-inch tires
Alpine audio
What could be better?
Most good new EVs hit the road with around 300 miles range. The Recon Moab doesn’t approach that, but it’ll mop the floor with citified EVs come the Zombie Apocalypse. Or deer season, whichever comes first.
Similarly, most new EVs come with a NACS fast-charging port for access to Tesla’s network, which remains the benchmark for reliability, Elon’s antics notwithstanding.
The Recon’s range will rankle some, but, honestly, the same complaints can be made about the fuel economy and driving range of the most capable internal combustion off-roaders.
You pays your money and you makes your choices, as my Dad would say.
Why buy a 2026 Jeep Recon Moab?
The Recon combines classic Jeep looks and capability with electric power’s many benefits.
Enough said.
2026 Jeep Recon Moab at a glance
Midsize SUV
Four-wheel drive
Seats 5
On sale fall 2026
Base price: $65,000 All prices exclude $1,995 destination charge
Model tested: 2026 Jeep Recon Moab
Price as tested: $65,000
Power: Front and rear 250 kW electric motors
Transmission: Single-speed direct drive
Output: 670 hp; 620 pound-feet of torque
0-60 mph: 3.6 seconds (Sport mode) 3.8 seconds (Auto)
Top speed: 112 mph
EPA estimated range: 222 miles
Charging time: DC fast: 28 minutes 5-80%; 240v: 6.8 hours 5-80%;
Battery: 1005 kWh; 400V charging speed
Wheelbase: 112.9 inches
Length: 193.3 inches
Width: 87.4 inches (including mirrors)
Height: 73.8 inches
Ground clearance: 9.1 inches
Passenger space: 111.3 cubic feet
Cargo space: 30.3 cubic feet behind second row; 65.9 behind front row. Front trunk: 3.0 cubic feet
Curb weight: 6,112 pounds
Towing capacity: 3,500 pounds
Assembled in Toluca, Mexico
Contact Mark Phelan: mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jeep's electric SUV is a rockin’ off-roader, but on-road range suffers
