Image Credit: Stellantis.
I've spent three decades testing things that move. Fast things, slow things, things that fly, things that float, and things that, frankly, shouldn't move at all. And now, the world has decided that all those loud, angry, fuel-guzzling beasts of my youth must be replaced by electric toasters on wheels. Oh, what fun… However, I must confess, the new 2026 Jeep Recon is not quite the four-wheeled appliance I expected. It's the brand's first fully electric vehicle to earn the coveted "Trail Rated" badge, and it looks like they've done a proper job of it, for once.
For those of you who still think an electric car's only purpose is to take you silently to the organic grocery store, allow me to introduce you to an SUV that looks like a Wrangler and has been fed a ludicrous amount of raw electricity. Jeep says this thing has the DNA of its heritage, which I assume means it's designed to leak oil and leave you stranded. Only this time, it'll probably be an unfixable software glitch rather than a rusty fuel line. But, and here's the rub, the sheer numbers on this electric bruiser are plain ridiculous.
Image Credit: Stellantis.
We're talking about a vehicle that will launch in the exclusive Moab trim with a rather shocking 650 horsepower and 620 pound-feet of torque. That's a number you usually associate with something that needs a dedicated team of mechanics and a racing helmet. But this is an off-roader meant to clamber over rocks, not warp space and time! Yet, somehow, the Recon manages to hit 60 miles per hour in a heart-stopping 3.6 seconds. That's quicker than some silly low-slung Italian sports cars that would melt if you drove them over a speed bump. This Jeep, apparently, can do it on a gravel road or possibly while submerged in water.
And what about the juice, the electric lifeblood, the reason we are having this conversation? The Recon carries a 100-kilowatt-hour, 400-volt battery - a great big slab of expensive lithium tucked safely underneath, protected by its own suit of high-strength steel armor. As far as range goes, Jeep estimates up to 250 miles on a full charge. That's enough to get you across your favorite secluded wilderness trail and, crucially, about 249 miles of the way back. See, I told you many times I was gently skeptical. Still, for a hefty machine with the aerodynamics of a garden shed, that's not bad.
Image Credit: Stellantis.
The Moab trim, which is where the real fun begins, will set you back a chunky starting price of $66,995. That's a lot of folding money. For that kind of cash, I want the Jeep CEO himself to personally come and read me a bedtime story. But, you do get a host of proper off-roading bits to make you feel like you haven't just bought an expensive novelty item. You get the Selec-Terrain system with five distinct drive modes, including a new 'Rock' mode that apparently allows for a sophisticated two-pedal driving technique.
Speaking of off-roading, the engineers have clearly spent some time getting their boots dirty. The Recon sports an impressive 9.4 inches of ground clearance, thanks in part to the standard 33-inch tires. Its angles are serious, too: a 34-degree approach angle, a 34.5-degree departure angle, and a 23.5-degree breakover angle. Translated from engineer-speak, that means you have a remarkably low chance of tearing the expensive bits off the bottom while attempting to navigate what the brochure calls "challenging terrain."
Image Credit: Stellantis.
Now, the thing that makes this a proper Jeep and not just another battery box. Doors. They come off. In fact, the rear quarter glass and the swing gate glass come off too. All without the need for a single tool. In minutes, you can have a truly open-air, exoskeleton-on-wheels experience. It's designed so you can still listen to the standard, premium Alpine audio system even with the doors off - they've cleverly repositioned the speakers under the seats. Because the only thing better than driving through the woods is listening to a loud, bass-heavy rendition of 'I Will Survive' while you do it.
Inside, the cabin is a mix of rugged utility and screens that are so big they could show an IMAX movie. You get over 26 inches of sculpted screen space, with a massive 14.5-inch horizontal touchscreen dominating the dash. I suppose if you're not looking at the trail, you can at least be looking at your enormous navigation map, which, helpfully, is powered by a new Trails Offroad app.
Image Credit: Stellantis.
You also get what Jeep calls "handcrafted materials" and a decent amount of storage, including 65.9 cubic feet of rear cargo space with the seats folded, and a tiny little front trunk, or 'frunk,' that measures about 3.0 cubic feet - just enough space to keep a carry-on suitcase, or perhaps your sense of disappointment when you realize you forgot to charge it. The interior also features recycled materials, which is nice, I suppose. It means you can feel morally superior while speeding past a gas station in a vehicle that, five years ago, would have been considered an environmental disaster.
The Recon is set to start production early next year, with the Moab trim being the first one we get to play with here in the U.S. and Canada. It's a brave new world, this electric one. And this new Recon? It is, without a doubt, a proper bruiser - fast and powerful. Oh, and it can take its clothes off in a hurry, and it's got all the high-tech gizmos a modern adventurer could ever need. It's a genuinely exciting, slightly unhinged step into the future of off-roading.
Image Credit: Stellantis.
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