All-Electric Jeep Recon Gets 650 HP, More Ground Clearance Than a Grand Cherokee

Jeep is known primarily for its vehicles’ ability to go off the beaten path. Its first electric vehicle (EV), the Wagoneer S, put more of an emphasis on the asphalt, though, and it has struggled to find traction on the sales charts. Its latest EV, the all-new Recon, which it unveiled to the world today, is angling to take the brand back to its roots, off the paved road.

Indeed, the 2026 Recon is the first ever “Trail Rated” EV. That’s Jeep’s internal term for a vehicle that’s good at off-roading and, while that title might sound self-congratulating, it is at least a firm indication of the automaker’s ambitions for the SUV.

With that rating comes a tidal wave of torque and terrain-tackling technology. To start, the Recon gets an electric motor per axle, giving it all wheel drive (we’d expect nothing less), 650 hp, and 620 lb-ft of torque. In the Moab trim, the rear motor will use a 15:1 final drive ratio to deliver even more torque multiplication at the wheels and to help it tackle steep climbs. An electronic locking differential will keep both wheels spinning when the going gets tough.

To keep the Recon comfortable on the road, the front motor has an open differential and uses an 11:1 final drive ratio. Automatic disconnects at each wheel help improve efficiency and range (more on that shortly).

A so-called short-long arm suspension in the front and an integral link setup in the rear help keep the vehicle responsive to driver inputs and maximize the tire’s contact with the ground. With the Moab trim’s standard 33-inch tires, the Recon gets 231 mm (9.1-inches) of ground clearance, which is 12.7 mm (0.5 inches) more than the Grand Cherokee (with the standard suspension), and just 15.2 mm (0.6 inch) less than the base Wrangler.

The off-road trim also offers drivers an approach angle of 33.8 degrees, a departure angle of 33.1 degrees, and a breakover angle of 23.3 degrees. Those figures are better than a Grand Cherokee even when it is equipped with the air suspension, though they still fall shy of those the Wrangler can offer buyers.

So, the Recon should be able to go all the places a traditional Jeep can, and to help it get out, too, the 100 kWh battery pack is protected by underbody shields made of high-strength steel. In the U.S., the battery pack will propel the SUV up to an estimated 250 miles per charge. That’s 402 km in metric numbers depending on which trim buyers opt for. We anticipate that the Moab’s 33-inch tires will shorten its range somewhat.

The Recon’s range will also no doubt be affected by the aerodynamic penalty owners endure when they take off their doors. Despite that, the option is another hint as to this EV’s positioning. Not only are the (no tools required) removable doors a nod to the rugged off-roaders that earned Jeep its name, so is the seven-slot grille and its upright posture.

Inside, the dashboard is dominated by the largest touchscreen ever offered on a Jeep product. The 14.5-inch display combines with the 12.3-inch instrument cluster to give drivers a total of 26 inches of screen in front of them. On them, owners will be able to plan their adventures with the Trails Offroad app. With Dynamic Range Mapping powered by TomTom, buyers will also be able plan charging breaks into their trip.

On the less high-tech side of the equation, the interior is designed to be practical, offering up to 1,855 L (65.9 cu.ft.) of cargo capacity with the rear seats folded down, and a further 85 L (3 cu.ft.) of storage in the frunk.

The 2026 Jeep Recon is set to enter production at Jeep’s Toluca Assembly Plant in Mexico early next year. The Recon Moab will be the launch trim for the model in Canada and the United States, with other trims and markets to follow. Pricing in the U.S. is set to start at US$65,000. That’s almost exactly the same as the all-electric Wagoneer S Limited, which shares a platform with the Recon, is made in the same factory, and whose pricing opens at $85,000 (before discounts) in Canada.