After being digitally revealed in 2022, the electric Jeep Recon off-road SUV is finally entering production early in 2026, with US pricing and specifications announced today.
It may not be the American brand’s first electric vehicle (EV), but it’s the first one to be considered ‘Trail Rated’, and the first with one with removable doors.
“We don’t have any updates on it locally re timing,“ said a spokesperson for Jeep Australia.
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Former global Jeep CEO Christian Meunier confirmed in September 2022 that the Recon and Wagoneer S electric SUVs were locked in for Australian release.
“The Recon and the Wagoneer S… are secured for Australia,” he said.
“Obviously Australia was very much behind two, three years ago [with] electrification. It was not even a question… and when I talked to the local team, it was ‘electrification, not really interesting’.
“And I kept questioning, questioning, questioning, and look at what happened in the meantime. And we see New Zealand is going a hundred per cent full speed ahead. And Australia is catching up. Australia’s going to get there.”
The Recon had been expected in Australia in 2025, and then later in 2026.
It’s underpinned by the same STLA Large unibody platform as the sleeker Wagoneer S that was launched in the US last year.
It features a 100.5kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery pack, protected by a “full suite of sturdy, high-strength steel underbody shields”, and a 400-volt electrical architecture that enables a 5-80 per cent DC fast-charge time of 28 minutes.
Claimed range is “up to 250 miles” (402km), depending on trim. Jeep doesn’t specify the test cycle but it’s likely an estimate based on stricter US EPA testing.
Jeep says it uses a pair of 250kW electric motors, one at the front with an 11:1 final drive ratio and one at the rear with a 15:1 final drive ratio, quoting total system outputs of 500kW of power and 840Nm of torque.
That’s enough to send the Recon from 0-60mph (0-96km/h) in a claimed 3.8 seconds, or 3.6 seconds in Sport mode, and Jeep says the Recon’s throttle pedal has been tailored “to deliver torque in a controlled and precise manner for a satisfying off-road driving experience”.
The Recon also includes an electronically locking rear differential for greater off-road ability, while the front axle includes automatic disconnects so the vehicle can default to rear-wheel drive on the road, thereby using less energy.
Suspension consists of a short-long arm layout up front and integral link in the rear.
Here’s how the Recon measures up compared to the four-door Wrangler:
| Recon | Wrangler Rubicon 4-dr | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4911mm | 4785mm |
| Width | 1900mm | 1877mm |
| Height | 1875mm | 1868mm |
| Wheelbase | 2868mm | 3008mm |
| Ground clearance | 232mm | 274mm |
| Approach angle | 33.8 degrees | 43.9 degrees |
| Departure angle | 33.1 degrees | 37 degrees |
| Ramp breakover angle | 23.3 degrees | 22.6 degrees |
The Recon is debuting in rugged Moab trim, which also comes standard with 33-inch tyres, a special Rock drive mode, an anti-glare bonnet graphic, and available side rock rails.
Other off-road equipment includes low-speed Selec-Speed Control, which allows the Recon to maintain a set speed across challenging inclines and declines, and a Trails Offroad app that includes a guide to trails across North America and pitch and roll mapping.
The Recon comes standard with a dual-pane sunroof, with a Sky One-Touch powertop opening roof optional.
And yes, like the Wrangler, the doors can be removed, as can the rear quarter glass and tailgate glass – all with no tools. The tailgate also features a full-size spare tyre.
The Recon’s boxy exterior was revealed over three years ago, with a chunky body and unimpressive 0.404Cd drag coefficient, but now Jeep has shown off the interior.
Here, there’s less of a resemblance to the Wrangler, though there are still rugged touches like the chunky grab handle running across the passenger side of the dash.
There’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, Jeep’s largest yet, which runs the latest Uconnect 5 multimedia system and incorporates the climate controls.
“The sleek, buttonless design blends futuristic aesthetic with practical usability, featuring digital buttons sized for ease of use in any terrain,” Jeep says, though it has retained physical knobs for volume and tuning.
An Alpine sound system is standard, with some speakers located beneath the seats in case you want to take off the doors.
Jeep says it has used “scuff-resistant vortex-textured services” and other “trail-ready materials” to emphasise the Recon’s durability.
Recycled content is used for the headliner and carpets, while the seats, console, doors and instrument panel are finished in a “non-leather synthetic material”.
The Moab features a unique Joshua Tree tan interior.
Down back, there’s a claimed 1866 litres of storage space with the second row folded, while under the bonnet there’s an 85L storage space.
It’s priced from US$65,000 (A$100,000) before on-road costs, just $200 less than the Wagoneer S EV but more expensive than the Wrangler 4xe (US$50,695/A$78,000) and Grand Cherokee 4xe (US$60,490/A$93,000) plug-in hybrids.
Jeep will build the Recon at the Toluca Assembly Plant in Mexico, launching it initially in the US and Canada “followed by global expansion” – though it hasn’t confirmed just how widely the model will be offered.
The Recon is therefore launching after the Trump administration imposed tariffs on Mexican imports and removed tax credits for EV purchases.
“With the Jeep Recon, we’re proving that electrification isn’t just compatible with off-road excellence, it can elevate it, delivering instant torque, precision control and a quieter, more connected driving experience that’s uniquely Jeep,” said Jeep CEO Bob Broderdorf.
Jeep currently sells just one EV in Australia, the small, city-focused Avenger which thus far is only offered with front-wheel drive.
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