Examined: 2026 Jeep Recon Moab Is Flawed But Enjoyable

The 2026 Jeep Recon is a two-row SUV about the identical dimension as the favored Grand Cherokee, wears an immediately recognizable, boxy exterior, has detachable doorways like a Wrangler, and comes with 670 horsepower. Sounds like a winner, proper? It’s additionally absolutely electrical, which may very well be the entire level to some, however the greatest detractor for thus many others. To say Stellantis has had a tough time rolling out and promoting its automobiles on the STLA Large platform the Recon sits on could be an understatement. That stated, the Recon isn’t making an attempt to stay as much as a sure set of expectations just like the Dodge Charger Daytona was, so maybe there’s some mild on the finish of this EV tunnel.

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There’s just one model of the Recon to begin, and that’s essentially the most off-road-ready trim: the Moab. Jeep guarantees an on-road-focused Overland trim is coming, however the Moab is the one model obtainable to drive proper now. Only one powertrain is right here, too, this being a dual-motor setup, giving the Recon all-wheel drive. Combined, the 2 (similar) motors produce 670 horsepower and 620 pound-feet of torque. If that horsepower determine sounds acquainted it’s the identical output because the Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack, a automotive this Jeep shares lots with. Of course, the purpose of the Jeep is to go off-road, not hit the dragstrip. To assist that, Jeep distributes energy to the rear wheels by way of an digital locking differential that may be locked by way of a change within the cabin. Power to the entrance wheels merely flows by way of an open differential. In different phrases, the Recon is not any electrical Jeep Wrangler from a mechanical standpoint, so don’t anticipate related off-road functionality.

• Vehicle examined: 2026 Jeep Recon Moab
• Base Price: $66,995
• Price as examined: $73,075
• Location: Healdsburg, CA

My first thought pulling onto the highway within the Recon Moab is that this SUV is one beefy buyer. It’s lengthy, large, and upright, and in contrast to some EVs that masks their mass, the 6112-pound curb weight is obvious within the Recon’s each transfer.

Engineered for a lot extra axle articulation and off-road readiness than most electrical SUVs, the Moab has particular damper and spring tuning that pairs with the 33-inch all-terrain rubber. Its journey was completely advantageous over sharp freeway joints or potholes, however whoops and highway undulations threw it for a loop. Head toss is surprisingly extreme, as the massive physique struggled to settle itself. There are secondary, then tertiary suspension actions earlier than the Recon appears to come back again to an equilibrium. I’ve a hardy abdomen, however I wouldn’t be shocked if these much less blessed discover the Recon to be too bouncy.

Away from the frequent ups and downs of a rustic highway, the acceleration is hilariously fast, identical to the three.6-second 0-60 mph suggests. Jeep notes you must be in Sport mode to perform that point, however this SUV strikes with authority irrespective of the drive mode. The entrance finish raises up upon smacking the throttle, then the nostril buries itself into the pavement when hopping on the brakes, however these actions are much more managed. I even began to have a little bit of enjoyable on the winding Northern California roads I drove the automotive on. Its battery beneath the cabin provides the Recon with an unnaturally low middle of gravity for an off-road-focused car, and gave me confidence to select the tempo up. The low-grip all-terrain tires have been seemingly at odds with the chassis’s go-faster vibes; tempering enthusiasm is a should.

After an hour of carving by way of wine nation, Jeep let me unfastened on a mountainous ranch filled with obstacles to check the Recon’s mettle. The Moab has a wholesome 9.1 inches of floor clearance (the Overland drops down to simply 8.0 inches), and brief overhangs imply respectable method and departure angles (33.8 and 33.1, respectively). Jeep hardens the entire underbody with metal skid plates that I discovered a few occasions, and the battery pack is uniquely sealed to assist obtain the 24 inches of water fording. Jeep Selec-Terrain drive modes are current, too, with the Moab trim including Rock mode to the Auto, Sport, Snow, and Sand obtainable on the Overland. It additionally has low-speed cruise management, and the Rock mode has a hill maintain characteristic.

Jeep provides the Recon its “Trail Rated” designation, which ought to let you know it means enterprise. Testing noticed the engineering group full all types of well-known off-road trails, a kind of being the ominous Hell’s Revenge. The work put in to make the Recon legitimately helpful off-road is lots evident on the ranch. That annoying on-road journey ends in a forgiving and managed journey off-road. And no, articulation is nothing like a Wrangler or body-on-frame off-roader just like the Toyota 4Runner, however the Recon nonetheless managed some steep moguls with ease. Getting all 6112 kilos to crash all the way down to the earth gently was a steep job, however the Recon by no means felt misplaced on the reasonably tough terrain Jeep put us towards. My greatest beef all through the entire path was merely pedal tuning. The throttle was too sensitive in each mode. And whereas the digital locker does the job in getting energy to the wheel on the bottom, it takes second to consider the duty earlier than offering the ahead movement I’m asking for.

The greatest downside with the Recon Moab is nearly definitely going to be its subpar 222-mile EPA vary score. Its closest competitors, the Rivian R2 Performance, is launching with 307 miles of vary when geared up with all-terrain tires. That SUV each prices much less and has a a lot smaller battery pack, and that’s solely the beginning of it. The Recon is a deeply inefficient EV with a 0.404 coefficient of drag. In chilly, winter temperatures at freeway pace, I think most can be fortunate to get greater than 150 miles out of the Moab, and that’s simply not sufficient for a nearly-$70,000 EV.

I want I may say the charging specs reserve it, however the STLA Large platform makes use of a 400-volt charging structure, permitting for a 5-80% cost in 28 minutes. Waiting for the Overland gained’t assist a lot both, as this all-season tire-equipped variant is just rated for 240 miles of vary.

Before you get too gloomy in regards to the Recon, nonetheless, there’s a enjoyable issue right here that different EVs merely don’t provide: You can take off the doorways. Not solely can the doorways be eliminated, however the rear glass and rearmost home windows will be popped off too. Combine this with the elective SkyView OneTouch prime additionally seen on the Wrangler, and arguably, the Recon counts as a full-blown convertible. The expertise is correct on par with the Wrangler or Bronco with all extremities eliminated, and Jeep did a superb job of creating eradicating the doorways and home windows a tool-free, simple job that anybody able to lifting as much as 70 kilos (the burden of the entrance doorways) can do. There’s no handy place to place the doorways or home windows as soon as they’re gone, however that’s tomorrow’s downside.

The remainder of the inside isn’t so Wrangler-like, with an enormous 14.5-inch touchscreen serving because the automotive’s command middle. Delightfully, it has everlasting local weather controls with large icons I discovered lots simple to make use of. It’s the primary Jeep this new tech suite (additionally consisting of a 12.3-inch digital cluster) is being carried out in, and it’s a winner.

Thoughtful touches are nearly in every single place you look, with a modular accent rail on the sprint to mount a digicam (or geese, no matter you need), a pass-through middle console for storage, and modular door panels with elastic straps you possibly can tweak to your particular use case. My check car occurred to be geared up with the black inside, however the Joshua Tree tan upholstery amps up the feeling of luxurious. Jeep additionally made certain to say that with the lie-flat second-row down, you possibly can match as much as 55 instances of wine within the again by way of the swing-out tailgate. There’s even a tiny frunk that’s simply massive sufficient to accommodate a charging twine.

Like the Dodge Charger Daytona, the Jeep Recon is plagued with some large negatives that make it a tricky proposition as an EV. That vary determine is abysmal in 2026. The charging is mediocre at greatest, and its awkward journey is unimaginable to look previous. But however, the doorways come off; it has 670 horsepower, and it’s lots succesful off-road to put on the Jeep badge with delight. Its exterior design will not be environment friendly, however the boxy SUV appears to be like badass on the path or on the driveway. It’s distinctly Jeep with the illuminated seven-slot grille, and per Jeep custom, there’s an extended listing of colours to select from. I’m a sucker for the elective steelie-look wheels optioned on the one I drove.

This electrical Jeep is a contact of an enigma. It even feels somewhat confused at what precisely it desires to be. The value at $66,995 is approach too excessive for what it presents, however there’s sadly no federal tax credit score to assist reduce the blow. We’ll be counting down the times till we will put it up towards the Rivian R2, one other off-road-focused EV with nice promise.

We Love:

•It’s a convertible, and you’ll take the doorways off. Epic!
•The 670 horsepower is unquestionably pointless, but it surely’s additionally hilariously good enjoyable.
•Many considerate utility options and Easter Eggs in Jeep’s characterful approach.

We Don’t:

•Range and charging specs merely don’t measure up.
•Its on-road journey suffers to make it good on the path.
•Jeep wants a beginning value not less than $10,000 much less.

Favorite Detail:

The drive-mode-switch panel is completed in crimson, making it stand out in an in any other case largely monotone inside. This splash of colour caught my eye each time I acquired out and in, immediately drawing consideration to the truth that this isn’t simply another electrical SUV. All of your drive modes and activation of the digital locker are adjustable by the 2 chunky switches on this panel.