Tested: 2026 Jeep Recon Moab Is Easy to Love, Hard to Live With

We go to great pains to come into any test without any preconceived notions about the vehicle we’re about to review. Vehicles like the 2026 Jeep Recon Moab we just put through our First Test regimen make that difficult.

The Recon is built on the same platform and features the same powertrain as the Dodge Charger Daytona and Jeep Wagoneer S, and our experiences with the first two EVs on Stellantis’ STLA-Large platform have been mixed. While both vehicles are stylish and fun, they’ve had uneven build quality, performed poorly in range and charging tests, and had refinement issues with both their hardware and software. Would it be more of the same for the Recon?

See All 66 Photos66

Scouting Report

Looking over the spec sheet before the test, we’re sure you’d forgive us for even asking the question. Beyond the shared platform (which is common across the industry), the Recon shares its 93.9-kWh battery pack with both the Wagoneer S and Charger Daytona and its motors with the Dodge. Mounted at both axles for all-wheel drive, the motors combine for 670 hp and 620 lb-ft of torque, as in the Charger. At least in the Recon, the rear motor is paired to a driver-selectable locking differential for improved off-road capability.

Visually, the Recon hides its familial affiliations well. This Jeep will be mistaken for nothing but, thanks to its Wrangler-meets-XJ-Cherokee shape, the rugged flair added by its prominent bumper and flared wheel arches, and the exposed door hinges, which hint at perhaps the most unique feature of the Recon: its removable doors, removable rear quarter and hatch windows, and power-sliding cloth top.

The doors pop off easily and intuitively without any tools in just a couple minutes (we didn’t even bother looking at the manual), though you’ll want help, as each door is about 70 pounds and exceedingly awkward to carry. The windows are even easier, popping off with the simple 90-degree twist of two latches each and storing in a bag in the trunk.

See All 66 Photos66

Just Jeep Things

The open-air feel gives the Recon something the electric Wagoneer and Charger larger lack: character. There’s an undeniable uniqueness and authenticity to the Recon. Creeping silently down an off-road trail sans doors and windows is like backcountry hiking without the hardship, making you feel one with nature in a way few vehicles can come close to matching.

As far as outright off-road capability is concerned, the Recon’s performance is mixed. On fast-paced, relatively smooth sandy washes (which, trust us, you’ll want the Recon buttoned up for), the Jeep is a blast. In Sand mode, stability control intervention is reduced, and big, lusty Scandinavian flicks can induce oversteer with a stab of the throttle. You’ll want to keep speeds low on anything remotely bumpy, though, as body control is seriously lacking, frequently sending unsuspecting occupants bouncing off the seat bottoms. Poor throttle calibration compounds the problem; as your body moves with the vehicle’s body, your foot can’t keep a steady input on the throttle, resulting in the Jeep lurching forward over obstacles when your intent is usually to slow down.

Finally, on low-speed obstacles such as frame-twisters, where a wheel or two is airborne, or on slick uphill climbs, the Recon is slow to figure out where to send power. It eventually makes the decision, after much electronic clicking from the underbody, but it was often quicker to cycle through off-road modes to find a different one or engage the rear locker to help get moving again. As a point of comparison, a Rivian R2 on hand during the same period didn’t struggle over the very same obstacles, even when left in its street drive modes.

See All 66 Photos66

Back on Pavement

With any Jeep, acceleration, braking, and handling tests are largely not the point, though the Recon is noteworthy in that it’s the quickest Jeep we’ve ever tested (0–60 in 3.6 seconds; the full results are below). The Recon’s results in our Road-Trip Range test, in which we run a battery down from 100 to 5 percent at a steady 70 mph, are even more noteworthy, especially given the performance we experienced off-roading.

In that test, the Recon only cleared 166 miles, well below its 222-mile EPA rating. Worse, it only adds 71 miles in its first 15 minutes on a fast charger and 119 miles in 30 minutes, with the 5–80 percent recharge taking 34 minutes. That’s not good enough.

We wouldn’t expect a boxy off-road-oriented SUV with knobby tires to ace an efficiency test—we’d be surprised if it did. But other automakers of performance EVs, such as Hyundai or Porsche, account for this by building battery packs that can recharge quickly. Performance EVs shouldn’t punish you with a 30-minute timeout every two-and-a-half hours as you seek to make your way to the nearest trailhead. The 800-volt battery packs Stellantis is developing needed to be in the Recon yesterday.

See All 66 Photos66

Beyond its poor charging performance, the Recon is quite nice to drive on pavement. So long as you’re aware of the overly aggressive low-speed throttle response, acceleration is smooth, with just a hint of torque steer if you really boot it. Its steering is a bit video gamey and the ride floaty, but it’s a more comfortable experience than what you’d find in something like a Jeep Wrangler. It’s even shockingly quiet at speed, allowing you to relax and just enjoy what a unique driving experience the Recon is.

The Verdict

Ultimately, that’s the whole point of the Recon and where it shines brightest. Stellantis’ other EVs haven’t found success because they lack a unique selling point that makes them stand out in a crowded and increasingly expensive market. (Refinement issues, which the Recon obviously has, too, certainly don’t help.) The Recon is the company’s first EV with a firm point of view. With its open-air feel, some off-road capability, and obvious style, the Recon is truly one of a kind right now. If there’s a path forward for Stellantis EVs, it’ll most certainly follow in the tracks of the Jeep Recon.