Jeep, having shown us the Recon concept three years ago, and now at last the 4x4-focused brand is showing us the production version of its all-electric, 'Trail-Rated' SUV.
What does Trail Rated mean?
It means that the Recon has been tested, and not found wanting, on Jeep's famous Rubicon Trail in California, a serious test for any off-roader. The Recon is the first fully-electric Jeep to gain the Trail Rating.
It looks properly rugged
It certainly is. Quite apart from the fact that, like the famous Wrangler, you can easily remove the Recon's doors for some alfresco off-roading (the roof doesn't come off, but there's a massive sunroof instead), the Recon is set up for proper rock climbing. It uses two electric motors for four-wheel drive, of course, but there's an electronic differential which ensures you can lock those motors into a perfect even power split when needed.
There are also large-diameter half shafts and robust constant velocity (CV) joints to ensure off-road survivability, as well as armour plating for the 100kWh battery pack. The suspension and standard 33-inch tyres on the Moab trim provide 238mm of ground clearance. Off-road specifications include 34-degree approach angle, 34.5-degree departure angle and 23.5-degree breakover angle.
As with all proper off-roady Jeeps, there's a Selec-Terrain traction management system, which includes a Rock mode for the Moab trim (along with Auto, Sport, Snow, Sand) for serious terrain and, in spite of the electric power, there's also a function that mimics low-range gears for control when dealing with steep descents.
How much power does it have?
With its two electric motors, the Recon is packing a serious 250kW at each end, which adds up to 650hp in total. There's also a massive 840Nm of torque to parcel out, and in spite of being a big, bulky 4x4, the Recon can hit 100km/h in just 3.7 seconds.
What about range?
Ah, yes. This is where it gets a bit… um… According to Jeep, the Recon's range on one charge is just 400km, which is only about what you get from a tiny front-wheel drive Jeep Avenger, which has half the installed battery capacity. Blame the upright styling and the off-road focus for that inefficiency, although at least you'll be able to head off into the forests in silence, which has a charm all of its own.
What about the styling?
It certainly looks like a proper Jeep, all boxy and with big wheelarches, but the Recon also has some nice details. The traditional Jeep seven-slot grille (which is meant to hark back to the original 1941 Willys Jeep, but actually it's a post-war thing - wartime Jeeps in fact had nine-slot grilles, mostly) now lights up, seeing as it's not really needed for cooling. Then there's that Sky One-Touch Power Top sunroof, and the doors, rear quarter glass, and tailgate glass can all be removed without the need for tools.
And the cabin?
It's suitably rugged inside, the Recon. There's an accessory rail for mounting items such as extra lights or action cameras, a massive centre console for storage, and modular panels on the doors, including tie-down straps for gear.
There's also a massive boot, which extends to 1,582 litres when you fold the back seats, and a handy 'frunk' in the nose that's been specifically sized to swallow a carry-on suitcase. Jeep's also carefully chosen its interior trim, with the seat, console, door and instrument panel surfaces all finished in 'Capri', a refined, non-leather synthetic material, complemented by accents such as Iron Grey Metallic trim and Quicksand deco finish in Arctic. The headliner and carpets also incorporate recycled content.
There's useful tech, too, with a 12.3-inch instrument screen, and a 14.5-inch central touchscreen, although sadly Jeep has bundled the air conditioning controls onto the screen too (but there are physical knobs for radio volume and tuning). The big screen uses the latest Uconnect 5 software, and there's built-in Amazon Alexa if you need it.
When can I buy one?
Jeep hasn't confirmed Irish arrival dates nor pricing for us, but it'll probably be 2027 before the Recon finally lands here.