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Jeep’s new Recon arrives waving the Trail Rated flag and telling Americans the brand still believes in getting dirty — even if the drivetrain is now silent and electric. The company leans into Wrangler heritage while calling the Recon a fully electric, high-performance off-roader that aims to marry old-school capability with modern propulsion. It’s a clever bit of product theater, and Jeep’s own materials make no secret of the effort to keep the brand’s spirit alive amid an industry rush to electrify.
Under the sheetmetal the Recon is a brute of electrons: a dual-motor setup that Jeep rates at roughly 650 horsepower and 620 pound-feet of instant torque, with a claimed 0–60 time in the mid-3-second range. Those figures read like muscle-car bragging rights, but the reality is harder to swallow — the Recon tips the scales at more than three tons, and its towing capacity trails far behind traditional gas or diesel haulers. That contrast matters to working Americans who use trucks and SUVs for real labor, not just weekend selfies on scenic overlooks.
Jeep insists the Recon won’t abandon the open-air freedom that built the brand: tool-less removable doors, a Sky Slider/one-touch roof concept, swing-gate and removable rear-quarter glass are all part of the package to keep the wind in your face. That’s an important selling point, and it shows carmakers can give customers the tactile experiences they love even while chasing zero-emission headlines. Still, the engineering required to make those features work safely on a heavy EV drives costs and complexity—real factors that will come out in owner bills and long-term maintenance.
Inside, Jeep dresses the Recon in screens and recycled fabrics: a large 14.5-inch infotainment display paired with a 12.3-inch digital cluster, woven-sustainability headliners and recycled carpets, plus plenty of modular storage. For urban buyers who want to pat themselves on the back for greener materials, that’s a neat talking point; for traditionalists it’s a reminder that automakers are increasingly selling virtue as a feature. Either way, the cabin is tech-forward and comfortable, but the emphasis on recycled plastics over tried-and-true materials will rub some owners the wrong way.
The sticker shock and the fine print are worth close attention: the Recon’s entry price is being reported in the mid-$60,000 range, and despite the “American” marketing aura the vehicle will be built at Stellantis’ Toluca plant in Mexico. That means this shiny new electric Jeep won’t qualify for some “made in America” incentives and it raises uncomfortable questions about jobs and industrial policy as automakers trumpet patriotism in their ads. Consumers who care about American manufacturing should be skeptical when an automaker leans on heritage while shifting production offshore.
Range and charging remain the Achilles’ heel for any true long-distance adventurer: the Recon’s battery sits in the neighborhood of 100 kWh with estimated range roughly 230 to 250 miles depending on trim, and fast charging can replenish useful miles quickly but only where the infrastructure exists. For weekend trailheads and backcountry runs, drivers will need to plan around charging deserts and slower public chargers, an inconvenient truth that rarely fits the glossy launch videos. The romantic pitch of “silent, zero-emission mobility” runs into the practical limits of today’s EV networks, especially in rural America.
In the end, the Recon is both promising and perfectly illustrative of the current automotive tug-of-war: it keeps the Jeep look and many of the Wrangler’s rituals while delivering jaw-dropping electric power that will satisfy headline-hungry reviewers. Conservatives who love freedom and capability can appreciate Jeep holding onto open-air character, but we should also insist on honest conversations about tradeoffs — weight, towing, charging, cost, and where the cars are built. If American adventurers are going to embrace new technology, let it be because it truly serves their needs and livelihoods, not because corporate marketing swaps patriotism for emissions platitudes.
