Jeep Recon EV Tested: Just 160 Miles of Real-World Highway Range

Jeep entered the electric SUV arena this summer with the Recon, a Trail Rated model carrying a starting price of $66,995. The brand markets it as the sole fully electric SUV to earn the Trail Rated badge, and claims it stands as the only 670-horsepower SUV available for less than$70,000. Off-road credentials are clearly the headline here — but a recent highway range evaluation by Car and Driver paints a less flattering picture of how the Recon performs when the pavement stretches out ahead.

During that test, the Recon covered only 160 miles on a single charge. That figure sits well below the 222 miles the EPA estimates for the 2026 Recon Moab, which draws from a 94 kWh battery. The gap of more than 60 miles between the official rating and the observed result is substantial. Measured efficiency came in at roughly 1.7 miles per kWh, placing the Recon among the least frugal EVs Car and Driver has put through this particular evaluation — a pool that now exceeds 100 models.

Context helps explain why that number stands out. The 2022 GMC Hummer EV Edition 1, a colossal 9,640-pound machine running a 205 kWh pack, returned 290 miles in the same test at around 1.4 miles per kWh. The Recon weighs 6,190 pounds — nearly 3,500 pounds lighter than the Hummer — yet it trails several rivals in overall efficiency. Even the Wagoneer S, which sits on the same STLA Large platform and uses the identical 94 kWh battery, managed 280 miles, roughly 3 miles per kWh, or close to double the Recon’s figure.

The explanation lies in design priorities rather than engineering shortcomings. The Wagoneer S targets highway and urban driving with a lower ride height and sleeker aerodynamics. The Recon, by contrast, follows the Wrangler playbook: a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup good for a combined 650 horsepower and 620 lb-ft of torque, plus 33-inch tires and 9.1 inches of ground clearance. The first variant to reach dealers, the Recon Moab, adds an upgraded rear electric drive module with a 15:1 final drive ratio for sharper torque distribution. It also honors its Wrangler lineage with removable doors, rear quarter glass, and swing-gate glass.

Whether 222 or 160 miles is enough for trail driving remains an open question. Off-road range behaves very differently from highway range — at low speeds, poor aerodynamics matter far less, and depending on terrain, large tires and all-wheel drive can actually work in a vehicle’s favor. Jeep’s bet is that Recon buyers prioritize capability over efficiency. The real-world numbers suggest that trade-off is real, and shoppers weighing the Recon against more aerodynamically minded electric SUVs should factor it in.