2026 Jeep Recon: Manahawkin Buyers Guide

A genuinely new Jeep, not a rebadge

Recon isn't a trim level or a facelift of something you already know. It's an all-new nameplate slotted between the Compass and the Wrangler in Jeep's lineup, built from the ground up as an electric vehicle rather than a gas model with a battery bolted in. Two Stellantis electric drive modules, one at each axle, give it standard electric 4x4 with a 650-horsepower, 620-lb-ft combined output and a 3.6-second 0-60 time, numbers that put it well ahead of anything Jeep has badged Trail Rated before. The 100.5-kWh battery is EPA-rated at 222 miles of range and 71 MPGe combined (80 city, 62 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost around $1,050. Jeep's own marketing has floated a figure as high as 250 miles under certain conditions; treat the EPA's 222-mile number as the one to plan a trip around, since that's the figure that's actually been certified rather than estimated internally.

For 2026, Recon launches with a single trim, Moab, fully loaded rather than stripped down to hit a lower advertised price. Jeep has said more trims are planned for the future, but as of this writing nothing beyond Moab has a name, a spec sheet, or a release date, so treat any "Recon Sport" or "Recon Trailhawk" chatter online as speculation rather than something you can order today. Manahawkin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram is the last Jeep store before the causeway onto Long Beach Island, at 188 Route 72, and it's still a family operation, part of the DiFeo Auto Group, with more than 60 years in the car business behind it.

What Trail Rated means on an EV

Jeep didn't soften its off-road standard to fit an electric drivetrain. Recon Moab carries a 34-degree approach angle, a 34.5-degree departure angle, and a 23.5-degree breakover angle, with 9.4 inches of ground clearance underneath, geometry aimed squarely at real trail use, not a curb ramp in a parking lot. An electronic locking rear differential and a Selec-Terrain system with Auto, Sport, Snow, Sand, and Rock modes handle traction, and Selec-Speed Control manages descents without the driver riding the brake the whole way down. The 18-inch wheels wear genuine 33-inch all-terrain tires, and doors, rear quarter glass, and the swing-gate glass all remove for open-air driving, Jeep's signature move carried into an electric platform for the first time. A full-size spare rides on the rear swing gate rather than a space-saver stashed under the floor.

Inside: the biggest Uconnect screen Jeep has built

Moab's cabin centers on a 14.5-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen with navigation, the largest screen Jeep has ever put in a vehicle, paired with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. A premium Alpine audio system, wireless phone charging, and heated, power-adjustable front seats with driver memory come standard, along with Capri leatherette upholstery made with recycled content. A dual-pane panoramic sunroof lets light into both rows, and steel skid plates and an illuminated seven-slot grille round out the exterior. Jeep counts more than 170 standard safety and security features across the vehicle. Cargo space runs 65.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, plus a 3.0-cubic-foot front trunk under the hood, since there's no engine there to take up the room.

Read the full Moab guide

Because Recon launches as a single trim, there's no five-way comparison to make the way there is on a Compass or a Wrangler. What there is instead is one deeply equipped SUV worth understanding in detail: the 2026 Recon Moab buyers guide covers the drivetrain, off-road hardware, standard equipment, and available packages (Comfort, Trailer Tow, the power-operated Sky top, and a gloss black roof) one at a time.

What local buyers already trust this dealership with

Recon just launched, so there aren't Recon-specific customer reviews at manahawkinchryslerdodge.net yet, and this page won't pretend otherwise. What the dealership does have is a strong overall reputation, north of 2,000 Google reviews averaging in the mid-4-star range, including buyers who've already trusted the team with a different electrified Jeep. Dev Prana wrote about trading in a 2018 Wrangler for a 2023 Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid: "Excellent Sales staff, friendly, caring, and professional... we were treated like family! Definitely, we will be repeat customers!" It's not a Recon review, and this page isn't calling it one, but it's evidence the sales team has already walked buyers through an electrified Jeep purchase and the questions that come with it.

Owning an EV near the causeway

A Jeep that plugs in instead of filling up raises different ownership questions than a gas Wrangler: home charging setup, what salt air near Long Beach Island does to any vehicle over time, and how Mopar-certified EV service differs from a standard oil-change visit. The Recon service & charging guide covers all of it. For what a Moab actually costs once New Jersey's tax rules and the current state of federal EV incentives are factored in, see the Recon pricing & leasing guide.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the 2026 Jeep Recon?

The single Moab trim starts at $65,000 MSRP, or $66,995 with the $1,995 destination charge, before New Jersey sales tax, title, and registration. The pricing & leasing guide breaks down what New Jersey adds on top.

Will the Jeep Recon be available in the USA?

Yes. Jeep confirmed U.S. and Canadian availability at launch, with production starting in early 2026 and global markets to follow later.

What is the Jeep Recon package?

Moab offers a handful of factory packages: a Comfort Package (ventilated front seats, a digital rearview mirror, an interior camera, heated rear seats), a Trailer Tow Group (Class III hitch receiver, wiring, trailer detection), a Sky One-Touch power-operated fabric top, and a Gloss Black Painted Roof appearance option. Ask the dealership for current package pricing and availability.

Is the Jeep Recon any good?

Early reviews from outlets that have driven it, including Consumer Reports and Car and Driver, describe the drivetrain and off-road hardware as genuinely capable rather than a marketing exercise, with the 650-hp output and locking rear differential singled out. It's a new nameplate without a long ownership track record yet, which is worth factoring in alongside the specs.

What is the difference between Jeep Recon and Rubicon?

They're not comparable in the way the question implies. Rubicon isn't a separate vehicle; it's Jeep's top off-road trim name, used on the Wrangler and the Gladiator. Recon is a distinct, all-electric model line and doesn't currently offer a Rubicon-badged trim. If the real question is off-road capability, the fairer comparison is a Recon Moab against a Wrangler Rubicon, trim to trim, not name to name.

Where can I see a 2026 Recon near Long Beach Island?

Manahawkin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, 188 Route 72 in Manahawkin, is fielding Recon interest now as vehicles arrive; call the sales team for current availability.

The bottom line

The 2026 Recon is a real departure for Jeep: an electric powertrain wearing the Trail Rated badge for the first time, launched as one thoroughly equipped trim instead of a confusing ladder. Whether that combination fits a given driveway comes down to charging logistics and the numbers in New Jersey, both covered in the rest of this set.