Jeep Recon Electric

Jeep has unveiled its third all-electric SUV in the form of the all-new Jeep Recon SUV. Based on the STLA Large platform – the same as the Wagoneer S, the Recon looks to target the lifestyle buyers wanting an off-road capable SUV while still wanting to drive an EV.

On the design front, the Recon follows the same design philosophy as the Wagoneer, Grand Cherokee and Avenger before it, with boxy and upright proportions along with some of Jeep’s trademark design elements. Unveiled in the off-road-ready Moab spec, the Recon gets the Jeep hallmark seven-slat grille – closed off and illuminated here, flanked by squared-out headlights with integrated daytime running lamps and a chunky bumper replete with recovery hooks and fog lamps.

Moving to the sides, the Recon gets squared out, exaggerated fender flares filled out by 33-inch all-terrain tyres wrapped around 18-inch rims in the MOAB trim. The doors feature exposed exterior hinges – à la the Wrangler – and there’s a large rear quarter glass too. Round the back, the Recon features a side-hinged tailgate with a mounted spare wheel and a chunky rear bumper.

The party piece for the Recon, however, is its promise of open-air off-roading, something only offered by the Wrangler in Jeep’s stable. Jeep says that the doors can be removed without the need for specialised tools. The rear quarter windows and windscreen can be removed too, and depending on how the vehicle is specced, buyers can either get a panoramic sunroof or a powered soft-top in its place – the latter opening all the way to the rear for a more open-air feel.

The Recon isn’t small either by any metric – it measures 4,911 mm in length, 1,900 mm wide and 1,875 mm tall. It also sits on a 2,868 mm wheelbase and features 232 mm of ground clearance. This makes it not only larger than the Wrangler but also marginally larger than the Toyota Land Cruiser 300. The Recon isn’t light either, with a kerb weight of 2,772 kg.

Moving to the cabin, the dashboard design is quite symmetrical. The co-driver side features a large grab handle while the centre console houses a large 14.5-inch touchscreen – the nerve centre for a majority of the in-car controls - under which sit the central air-con vents and a wireless charging pad. The floor console between the seats features a floating design with storage space in the lower section, while the upper unit houses a gear selector dial and toggle switches for the Selec-Terrain system and electronic locking rear differential. The driver gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster as standard.

Moving to the powertrain, the Recon gets a 100.5 kWh battery pack paired with two electric drive modules (EDMs) - one on each axle. The two EDMs develop a combined 670 bhp (500 kW) and 840 Nm, enabling the SUV to hit 96 kmph from a standstill in 3.6 seconds. The Recon gets active four-wheel drive as standard, with the MOAB getting an improved 15:1 final drive ratio for the rear axle for better off-road capabilities. The front axle features an 11:1 final drive ratio as well as an auto disconnect feature at each wheel to prioritise range during typical on-road driving. Jeep claims a range of up to 370 km for the Recon MOAB and up to 400 km for the remainder of the range.

Other Upcoming Jeep Models are the Grand Wagoneer, New Compass and Avenger