The 2026 Jeep Recon’s EPA Rating Confirms It’s An Energy Guzzler

Jeep expected the off-road EV’s range to be 230 miles, but the official estimate makes the Rivian R2 look better than ever.

Jeep Recon (2026)

Photo by: Jeep

Iulian Dnistran

By: Iulian Dnistran

Jun 18, at 3:19am ET

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The 2026 Jeep Recon’s EPA rating is out, and it’s lower than expected.
The off-road-ready electric SUV’s estimated range is less than 230 miles on a full charge.
With a massive 100-kilowatt-hour battery, the Recon Moab chews through energy like there’s no tomorrow.

With all the hype around the new Rivian R2, it’s easy to forget that Jeep also has an off-road-ready electric SUV that’s ready to tackle America’s trails. The 2026 Jeep Recon Moab, which is the only version of the Wrangler’s electric alternative at the moment, is also an all-wheel drive mid-size SUV that’s geared toward adventurers.

Now, though, the Recon is making headlines once again, but it’s not for the reasons you might expect. Yesterday, the SUV’s EPA rating was published, as spotted by EV Charging Stations, and it’s not looking too rosy for Jeep.

Jeep Recon (2026)

Photo by: Jeep

Originally, the 2027 Recon Moab was expected to deliver up to 230 miles of range on a full charge, which wasn’t exceptional to begin with. Now, the EPA procedure has lowered that estimate to 222 miles, despite the car’s massive 100-kilowatt-hour battery.

That’s lower than any of the Tesla Model Y and Rivian R2 variants, all of which have smaller-capacity batteries than the Recon. For instance, the base Tesla Model Y All-Wheel Drive is rated for 294 miles, while the Rivian R2 Performance AWD, which is available now, is good for 330 miles on a full charge.

For what it’s worth, the shape of Jeep’s mid-size EV doesn’t exactly scream “efficiency,” and the American automaker has gone to great lengths to make the Recon as off-road capable as possible. The Recon is the only EV in its class with an electronic rear locking differential. It’s also the only EV in the U.S. with removable doors.

Looking at the efficiency numbers explains why the Recon gets such a short driving range on a full charge. According to the EPA results, the electric Jeep chews through 48 kilowatt-hours of energy every 100 miles, which translates to 2.08 mi/kWh. By comparison, the Rivian R2 Performance with 20-inch all-terrain wheels needs 34 kWh/100 miles, resulting in an efficiency of 2.94 mi/kWh.

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Besides the chunky aesthetic, weight plays a big role, too, with the Recon Moab tipping the scales at 6,112 pounds, according to Jeep. Meanwhile, the R2 Performance is roughly 1,000 lbs lighter, while the Model Y is about 1,600 lbs lighter than Jeep’s mid-size EV.

Based on Stellantis’ STLA Large platform, the Jeep Recon can recharge from 5-to-80% in as little as 28 minutes when plugged into a DC fast charger. Pricing starts at $68,990, including destination and the obligatory One-Touch Power Top.