Jeep's Recon Went 160 Miles in Car and Driver's 75-mph Test Against a 222-Mile EPA Rating

Car and Driver's highway range test returned 160 miles from the 2026 Jeep Recon Moab's 94 kWh battery, against an EPA estimate of 222 miles. The result is 72% of the rating and 1.7 miles per kWh.

Electrek and The Autopian both reported the figures on October 2. The Autopian describes the protocol as a full charge and a steady 75 mph. Neither write-up includes a statement from Jeep, and neither gives the ambient temperature.

1.7 miles per kWh, on a battery the Wagoneer S shares

The cleanest comparison is internal. Electrek says the Jeep Wagoneer S uses the same platform and the same 94 kWh battery, and went 280 miles in the same test, about 3 miles per kWh. Dividing 160 miles by 94 kWh gives the Recon's 1.7, which Car and Driver called one of the least efficient EVs in more than 100 highway tests, as Electrek quotes it.

1. GMC Hummer EV Edition 1290 miles
2. Jeep Wagoneer S (94 kWh)280 miles
3. Rivian R2 (87.9 kWh)260 miles
4. Jeep Recon (94 kWh)160 miles

Source: Electrek and The Autopian, citing Car and Driver, accessed 2026-10-02

The Hummer EV Edition 1 weighs 9,640 pounds, 3,450 more than the Recon's 6,190, and still went 290 miles at about 1.4 miles per kWh, according to Electrek. Weight alone does not explain the Recon's result. A heavier vehicle went further.

Where the energy goes

Electrek attributes the gap to design choices: 33-inch tires, 9.1 inches of ground clearance, removable doors and an aerodynamic shape set by off-road use. The Wagoneer S sits lower and is built for the road. The Recon's two motors make 650 horsepower and 620 lb-ft of torque.

The Autopian sets it against the Rivian R2, which has a smaller 87.9 kWh battery and went 260 miles in the same test against a 330-mile EPA rating. By the same division the R2 reached 79% of its rating and the Recon 72%.

Recon figure	Value
Battery	94 kWh
EPA estimate	222 miles
Weight	6,190 pounds
Ground clearance	9.1 inches
Starting price (Electrek)	$66,995

What the test does and does not say

A steady 75-mph run is a harsher test than the EPA cycles, which mix city and highway driving, so the shortfall is a measure of highway use rather than of a typical week. The Autopian puts the price nearer $70,000, higher than Electrek's $66,995 starting figure, which likely reflects trim.

The Recon trades road range for ground clearance, and the Autopian's author calls 160 miles "just not acceptable out of that big of a battery." Other EV makers are under their own pressure: GM's Equinox EV fell more than 90% in the third quarter, and Tesla's 2026.38.3 update changed how its cars leave a Supercharger. Neither changes the Recon's miles per kWh.

What would change this read is the full Car and Driver data: the temperature, the tires fitted and the state of charge at the finish, none of which the two write-ups give. Jeep has not published a response.