Jeep Recon Highway Range Test Falls 62 Miles Short of EPA Estimate
Car and Driver recorded 160 miles at 75 mph, noting the Recon is expected to travel further at lower speeds.
A new highway range test by Car and Driver revealed that the 2026 Jeep Recon achieves significantly lower mileage than its official EPA estimates when driven at constant highway speeds. The electric SUV managed just 160 miles at 75 mph, underscoring the trade-offs inherent in its off-road-focused design.
What Happened
Car and Driver drove a brand-new Jeep Recon on the highway at a constant speed of 75 miles per hour until the battery was depleted. The vehicle traveled 160 miles on a full charge, a figure that is 62 miles less than the Recon's official EPA-estimated combined range of 222 miles and 36 miles shorter than the EPA estimate for highway-only driving. The test resulted in an average efficiency of approximately 1.7 miles per kilowatt-hour. This performance is driven by the vehicle's boxy body, non-aerodynamic bumpers, and large wheels, which are necessary for its off-road capabilities but result in higher energy consumption. The Recon is equipped with a 94-kilowatt-hour usable battery pack (100.5 kWh total). Notably, InsideEVs, which typically tests at 70 mph, observes that the Recon is expected to travel further at lower speeds than the 75 mph benchmark used in this specific test.
Why It Matters
For potential buyers and current owners, the test data provides a realistic benchmark for long-distance travel planning. InsideEVs applied the 10-to-80% state-of-charge rule of thumb to the Car and Driver data, calculating that the usable range drops to approximately 112 miles at 75 mph. This necessitates frequent charging stops on highway trips. While Jeep claims a 10-to-80% charging time of 23 minutes, which is competitive, the high energy demand means owners will face higher electricity costs compared to more efficient EVs. The efficiency rating places the Recon among the least efficient EVs currently sold in the United States, though it slightly outperforms the GMC Hummer EV and Mercedes-Benz G 580 Electric, which achieve about 1.4 miles per kWh. InsideEVs noted that during their own short time with the vehicle, the instrument cluster showed around 2.5 miles/kWh at lower speeds, illustrating the significant impact of speed on efficiency.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 Jeep Recon's highway range is substantially lower than its EPA combined estimate, reflecting its design priorities for off-road performance over aerodynamic efficiency. Buyers must account for frequent charging and higher energy consumption if they plan extensive highway driving, though range improves when cruising at lower speeds.
