Jeep Recon: a modular electric off-roader

The conversation took place at the Detroit Auto Show, sparked by a chance meeting with Ryan Nagode that led to an impromptu walkaround of one of Jeep’s most important upcoming models. Although the all-electric 2026 Jeep Recon had originally made its public debut in Los Angeles, Nagode was keen to talk through the thinking behind its design and positioning as the brand’s first fully electric off-road SUV.

“It’s the all electric, 2026 Jeep Recon,” he said. “It’s based on our STLA Large platform, underpins both gas and electric versions of the Dodge Charger. It’s the same one that’s got Wagoneer underpinnings as well, as well as the new Cherokee.” While shared architectures delivered major efficiencies, Nagode stressed that platform commonality did not mean visual or experiential uniformity. “The key there is that each of our brands are very defined in what their attributes are. And going into the defining stages of the platform, we know we’re going to do a Jeep off of this.”

He described the Recon as “a very handsome, prolific overall design”, deliberately reminiscent of the Wrangler’s forebears. “You kind of see the boxy nature of it,” he said, adding that what impressed him most was how different each STLA Large vehicle appeared in final form. “You would probably never think if you lined the vehicles up that they actually share a platform. So really, 360 degrees around this vehicle, everything’s new, everything’s different, unique for Recon.” From the strong front end to its signature lighting graphics, he said, every surface had been reworked to give the model a distinct Jeep identity.

A very cool feature about the vehicle is that you can take all four doors off, no tools

With no need for a conventional cooling grille, the design team had used lighting to create a bold front graphic. “Obviously no cooling, but we have the lighting to play off of that,” Nagode explained. “That’s also something we did in Wagoneer S for the Jeep brand, as well as the new Grand Wagoneer exteriors, a nice lit graphic.” He added that the front compartment offered “three cubic feet of storage in the front area inside the engine compartment there”, while tow hooks reinforced the vehicle’s off-road intent.

One of the most distinctive exterior features was the black element across the bonnet. Nagode said Jeep had long played with graphic treatments on its off-road models. “If you look at a lot of our off-road products, we have a ton of fun with the graphics,” he noted. On the Recon, this so-called anti-glare patch also had a practical role. “When you’re out there wheeling and the glare of the sun coming at you… all of a sudden you’ll get that strong reflection. So we often call this our anti-glare patch.” On the Moab trim, the Recon’s premium specification, it also served as a strong visual signature.

As the conversation moved along the side profile, attention turned to one of the Recon’s most striking functional attributes: its removable doors. “A very cool feature about the vehicle is that you can take all four doors off, no tools,” Nagode said. “It’s a brand new pin system. Wrangler and Gladiator also have that same system now for 2026.” In keeping with Jeep’s emphasis on open-air driving, he added that “the quarter glass windows as well as the backlight are also removable”, and that “it comes with a little storage pouch so you can store those within the vehicle.”

That sense of continuity between interior and exterior design was central to the Recon’s development. “We have to be thinking about that 100%,” Nagode said. “That wow, okay, my doors are off, I’ve got to be really aesthetically thinking about the connection between the two.” The interior had therefore been conceived with a rugged, almost architectural construction, aligned closely with Jeep’s brand values. 

“From an interior, very rugged construction from a Jeep brand perspective,” he said. “We really like this compass look with this little strip down the centre. You’ve got the strong grab bar on the passenger side.” The team had also embraced colour more playfully than before. “We’re really just trying to have fun with the colours too within the seats,” Nagode added, pointing to “a brand new Joshua Tree tan interior colour.”

Modularity, both inside and out, was another key theme. Nagode acknowledged that customer demand for configurable and adaptable interiors was growing. “I think it is because of the interiors, we’re trying to keep that functionality aspect of it,” he said. “And we’re also seeing that people like different things. People maybe want closed storage, maybe they’re good with open storage. Sometimes it’s tough to assume you’re going to do that from the get-go from the company and get it right.”

While Jeep could deliver a wide range of options directly from production, it was also designing the Recon to support aftermarket and home-built solutions. “There is a lot that we can do from the factory,” Nagode said, pointing to Mopar accessories such as mirror mounts for door-off driving. “But we have the provisions for people who have the ability to build stuff at home now, their SLA machines or any 3D modelling software."