Jeep Recon Won't Be EV-Only After All

Stellantis' Investor Day 2026 event brought an array of new announcements from the Franco-Italo-American carmaker, chief of which is a massive product offensive centered on the company's four global brands: Ram, Jeep, Peugeot and Fiat.

No fewer than 60 new vehicle launches and 50 significant model refreshes are coming from Stellantis by 2030 across all brands, including 39 ICE/mild hybrid vehicles, 29 battery-electric vehicles, 24 hybrid electric vehicles, and 15 plug-in hybrid or range-extended electric vehicles.

The presentation provided details about each brand, and there were some interesting tidbits of information about what U.S. buyers should expect for the Jeep brand.

Gas Or Hybrid? Or Both?

The most surprising one is the fact that the Jeep Recon all-electric off-roader, which is expected to reach U.S. dealerships this summer, will also offer a combustion engine variant. First revealed in 2022 as an all-electric off-road SUV, the Recon hasn't even reached U.S. showrooms yet and Jeep is already talking about a major powertrain update.

Stellantis has confirmed that the Recon is getting an internal combustion engine (ICE) version. The automaker did not provide details about the gas engine it will put in the Recon, nor did it say when the Recon ICE model will launch.

However, given Stellantis' product plan, the Recon's gas engine could get mild hybrid assistance, if not a full hybrid or PHEV setup. Now, the Jeep Recon's STLA Large multi-energy platform, which is shared with the all-new Cherokee hybrid and the Wagoneer S EV, provides some clues.

While BEV-native, STLA Large can also accommodate other types of powertrains, including hybrid (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and internal combustion engines (ICE).

Given the U.S. market's growing appetite for hybrids, we cannot rule out the possibility of the Recon getting a self-charging hybrid powertrain like the new Cherokee has. We're talking a dual-motor hybrid system that pairs a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine with two motors housed directly in the front-mounted hybrid eCVT transmission assembly.

One motor acts exclusively as a generator for the battery, while the other connects to the main drive ring gear to provide direct power to the wheels and supplement acceleration at low speeds. The powertrain delivers a combined 210 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque and achieves an estimated fuel economy of 37 MPG combined, thanks in part to the automatic rear-axle disconnect system.

The Recon Is Also Compatible With the Hurricane Straight-Six Engine

If Jeep has a lot more performance in mind for the Recon, it could always offer the ‘Hurricane' twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six cylinder engine from the Dodge Charger, which is available with either 420 hp or 550 hp and comes with standard AWD.

It remains to be seen what ICE-based powertrain Jeep has in mind for the Recon; it may as well go down the PHEV route as this type of hybrid powertrain provides more electric-only range and an EV-like driving experience.

Besides the ICE Recon, Jeep's product plan also includes a revival of the Scrambler muscle truck-likely as a 2-door Gladiator with Hemi V8 power as well as Hellcat-powered high-performance Grand Cherokee and Grand Wagoneer versions. The all-new Jeep Compass is also reportedly be coming stateside after its recent debut in Europe.

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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 7:15 AM.