Stellantis has publicly condemned two influencers after a viral video showed them dismantling parts of the new fully-electric Jeep Recon during the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show. The clip, which spread quickly across social media, reopened the debate over how pre-production prototypes ought to be treated at auto shows.

The automaker explained that the show car mocked for its poor build quality was a hand-assembled pre-production prototype, not the finished model, describing the creators’ actions as “destructive.”

Online Outrage or Honest Critique?

The viral video, posted by an LA-based channel called “The Middle Lane,” has drawn more than 1.1 million views and 2,300 comments on TikTok since November 22. It reportedly appeared on YouTube and Instagram as well, though it has since been removed from both platforms.

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The creators blasted the build quality of the latest Jeep, saying they expected better fit and finish for a vehicle with an MSRP of $65,000. They are shown removing and then reattaching plastic pieces from the Recon’s interior, including trim around the center console and above the digital instrument cluster.

They also zoom in on uneven gaps between materials on the door panels and wiggle the infotainment screen and passenger grab handle, saying they were simulating “off-road use.”

@themiddlelanes Jeep Recon Moab build quality… #laautoshow #tiktokcartalkcontest #electriccar #buildquality ♬ original sound – The Middle Lane

Stellantis Responds

In response, Stellantis released a statement: “The vehicle in question is a preproduction show car, built exclusively for reveals and events to highlight the design inspiration for the final product. These prototype units are typically hand-built and not intended to demonstrate final production, durability, quality, or integrity of materials.”

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Kaileen Connelly, Senior Vice President of North America Communications at Stellantis, added in an email to the Detroit Free Press: “The actions taken to disassemble the all-new Jeep Recon on display at the LA Auto Show were both destructive and unprofessional.”

What the Creators Say

The Detroit Free Press later spoke with Luke Miani, founder of “The Middle Lane,” who said they were surprised by the video’s reach and the conversation it triggered. According to Miani, their intention had simply been to share “thoughts on many different cars.”

Addressing Stellantis’ statement, he explained, “I want to push back on the claims of ‘destructive’ conduct as the video clearly shows the clips holding certain interior parts together were loose and the parts easily pop out by hand without damage.”

He added that he looks forward to seeing the production version of the Recon, hoping that “the build quality is indeed improved.”

How the Public Reacted

Reaction online has been mixed. Some commenters expressed disappointment with what they perceived as poor craftsmanship, placing blame on Stellantis. Others defended the automaker, noting that the vehicle was a pre-production demo unit brought to LA for the show and never intended for close physical inspection.

The story also gained traction on Reddit, where many users criticized the influencers for “unprofessionalism,” while others argued that automakers should be more discerning about who gets access to display cars.

One self-identified “interior trim engineer” commented that building pre-production models is “way different” from production, describing a process where “employees are working on a table with a drill and some screws” long before an assembly line is operational.

The electric 2026 Jeep Recon is scheduled to enter production in early 2026 at Stellantis’ Toluca plant in Mexico. Initial deliveries in North America are expected shortly after, with global rollout planned for the final quarter of the year. The first version, a Moab trim exclusive to the US and Canada, will start at $65,000, with more affordable variants to follow

Jeep is taking another swing at zero emissions adventure with the 2026 Recon, the first fully electric, Trail Rated Jeep, one that packs sports car-level acceleration, and promises real off-road ability. But the timing might raise eyebrows.

With EV sales slowing, companies like Ram scrapping planned electric utilities and Jeep’s first EV, the Wagoneer S struggling for sales, is this the right moment to launch a $65,000 electric off-roader?

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The Recon range will expand in time but for now Jeep is launching with just one trim, the dirt-lovin’ Moab. It comes with a single motor mounted at each end of the 112.9-inch (2,870 mm) wheelbase platform, the pair together pushing out numbers that are strong, even if they don’t set any EV records.

What Powers Jeep’s Electric Trail Machine?

The Recon delivers 650 hp (659 PS) and 620 lb-ft (841 Nm) of torque, which is 50 hp (51 PS) and 3 lb-ft (4 Nm) more than the priciest version of Jeep’s first US EV, the road-biased Wagoneer S that rides on the same STLA Large platform.

It also hits 60 mph (97 kmh) in a speedy 3.6 seconds and claims a 250-mile (155 km) range from its 100 kWh battery, compared with 3.4 seconds and 294 miles (473 km) for the Launch Edition Wagoneer S. But that inconsequential difference in acceleration, and rather more worrying range gap is the price you pay for genuine off-road chops.

Only the Recon gets Jeep’s Trail Rated stamp of approval, the one you’ll have seen on vehicles like the Wrangler, meaning it’s passed a series of tough tests to prove its ability to ford water and clear obstacles that would make a crossover cry.

Mud or Midtown?

To earn that Trail Rated badge the Moab features 33-inch tires and a 15:1 final drive at the rear for extra torque multiplication when things get messy. It has selectable locking differentials Selec-Terrain driving modes, including a Rock mode that’s exclusive to the Moab, and Selec-Speed Control to make light work of steep inclines or rocks.

The 100-kWh battery is protected by a full set of steel skid plates, and suspension components like large CV joints and half shafts have been beefed up to handle all that torque.

Unlike the solid-axle Wrangler, the Recon’s suspension is independent via short-long arm (SLA) at the front and integral link at the back. And it skips the combustion SUV’s vague recirculating ball steering for a modern rack and pinion setup.

That bodes well for on-road comfort, where the Recon operates mostly as a RWD vehicle, but what about those all important off-road angles? A 33.8-degree approach, 23.3-degree ramp and 33.1-degree departure angle are no match for the new V8-powered Wrangler Moab 392’s 46.7, 24.5 and 39.8-degree stats.

Some of that can be chalked up to the 193.3-inch (4,911 mm) Recon being almost exactly the same length as a Wrangler, but riding on a 5.5-inch (140 mm) shorter wheelbase, and having far less daylight beneath its floorpan.

The Recon loses the ground clearance battle by a big margin, 9.1 (231 mm) inches playing 11.1 inches (282 mm) in the Wrangler Moab, and up to 12.9 inches/328 mm on other Wranglers.

Classic Jeep Design With a Modern Edge

Still, that’s more trail ability than 99 percent of people will ever need, and at least the Recon looks the part. The design stays true to Jeep’s roots with a boxy stance, upright grille and four-square proportions.

The illuminated grille rings, flush door handles, and contrast roof options give it a modern edge without losing the heritage feel, buyers also getting the option to replace the standard dual-plane sunroof for an optional Sky One-Touch power top.

And yes, you can remove the doors, the swing gate glass and the quarter windows, for those really hardcore adventures without needing any special tools.

Try that in your Rivian R1S. Moab trim brings a few design tricks of its own, including tough-looking black coloring for the front and rear fascias, the fender flares, uniquer badge and an anti-glare hood graphic.

Jeep’s Biggest Screen

The cabin sticks to the adventure theme, blending durable materials with forward-looking tech and looking nothing like the inside of a Wagoneer S. A horizontal dashboard layout and grab handle nod to classic Jeep interiors, but a 26-inch digital display area stretches across the dash made up of a 12.3-inch digital cluster and 14.5-inch touchscreen – the biggest in any Jeep – running Uconnect 5.

That screen’s generous dimensions should make it easier to see the pitch and roll mapping on the automaker’s Trails App, as well as checking out the camera views. And if you want to bring your own camera, a modular accessory rail is ready for your GoPro.

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Audio comes from a standard Alpine system, and Jeep has even relocated the speakers under the seats so the sound doesn’t vanish when you pop the doors off.

How Much Does It Cost?

The 2026 Jeep Recon EV will be built at Jeep’s Toluca Assembly Plant starting early next year, priced at $65,000 for the Moab trim. But expect that price to fall later as other trims, and less powerful motor setups become available – or just through massive discounts if the Recon proves as tricky to sell as the Wagoneer S.

No doubt, Jeep is taking a bold bet on a market that’s still figuring out what it wants. How do you rate the Recon’s chances?