Ford Capri review

The original Ford Capri was a stylish coupe designed to be affordable for the masses back in its heyday. Now, decades after the name was mothballed by the brand, this beloved moniker has made a comeback.

There’s a big difference this time round, though, as the new Ford Capri is a fully-electric SUV. It’s safe to say that Ford’s choice of name has stirred up some controversy among fans of the original. We’ll leave it up to you to decide whether the Capri’s resurrection is a genius marketing tactic or a travesty. Instead, we’ll focus on the merits of what is a pleasingly capable and family-friendly electric car.

The Ford Capri shares several components with the Ford Explorer, and this, in turn, means there’s also some Volkswagen DNA to be found within the mix, thanks to Ford’s EV platform partnership with the Volkswagen Group. The Capri is positioned as a sleeker alternative to the Explorer and it does a reasonable job of standing out in the increasingly crowded coupe-SUV sector.

One area where the Capri struggles to escape its Explorer roots, though, is the driving experience. While there’s a reasonable amount of shove on offer from both the single- and dual-motor powertrains, no variant of the Capri can really be described as fun to drive — another reason why fans of the original Capri are a bit upset.

The single-motor models are rear-wheel drive, and power comes courtesy of either a 55kWh battery returning up to 242 miles on the WLTP combined cycle, or a larger 77kWh battery pack, which can cover up to 389 miles. The four-wheel drive, dual-motor Capri features a slightly larger 79kWh pack, and this provides up to 346 miles between charges.

The dual-motor setup has the most power for shifting this near 2.1-tonne EV, too. A total of 335bhp and 679Nm of torque on tap means a 0-62mph time of 5.3 seconds. The 77kWh single-motor model isn’t too far behind, though, completing the landmark sprint in 6.4 seconds thanks to its rear-mounted motor producing 282bhp and 545Nm of torque. Both cars have a limited top speed of 111mph.

The smaller 55kWh Ford Capri is slightly more subdued in the acceleration stakes, but it certainly isn’t a slouch. 168bhp and 310Nm of torque mean a 0-62mph time of 8.7 seconds, as well as a 99mph top speed.

While things remain largely pleasant and refined when driving the Ford Capri, both in town and on the motorway, spirited driving through fast corners results in a controlled experience rather than an entertaining one. 

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For those who prioritise capability over character, though, the Capri should tick the right boxes. Very little of the Explorer’s cabin space has been sacrificed in order to achieve the Capri’s more curvaceous exterior, and up to five occupants will be able to sit comfortably inside. There’s a decent amount of useful storage on offer, too, while the 527-litre boot should prove more than enough for most everyday needs.

This all comes at a considerable price, though, as the entry-level Ford Capri starts from just north of £42,000 for the 55kWh model. Opting for the 77kWh car bumps the price up and over the £48,000 mark, while the 79kWh dual-motor commands more than £56,000. Along with the powertrains, there are also two trim levels to choose from: Select or Premium. 

Select trim includes a 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 19-inch wheels, a reversing camera, all-round parking sensors, electronically adjustable and massaging driver’s seat, heated front seats, keyless entry and start and intelligent cruise control.

For those who are willing to shell out a premium of around £4,100, the range-topping Premium trim adds in a powered tailgate, panoramic glass roof, Matrix LED headlights and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

At these kinds of prices, there are plenty of electric SUV rivals for the Capri to contend with. First of all there’s its very own sibling, the Ford Explorer, as well as its Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 cousins. On top of these models, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Peugeot E-3008 and Vauxhall Grandland will enter the equation, to name just a few.

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The Ford Capri doesn’t set any new standards for charging speeds or battery range, but the line-up does offer some highly respectable figures nonetheless.

The headline-grabber in terms of range is the single-motor model with 77kWh battery pack. This car has an official WLTP combined range of 389 miles when fitted out in Select trim, but the range-topping Premium trim’s larger wheels knock this down to 369 miles.

For those who desire more power, the dual-motor car’s 79kWh battery returns up to 346 miles on the WLTP combined cycle, so the trade-off between range and performance is fairly minimal. The smallest 52kWh battery pack, meanwhile, is also a pretty admirable performer when it comes to distance, as this carries an official WLTP combined figure of 242 miles.

Our 77kWh test car returned an average of 3.8m/kWh when we drove it at fairly low speeds on a mixture of roads in warm weather. It remains to be seen how the colder winter months will affect the Capri, but the optional heat pump will almost certainly be a sensible investment.

When it’s time to top-up, the 52kWh battery has a peak DC charging rate of 145kW, the 77kWh is slightly slower at 145kW, while the largest 49kW pack can reach speeds of up to 185kW. The result is a 10-80% rapid charging time of between 25 and 28 minutes, depending on your chosen model.

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With prices ranging from £42,000 up to over £55,000, the Ford Capri isn’t a cheap car to buy, and it commands a few thousand pounds more than the closely-related Ford Explorer. 

There’s nothing unusual about these prices in the wider electric coupe-SUV sector, though, as the Volkswagen ID.5 starts from over £45,000. The Skoda Enyaq Coupe is even costlier at over £46,000, while the Volvo EC40 starts from more than £51,000. In short, the Ford Capri actually looks well priced compared to similar alternatives.

When it comes to running the Capri day-to-day, it shouldn’t prove too harsh on the bank account as all electric cars are exempt from VED road tax until April 2025. For those who are considering the Capri as a company car, this will incur a 2% Benefit-in-Kind tax rate, which is far less than any combustion or hybrid model. 

While insurance won’t be notably cheap, it shouldn’t set alarm bells ringing, either, as the Ford Capri line-up sits in groups 20 to 33. In comparison, the Volkswagen ID.5 resides in groups 25 to 41. 

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The original Ford Capri was a punchy ‘pony car’ that offered a bit of muscle car magic. The new car still provides a decent shove when you floor the right-hand pedal, but it’s ultimately a bit lacking in the excitement department.

Rather than throwing occupants back into their seats in an aggressive manner, the Capri offers a steady surge of power when you need to get a move on. Even the least powerful 52kWh model produces a reasonable 168bhp and 310Nm of torque from its single, rear-mounted motor. This allows this 2.1-tonne EV to cover the 0-62mph dash in 8.7 seconds, and then proceed on to a 99mph top speed.

Rear-wheel drive models fitted with the larger 77kWh battery get a power boost up to 282bhp and 545Nm, which sees the 0-62mph time reduced to 6.4 seconds. This car also has a higher top speed of 111mph. 

The most powerful dual-motor variant shares this 111mph top speed, but its 335bhp and 679Nm outputs allow it to cover the 0-62mph sprint in just 5.3 seconds. It’s a safe bet that most modern Capri buyers will probably prioritise efficiency over performance, though.

This may be a good thing, too, as although the modern Capri is perfectly capable of keeping up with traffic (as well as overtaking it), it falls short of putting a big smile on the driver’s face. During testing, the Ford remained well composed in corners (a notable achievement for a car of this size and weight), and it felt comfortable and refined enough that we’d be happy to take it on long journeys. However, spirited driving wasn’t a particularly rewarding experience.

For prospective buyers who are more fussed on efficiency, comfort and the other sensible qualities, though, the Capri is still a strong all-rounder.

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The Ford Capri’s interior has an impressive level of build quality with plenty of appealing features.

The dashboard’s centrepiece is a 14.6-inch touchscreen display operating a bespoke version of Ford’s SYNC software. We found this pretty easy to fathom and the large screen means it’s straightforward to decipher any information that’s being displayed. If you aren’t a fan of Ford’s system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also come as standard.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any physical climate controls, but there are dedicated controls embedded on the touchscreen, and these aren’t too frustrating to use. The driver’s information screen, meanwhile, is refreshingly simple and easy to read.

Elsewhere, some components such as the steering column stalks and gear selector have been borrowed from Volkswagen, but the overall quality of the interior is very good and a big step in a promising direction for Ford. Rather than focussing on chintzy materials, the designers have taken a more low key approach with everything feeling sturdy and built to last.

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While several of the current coupe-SUV crop bring style at the cost of practicality, the Ford Capri actually retains the lion’s share of the Ford Explorer SUV’s versatility and space.

Regardless of its sloping roofline, the cabin still offers a plentiful amount of leg and headroom in both the front and rear. The Capri’s flat floor means rear passengers have ample space for their feet, too. 

There’s a handful of useful storage cubbies for smaller items, which will prove particularly useful for families. There’s even a cleverly designed hidden compartment behind the infotainment screen itself.

For bigger items, the boot stands at a substantial 527 litres with the rear seats in place, although there’s no under-bonnet storage due to electrical components taking up the space.

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Both the Ford Capri and Ford Explorer are fitted with numerous components that have already been tested in the real world by Volkswagen, so teething problems should now be well and truly ironed out.

Seeing as the new Capri is a bit more family-oriented than its ancestors, this fully-electric SUV is fitted with a generous helping of advanced safety kit including intelligent cruise control, road sign recognition, lane departure warning, wrong way alert and lane-keeping assistance. 

Euro NCAP’s testers are yet to get their hands on the Ford Capri, but the Ford Explorer previously scored a full five stars, so we’d be surprised if this car failed to match its sibling.