Ford Capri review – a comfortable, well-built EV

Verdict – is the Ford Capri a good car?

The new Ford Capri is a hugely capable EV that boasts a well-built, high-quality interior, comfortable ride and potent powertrains. It’s better to drive than the closely-related Volkswagen ID. models, but it’s still nothing to write home about, and doesn’t live up to the sportscar image of its forebear. And that’s the main problem – the new Capri is a good car that’s worthy of its own name, and pinching one of the most iconic in Ford’s back catalogue only serves to set fans up for disappointment for a car with a completely different spirit.

Ford Capri models, specs and alternatives

Much to the chagrin of many an enthusiast of the Blue Oval, the iconic Ford Capri has made its comeback as a five-door high-riding EV. It’s yet another in the brand’s lineup of resurrected names, joining the Mustang Mach-E electric SUV and the small Ford Puma SUV, both of which have also pinched their names from iconic sports cars of the brand’s past.

The latest Ford Capri is actually the result of the latest partnership between Ford and Volkswagen, with the American brand taking EV tech from the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 cars and using it in the new Capri and Explorer.

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To put it bluntly, there’s very little in the latest Capri’s design that really harks back to the original unless you look closer at some of the styling details such as the rounded rear side windows. Other than that, though, it gets a fairly conventional three-box silhouette and a high ride height that some have said inadvertently resembles that of the Polestar 2 EV – that’s not necessarily a bad thing at all, but we would have expected something a little more retro-inspired for such an important name.

The Capri launches with a few different battery and motor options, starting from £42,075 – that positions it at the more expensive end of the market when you compare it to rivals. As with the Explorer, there are two trim levels named Select and Premium and a few options packs to tack on top should you wish. 

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At such prices, Ford might be even harder-pressed to convince buyers this is ‘the car you always promised yourself’ as the old Capri may have been – ok, sorry, from here on out we’ll consider the latest model by its own merits rather than comparing it to the 70s and 80s icon, and you should, too.

The base model of the new Capri gets a 55kWh battery paired with a single motor, though that model will arrive later down the line. To start with there are two variants, one of which gets a 77kWh battery paired with a single motor mounted to the rear axle, dubbed the Extended Range RWD, and the other of which gets a slightly larger 79kWh battery and dual-motor all-wheel drive – the Extended Range AWD.

In EV terms, the Extended Range RWD’s range figure is pretty good, and it’s able to do up to 390 miles on a charge. The Extended Range AWD’s increased grip and performance comes at the cost of some range, and it’s able to do up to 346 miles on a charge.

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The new Ford Capri is an electric-only model, so the emphasis here is on efficiency, low running costs and zero emissions. In that area it actually does quite well, because it boasts a competitive range figure compared with rivals, even if it’s not class-leading. 

The smallest entry-level 55kWh battery option will arrive a few months down the line, but from launch there’s a choice between a 77kWh battery with a rear-mounted electric motor in the Extended Range RWD model, and a 79kWh dual-motor model dubbed the Extended Range AWD. The Extended Range RWD is the model with the best stamina in the lineup, though, and is capable of up to 390 miles on a charge.
 

How efficient is the Ford Capri in the real world?

During our time with the Ford Capri we couldn’t quite match the quoted range figures, but it did come close to the official quoted efficiency stats when driving around town at lower speeds in warm weather, achieving 3.8 miles per kWh. This will drop in colder temperatures, so it’s worth specifying the heat pump if you want a better chance of conserving range.

What will the Ford Capri cost to insure?

With the Capri only just hitting the market, Ford hasn’t yet confirmed insurance group ratings, though they’re likely to be similar to the Explorer with which the Capri shares a platform.

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Ford has long been famed for offering a better driving experience than rivals, and the Ford Capri is no exception. While it may be based on the same underpinnings as the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5, the Capri feels slightly more connected and involving than that car.

If it’s a refined and smooth driving experience you’re after, the Ford Capri has got you covered in that sense, too. There’s barely any electric motor whine to speak of, and when you put your foot down, rather than an aggressive surge of acceleration, things pick up more sedately.

Like many other modern cars, the Ford Capri gets a selection of drive modes: Comfort, Sport, Eco, and a customisable Individual setting. We actually found the difference between these to be very minimal, and Sport doesn’t feel much more engaging or powerful. 

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The fact is, Ford’s engineers have done a good job of achieving a well-rounded balance of drivability and comfort in the Capri, whatever mode you leave it in. It’s surprisingly comfortable, ironing out the blemishes in rougher roads well. The steering feels well weighted and precise, perfectly suiting the performance on offer.

Visibility is ok, but the dashboard is rather high, which might bother you if you prefer a lower driving position.

Is the Ford Capri good to drive in town?

The Ford Capri’s smoothness is well suited to driving around town. We found it easy to modulate the accelerator without jerking forward harshly, which makes it a comfortable car in stop-start traffic. 

Is the Ford Capri good to drive on long journeys?

The Ford Capri feels well suited to motorway driving because its ability to smooth out bumps extends to higher speeds. Even when on the larger 20-inch wheels it never feels too hard, and the steering isn’t too twitchy, so changing lanes is easy to do gradually.

Is the Ford Capri good to drive on B-roads?

It would be a stretch to call the Ford Capri sporty, but it’s much more engaging to drive than the Volkswagen ID.5 on a twisty road. The Ford Capri feels connected and yet at no point does it feel like this comes at the expense of ride quality. For some extra grip and performance there’s also the dual-motor version – it feels noticeably more potent, but the rear-wheel drive version will be powerful enough for most.

Carbuyer notes

“The Ford Capri feels well resolved. The ride is especially impressive, with a good level of compliance over rough roads and a polished slickness to sharp intrusions on the road, such as speed humps or manhole covers.” Jordan Katsianis, Senior staff writer.

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While the Ford Capri may borrow lots of its switchgear from Volkswagen, Ford has at least done a good job of disguising that fact for the most part. It uses the same interior design as the Ford Explorer (essentially the Capri is the coupe-SUV version of that car). That’s no bad thing, though – everything feels well built, functional and modern. Despite what you might expect, though, there are no overt retro-inspired homages to the original Capri here.

Quality is good, and perhaps as a result of Volkswagen’s collaboration, it all feels solid. There are lots of soft-touch plastics used around the cabin, and synthetic leather on the seats feels durable, yet sumptuous.

Is the Ford Capri infotainment and navigation system easy to use?

The infotainment screen on the Capri’s dashboard is a massive 14.6 inches in size and is pretty easy to use. The software is responsive and after a little time it’s easy to get used to everything’s place on the system, making it intuitive. 

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, so there’s always the option to connect your phone and use those familiar systems should you prefer. 

While we’d rather have physical controls, the climate functions are at least permanently accessible, as well as other key functions. 

Is the Ford Capri well equipped?

The Ford Capri isn’t the best equipped at this price range, but it’s by no means spartan. You get a choice between two trims called Select and Premium for Extended Range AWD models, while the Extended Range RWD can only be had in the base Select trim. It’s good that features like wireless smartphone charging are included, but we found this to be painfully slow to charge and often stopped working properly.

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The Ford Capri is a large car that, despite a ‘coupe’ design that incorporates a sloping roofline, is more comparable in size to an SUV. The fact that it’s an EV also allows for a flat floor, devoid of the kind of intrusions from the mechanical under-car gubbins you’d find on conventional combustion-engined cars, so it’s pretty spacious.

The rear seats are roomy and there’s plenty of headroom on offer, plus lots of hidden compartments to store knicknacks, such as the one behind the infotainment screen. Up front it’s by no means cramped, but Ford’s decision to place a large centre console between the front passengers means it feels a little more snug than in the back.

There are just two ISOFIX points – one for each of the outer rear seats. A high window line does mean the back seats get a more restricted view than you’d get in the Explorer, however.

Does the Ford Capri have a big boot?

The Ford Capri is a coupe-SUV that lets you have your cake and eat it, because despite having a sloping roofline and racier appearance, the boot isn’t that much smaller than that of the Ford Explorer. That said, its shape is less practical, as you might expect, so if practicality is the priority you’d be better off with the boxier car.

Unfortunately the Ford Capri doesn’t come with frunk up front, because Ford has placed lots of the electric components under there.

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Of late, Fords have unfortunately performed very badly in our Driver Power customer satisfaction surveys, placing in a lowly 30th out of 32 manufacturers. You might try to counteract that by saying most of the Capri’s underpinnings are supplied by Volkswagen – but that brand doesn’t do much better either, coming in at a disappointing 29th.

We’ve not heard any horror stories with Volkswagen’s EV technology, but 23.4% of its owners reported an issue with their car (not just the EVs) in the first year of ownership, while 20.8% of Ford owners reported the same. The Capri and Explorer were both delayed in the lead up to their launch, with Ford wanting to make sure it ironed out issues before they went on sale, which should ultimately be a good thing.

How safe is the Ford Capri?

The Ford Capri is yet to be tested by Euro NCAP but we’d expect a five-star result on par with the closely-related models produced by Ford and Volkswagen that have already been tested. There are lots of safety assistance systems as standard, such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist, but you’ll have to go for the optional Driver Assistance package if you want Driver Alert, Lane Centring and active Lane Change Assist, not to mention a 360-degree parking camera.

What is the warranty on the Ford Capri?

Ford’s warranty is hardly competitive in 2024. Its cars are covered for up to three years or 60,000 miles, which is only average by modern standards. In fact, many rival companies now cover their cars for up to five years, or in the case of Kia, seven years or 100,000 miles. Even Toyota will cover its cars for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles, so long as they’re serviced annually via an official dealer.

Should you buy a Ford Capri?

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You should definitely be considering the Ford Capri if you’re after an electric model with an attractive design, good build quality and driving experience, but without beating about the bush, this is a Capri by name only and classic Ford fanatics might want to sit this one out.

The new Ford Capri is superbly well rounded, with plenty of power on offer and importantly, a competitive electric range that should make it easy for the average buyer to work it into their life. There’s not much to differentiate the Capri from the closely-related Explorer aside from the styling, so if you want even better practicality go for the latter.

The Ford Capri drives well, especially compared to the Volkswagen ID. models on which it’s based. It’s no sports car, though, and it’s not the last word in driving fulfilment generally. It’s best to look at the new Capri and judge it on its own merits, rather than in the shadow of the classic sports car, then – once you do that, there’s a lot going for it.

What is the Carbuyer pick of the Ford Capri range?

Stick to the Ford Capri Extended Range RWD model – it may be less powerful, but it offers better range than the AWD model and it’s still potent enough for the average buyer who will appreciate going longer on a charge anyway. Select trim has most of what you’d want equipped, but if you really want the uprated sound system and panoramic roof, go for Premium.

Ford Capri alternatives

The Ford Capri goes up against a mix of rivals, some of which are closely-related electric models from Volkswagen, or high-riding, sleek EVs like the Polestar 2 with which the Capri’s styling has been compared.

• Polestar 2
• Ford Explorer
• Volkswagen ID.5
• Peugeot E-3008
• Tesla Model 3

How we tested the Ford Capri

We tested the Ford Capri in October 2024 in Marseille, France.