Ford

Capri

If you’re expecting the 2024 Ford Capri to resemble the car of the 1970s then expectations will be met with disappointment. They share only one thing in common – the name. The latest Capri is a coupe-styled SUV that is fully electrified and available with a choice of trims and battery sizes. It is generously equipped and drags an iconic name kicking and screaming into the 21st Century.

Test Drive

Ford Capri – First Drive (2025)

If you grew up in the 70s or 80s, you’ll recall the golden age of TV with less channels to choose from but staunch favourites such as Bodie and Doyle in The Professionals and Terry McCann in Minder. Both great shows, but the common denominator was the car – the good old Ford Capri.

Fast forward to modern times and expectations were sky-high when Ford announced the return of the icon – it was like a trip down memory lane as we waited for the sleek, sports car with a bonnet that seemed to stretch forever!

But the excitement was short-lived because the ‘new’ Capri is nothing like its ancestor and shares only one thing, its name. Instead, the latest Capri is fully electrified and despite boasting coupe-inspired styling, it is in reality a compact SUV.

Customers are offered a choice of trim levels called Select and Premium and, additionally, there are two battery options – the 52kWh unit can deliver 243 miles on a single charge whereas the larger 77kWh unit increases the range to 389 miles. A further option is offered in the form of an AWD version of the Capri Premium with a 79kWh battery, while all other models are rear-wheel drive.

Prices start from £42,085 for the Capri Select with the smaller battery and increase to £56,175 for the Capri Premium AWD version. We opted for the Premium RWD model priced at £52,175, but options such as a heat pump, 21-inch alloys, red paint and a Driver Assistance Pack that introduced a head-up display, active park assist, lane change assist and a 360-degree camera saw the final price climb to £56,325.

So not a cheap car then, especially as new Government rulings mean EV drivers are no longer exempt from road tax or the Expensive Car Supplement anymore either.

Design-wise, if you imagine the original car hitting the gym and pumping weights around the clock, then the end result would be the 2024 model with its tapered roofline, grille-free front end, Matrix LED lights, rear privacy glass, panoramic sunroof, striking 21-inch alloys and sporty Rapid Red paintwork.

Moving inside, the cabin is quite minimalist in its design and layout with a 14.6-inch portrait infotainment screen being the main focal point and offering access to the many on-board features. These include a B&O premium sound system, smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, sat nav, a rear-view camera, Bluetooth and plenty more besides.

A clever feature of this screen is its ability to be tilted. That may sound a bit gimmicky, but on a bright sunny day, it prevents any glare issues. And when the Capri is not being driven, the screen locks down to cover the main storage compartments and protect any valuables from view.

Behind the steering wheel is a compact 5.3-inch screen that shows your speed, battery charge levels and driving range and the head-up display is also a plus-point to keep a watchful eye on the speed.

The leather-free seats are powered so it’s easy to find a comfortable driving position and, although we would like some extra physical controls so as not to be so touchscreen-dependent, the cabin is a very pleasant place to be.

When it comes to performance, the Ford Capri delivers quite a punch with instant acceleration out the starting blocks. The 77kWh battery delivers 286PS and a mighty 545Nm of torque resulting in a 0-62mph sprint time of just 6.4 seconds with a top speed of 111mph.

It’s a family car that will cruise at 70mph on motorways and that sharp turn of pace makes light work joining flowing traffic from a slip road. But remember, the faster you drive an EV, the quick the battery range drops.

When faced with twisting country lanes, the Capri is confident through tight bends with tight body control and reassuring grip. There are drive modes to suit every mood and these are called Eco, Normal, Sport and Individual with the Sport setting unlocking the car’s full potential.

The single-speed automatic transmission is nicely timed and the steering is well weighted with plenty of driver feedback. Then in busier town centres with lots of cars, cyclists and pedestrians at every turn, the good all-round driver visibility is a plus-point – it’s so much better than the 1970s car in that respect!

A ‘B’ mode allows the driver to strengthen the level of regenerative braking which helps to capture energy in stop-and-go traffic and this in turn boosts the battery levels.

With active families in mind, the Capri stretches 4,734mm in length and offers plenty of cabin and storage room. A couple of six-footers can sit comfortably up front and there is space in the back for two adults or three children without too many complaints.

There is no extra frunk space beneath the bonnet, but the boot, accessed via a powered tailgate, can swallow 572 litres of kit, extending to 1,505 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. And elsewhere there is a MegaConsole beneath the front console with room for laptops, water bottles, and all manner of items. In addition, there is a glovebox, door bins, front and rear cup holders, seat back pockets and a wireless charging pad.

When it comes to boosting the Capri’s Extended Range 77kWh battery, a 10 to 80 per cent charge can be achieved in 28 minutes via a 135kW fast-charger. But if you want to keep day-to-day running costs to a minimum, using a 7.4kW home wall box will be the most efficient, especially if you can charge overnight when energy supplier tariffs are often lower.

All in all, the new Ford Capri is an impressive EV, but we can’t quite reason why the ‘Capri’ name was chosen. On more than one occasion during my week-long test drive, I was told in no uncertain terms that it was “NOT A CAPRI!” And from a design point of view, they are spot on.

However, the latest incarnation needs to be judged on its own merits and it is a capable, efficient and well-equipped coupe-SUV that is modern in every aspect, apart from its name.