The Ford Capri launched in autumn 2024 with up to 390 miles of range and a revived nameplate that made some people’s blood boil. Al Suttie tests it out for a week.

Ford Capri Premium AWD

List price (BiK): £56,120 (2%)    CO2: 0g/km    Economy: 346 miles   Test efficiency: 246 miles

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Monday

It seems odd that a mid-size electric SUV is one of the most contentious new car launches of the moment when there are so many cars in this class. Yet the Capri name for Ford’s latest model has stirred up plenty of debate. Frankly, I’m not bothered about the repurposing of the name, much as I like a throaty V6-powered coupe as much as the next driving fan.

Tuesday

The Capri is, in essence, a more coupé-roofed version of Ford’s Explorer, which I tested recently and liked. There’s still plenty of room in the boot of the Capri for bags and boxes, and there’s a tray under the boot floor to stash the charging cable. It also comes with a plastic basket that fixes into the left-hand cubby in the boot. Not sure I’d take it into Tesco, but it’s useful for those smaller items being stored in the boot.

Wednesday

That coupé roof line means less headroom for those in the back. Not a problem for younger kids, but my teenage son, who is now as tall as me, found his bonce brushing the ceiling. He also mentioned his legs were a bit uncomfortable on an hour-long trip this evening as the floor pushed his thighs up and away from the cushion.

Thursday

On my way home from Perth in rush hour and it’s my turn to join a busy roundabout to get on the A9 and home. There’s no issue here thanks to the Capri offering 0-62mph in 5.3 seconds, so it squirts into a gap in traffic and gets up to speed with ease. Cruising on the dual carriageway at 70mph, battery range takes a dip, though, and the 246-mile range in the cool of winter makes me think about recharging sooner rather than later.

Friday

A top-up charge this morning and a few minutes to ponder the front cabin of the Capri. As a car with an illustrious name, I do feel Ford could have made some nods to the original’s interior as it has with the Mustang Mach-E. It’s not to be, however, and the inside of the Capri could pretty much be any current EV SUV in this class. Can’t help feeling it’s an opportunity missed for some fun.

Saturday

Just as I’m getting into the Capri after a supermarket raid, a loud voice from the car next door informs me “That’s not a real Capri.” The face attached to the voice then goes into a monologue about how wrong the name is for this car as if I’m personally responsible. This heckler is duly ignored but it shows the residual love for the name, as well as some people’s inability to engage politely.

Sunday

The last couple of days with the Capri are marred by a 12V battery fault that leaves the can incapable of selecting forward or reverse gears. Harry, the superb AA patrol operative, arrives quickly and is very helpful and polite. He also notes this is the first new Capri he’s been called to but is unable to diagnose the problem, so the car is recovered to a Ford dealer. A call at the end of the day lets me know the car has been sorted, but no offer from Ford to return the car to me.