Ford Capri (2024 - )

If you're old enough to remember 70s and 80s TV, then you'll no doubt recall Terry McCann fizzing round the streets of London in his trusty old Ford Capri in Minder. Or perhaps Bodie and Doyle's iconic chase scenes in The Professionals that often ended with one or both rolling across the elongated bonnet of their Capri during action-packed catch-the-baddies scenes. Those were the days! So, when Ford announced the Capri was coming back after almost 40 years, the news was greeted with great anticipation throughout the industry. However, the excitement was somewhat short-lived as we soon discovered it was Capri by name but definitely not Capri by nature. Instead of the sleek streamlined coupe lines of the historical car, the 2024 Capri is a compact five-door,  ‘coupe-esque’ SUV. And don’t expect to hear the raspy engine long before the car arrives either, as new Capri is fully electrified. Customers can choose from trim levels called Select and Premium with the option of a 52kWh battery with a driving range of up to 243 miles or a larger 77kWh unit with a range that extends to 389 miles. Additionally, the Capri Premium can be specified with all-wheel drive and this version features a 79kWh battery, while all other models are rear-wheel drive. 

While we had no intention of chasing cat burglars through the streets of Cardiff, we opted for the range-topping Capri premium with RWD for our test drive.

If you take the all-new Ford Explorer and give it a tapering roofline for coupe-like styling, then you basically have the new Ford Capri. It's a five-door family car that looks appealing from any approach with a blnked0out front end, Martix LED headlights with automatic high beam assist, rear privacy glass, upgraded 21-inch alloys, a panoramic sunroof and stunning Rapid Red paintwork that was an £800 optional extra. there is Ford badging at the front to rear, along with the ‘CAPRI’ name in large letters across the tailgate.

We tested the Capri on the back of the all-new Ford Explorer and the interior is almost identical in every way. Like its stablemate, the main focal point and the car's nerve centre is a smart 14.6-inch portrait infotainment touchscreen with sharp graphics. An unusual feature is the ability to tilt the screen at different angels which is really beneficial on a bright day to avoid glare issues. And when the car powers down, the screen locks down covering the main storage compartments.

The interior looks and feels modern in its design with leather-free seats that are powered and heated. On-board tech is plentiful with full smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a premium 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, sat nav, Bluetooth, DAB radio, a rear-view camera and plenty more besides.

A head-up display shows vital data such as the speed and speed limit, while there is a 5.3-inch driver information screen that adds details such as driving range and battery charge levels.

We would like to see a few more physical controls, but that was our only complaint inside this otherwise driver-focused cabin.

Our Ford Capri Premium RWD test car featured the Extended Range 77kWh battery that delivered 286PS and 545Nm of torque. This resulted in impressive performance stats with a 0-62mph sprint time of just 6.4 seconds and top speed of 111mph.
Out on twisting country lanes, the car feels confident with ample grip and no sign of body movement through tighter corners. There are drive modes to explore for added driver engagement called Eco, Normal, Sport and Individual, with the Sport setting really livening up the performance.
The ride is a little on the firm side, but it’s still comfortable enough on a longer journey, and our car did feature larger 21-inch wheels which would have increased the unsettled nature on uneven surfaces.
With instant acceleration and a single-speed transmission, the Capri easily joins fast motorway traffic from a slower-moving slip road, and it will cruise effortlessly at 70mph. But, be warned, keep a watchful eye on that range if you plan to cover high motorway mileage as the official 346-mile range will drop quite quickly at 70mph.
However, it is easy to recoup some of that lost energy in busy stop-and-go traffic where the regenerative braking system really comes into play. There is a B mode on the gear selector stalk that strengthens the level of regenerative braking so it is possible to drive using just the accelerator pedal in heavy traffic.
 

The new Ford Capri may not have the road presence of its historical namesake, but it is definitely more practical for families. The compact five-door SUV stretches 4,734mm in length, is 2,063mm across (including mirrors), 1,626mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,767mm.
Up front a couple of tall adults can sit comfortably and there is enough room for a couple more in the back provided the front seats are not pushed too far back. Ideally it is best suited to a trio of youngsters and the lack of any central tunnel, resulting in a flat floor, will be welcome news to the middle seat occupant.
The boot is accessed via a powered tailgate and this can hold 572 litres of kit, increasing to 1,505 litres with the 60:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat. But, unlike some rivals, there is no ‘frunk’ (front trunk) beneath the bonnet.
However, there are plenty of practical compartments throughout the cabin to store bits and pieces, including a vast storage compartment beneath the central armrest. This is called a MegaConsole and can swallow laptops, water bottles and plenty more besides. And the added bonus is all the stored items are not on view to prying eyes.
In addition, there is a glovebox, front and rear cup holders, a wireless charging pad, narrow door bins, seat back pockets and some handy trays.
I did find the front USB-C ports difficult to access as they are positioned quite awkwardly, but the rear ones are far easier to use as they are next to the air vents.
Charging the Capri’s larger Extended Range 77kWh battery is simple enough with a 10 to 80 per cent boost taking about 28 minutes via a 135kW fast charger. That said; costs can be kept down by using a lower-powered 7.4kW home wallbox.
 

The entry-level Ford Capri Select model with the smaller 52kWh Standard Range battery and rear-wheel drive costs from £42,075, while at the other end of the scale is the Capri Premium AWD with the 79kWh battery, priced at £56,175.
Our test car, the Capri Premium RWD with the Extended Range 77kWh battery, was priced at £52,175, but it featured a number of optional add-ons that saw the final cost creep up to £56,325. These included Rapid Red paintwork, 21-inch alloys, a heat pump that improves efficiency especially in colder weather, and a Driver Assistance Pack that introduced a head-up display, driver alert, lane positioning with lane change assist, active park assist and a 360-degree camera. 
So, fair to say the Ford Capri is a far cry from the sub-£1,000 price-tag of the 1980s. However owners can recover some of the cash via a number of government-led incentives such as free road tax and being exempt from Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone fees. But, sadly these are being cut back or withdrawn completely this year.
Any fleet drivers considering the Ford Capri as a business car will be rewarded though thanks to its attractive two per cent Benefit in Kind tax rating.
 

Ford is proving that you need to move with the times to succeed even when it involves modernising a one-time classic model. Admittedly with the lack of interest in sports coupes these days, the original styling of the Capri would probably struggle to gain much momentum, so it makes sense to give the 2024 version a coupe-esque look with SUV practicality.
But there is so much competition out there right now with a constant stream of new arrivals, so it is difficult to predict how successful the Capri will be. And for potential buyers who do take the plunge, expect to be questioned about your choice. On more than one occasion during my short-term loan I was told in no uncertain terms “that’s not a Capri!”.