Ford Capri review: A successful reinterpretation as an electric car

When they hear the name "Ford Capri," many people think of the cult icon from days gone by. Not quite. With the new Capri, Ford has revived the name and created an electric car that impressed in many ways review. This review reveals which small details Ford could still improve to create the perfect package, and why VW connoisseurs will feel right at home here.

And finally ... From the moment I first got in, I immediately felt at home in the Capri – and my test passengers completely agreed. No wonder, because Ford is doing a lot of things right here: The yellow (yes, subjective opinion!) paint job and the friendly LED lights at the front immediately make this SUV coupe and "all-electric sports crossover" a standout. The low fuel consumption at higher speeds and in cold temperatures, the assistance systems, and the new software platform are also impressive.

On the other hand, not everyone will be happy with the touch buttons on the steering wheel and the touch volume control in the center console. However, we're familiar with this dilemma from numerous manufacturers, especially VW, with whom Ford clearly collaborated closely on many aspects of the Capri (more on this below). The driving noise in the interior is also above average at high speeds. The new software platform is well-designed, even if some settings aren't yet intuitively placed and there are no apps. Electric seat adjustment on the front passenger seat and faster charging speed would have been nice extras, but these can be overlooked—at least in the latter case, given the low fuel consumption.

Nice yellow SUV – how does that fit with the cult Capri?

I was particularly taken with the Vivid Yellow exterior paint. As we all know, tastes differ, but animals also seem to like the color. I've never seen so many cat paws and various bird droppings on my car during the test drive. A comparison with the Capri of the 1970s reveals hardly any similarities, which is often criticized in reviews by colleagues. But Ford emphasizes that the new Capri looks like what you would imagine a modern counterpart to look like. Anyone who ignores this point will have little to complain about visually – I personally think the design is successful.

Picture: TechnikNews

Those who prefer a more subtle look can choose from the additional color variants "Frozen White," "Agate Black Metallic," "Magnetic Grey Metallic," "Blue My Ming Metallic," and "Lucid Red Metallic." Surprisingly, at 4,63 meters long, it's also longer than the Ford Explorer. Furthermore, the Ford Capri measures 2,06 meters wide with exterior mirrors, and 1,63 meters high to the roof edge.

Picture: TechnikNews

What's certainly more enjoyable compared to the iconic model is the generous trunk. It offers a capacity of 627 liters, and 1.510 liters with the rear seats folded down. However, at 2,2 tons, the Capri is no longer a lightweight.

Interior à la Ford, with a touch of VW

The interior also scores points for comfort. Starting with heated seats and steering wheel in the first row – and even a massage function for the driver's seat. The lack of electric seat adjustment for the front passenger is a bit of a shame. The sport seats offer comfort and good cornering support. The optionally configurable panoramic roof makes the interior feel even larger, but unfortunately, it can't be darkened.

Practical: The center console offers ample storage space with 17 liters and can be used flexibly – as a cup holder or storage box. Clever: The "My Private Locker" below the display automatically locks personal belongings when the screen is turned off.

Less practical: Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in portrait mode feel unusual, and many apps aren't yet optimized for it. Furthermore, the low-positioned display is slightly distracting from the road.

The B&O sound system provides rich sound, and bidirectional charging is also possible. What cannot be denied, however, are the similarities to VW. This is no secret, as the two companies have been collaborating for years. Some elements, such as the door controls, the cockpit display, the lighting control system, and the technical underpinnings, are based on the same platform as the VW ID.4. Everything else (chassis, engine, charging management, body, and interior) is proprietary.

Familiar driving behavior

The handling immediately feels familiar, and there's even a start-stop button (whether needed or not). The standard D mode doesn't offer one-pedal driving—those who want that have to switch to B mode every time they start. VW's familiar assistance systems act proactively, even without cruise control: braking and recuperation are automatic at intersections, curves, or when cars are ahead. Everything can be individually configured.

Picture: TechnikNews

One point of criticism: The speed warning, which warns when the permitted speed limit is exceeded according to EU regulations, cannot be deactivated directly via a shortcut - this must be done manually after each start.

Unfortunately, the touch buttons on the steering wheel are imprecise in operation—as is the case with many manufacturers. Above around 100 km/h, wind noise becomes comparatively loud in the interior; better insulation would be desirable. Otherwise, the Capri offers excellent ride comfort, a balanced chassis, and good cornering—it handles really well. Our test vehicle (0 kW / 100 hp / 210 Nm) sprinted from 286 to 545 km/h in around 6,4 seconds, with a top speed of 180 km/h.

Impeccable assistance systems

• The Matrix LED high beam, which masks cars perfectly, but shines over the central barrier on the motorway and sometimes blinds trucks.
• The Steering assistant, which works wonderfully in typical VW style and even keeps to the right on roads with no middle lane or orientates itself towards the vehicle in front.
• The possibility of Head-up displaysthat clearly displays all information at a glance.
• The Traffic sign recognition, which in most cases works very reliably and automatically adjusts the speed to the adaptive cruise control takes over.

The 360-degree rearview camera could have a higher resolution, and the size of the camera image could certainly be improved. A nice extra: There's even a cleaning function for the rear camera if it gets dirty. This can be activated using a small button to the right of the surrounding area indicator.

Revised software

Compared to other Ford vehicles, such as the Mustang Mach-E, the company has completely revised and rebuilt the software. Not a bad move, as many things now work significantly faster than before, and the entire interface now looks much cleaner. Even though some settings menus aren't yet in the optimal location in my opinion, the system starts very quickly and responds reliably to all inputs.

Additionally, all screen pages can be customized and arranged as widgets, just like on a smartphone. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay work wirelessly and reliably. Furthermore, various functions can be controlled via the FordPass app. Unfortunately, we weren't able to test this feature, but we'll do so when we get the chance.

What's missing? More entertainment apps (e.g., media libraries or browsers) to pass the time while the phone is charging would be welcome. Switching between light and dark mode doesn't always work reliably.

Economical consumption, mediocre charging performance

An important issue for electric drivers is, of course, fuel consumption, but also the need for the vehicle to be ready to drive again quickly. The maximum charging power and battery capacity also vary depending on the vehicle variant (standard/premium, rear-wheel/all-wheel drive). In our test, up to 135 kW was possible, with a capacity of 77 kWh. According to the WLTP specifications, our test Capri should achieve a range of 598 km, with a WLTP combined power consumption of 14,6 kWh/100 km.

Most people should be aware that WLTP values ​​do not fully reflect reality. TechnikNews We tested the Capri for nearly 1.500 kilometers under Austrian conditions (a mix of highways, country roads, and towns; 130 km/h, 100 km/h, and 50 km/h, respectively) at temperatures between 0 and 10 degrees Celsius. Our average consumption was around 20 kWh/100 km, which corresponds to a total range of approximately 385 kilometers.

Picture: TechnikNews

The charging performance is somewhat disappointing: The 135 kW DC is only maintained up to about 20%, after which the speed drops noticeably. A charging process from 10–80% takes approximately 35 minutes – with optimal preconditioning, which can require up to 45 minutes of preconditioning. A positive aspect: The battery can be preconditioned manually or automatically (depending on the navigation route). AC charging is possible up to 11 kW.

Ford Capri variants and prices

Our test vehicle is the Premium variant (rear-wheel drive, extended range) with:

• Premium B&O sound system

• Matrix LED headlights

• Electric tailgate

• Heat pump (+1.300 €)

• Driver assistance package (+1.300 €)

• Panoramic roof (+1.200 €)

Total price: €58.790 (including 20% ​​VAT, 0% NoVA). With bonuses, the model is currently available in Austria starting at approximately €54.000.

This price is probably too high to make electric mobility attractive to the masses (but this applies to all brands in general) – compared to the competition, however, the Capri ranks in the current market with a very good price-performance package.

• Further details on the Ford website

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