Once upon a time, there was a car called the Ford Capri. It was affordable, it was beautiful, and it made everyone feel like a film star. As long as that film was The Sweeney. It was the car you bought when you wanted an Aston Martin but could only afford a Ford Cortina.
Well, now it’s back. Only this time it’s electric, and the proportions have changed somewhat. Where the original Capri was lithe and low-slung, this one has been on the pies. It’s broader, taller and sits firmly in crossover territory, which tells you everything you need to know about what the market wants in 2026.
Inside
Inside, the 1970s are nowhere to be seen. No vinyl seats, no fake wood, no smell of damp carpet. What you get instead is a 14.6-inch portrait touchscreen, which is the very definition of high-fidelity smugness, plus a small digital readout for the vitals and a physical slider for volume and temperature that lights up at night. Given this came from the VW Group, which apparently forgot to include a volume knob two years ago, that last point feels like genuine progress.
Rear legroom is generous, a marked improvement on the coupe of old. Boot space comes in at 570 litres, which is enough for three Labradors and a weekend’s worth of family arguments. There are also mood lighting controls, currently set to yellow. Watch for red if your blood pressure rises.
Performance
When you drive it, the performance is on point. The torque is instant, the throttle sharp. Not in a hang-on-to-your-trousers Tesla way, but it’s responsive and rewarding. Because it’s rear-wheel drive, there is a hint of the Capri playfulness of old.
Two versions are available. The rear-wheel-drive model produces 282hp. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive version steps up to 335hp and covers 0 to 62mph in 5.3 seconds, which is pretty respectable for something you could legitimately take on the school run.
The steering is nicely weighted, though not especially sharp. The square steering wheel gives the cabin a slightly Star Trek feel, and the overall character is more Audi e-tron than boy racer. Ford’s calibration does add a touch of liveliness to what is otherwise a very German car. As though someone in Cologne let someone from Essex make a few of the final calls.
Range and charging
The Capri runs a 77kWh battery. The rear-wheel-drive version returns a WLTP range of up to 389 miles; the all-wheel-drive version manages around 350 miles. To put that in context, that’s approximately four full tanks in a 1970s Capri. Progress.
Fast charging is supported at up to 185kW, meaning a 10 to 80% charge takes around 28 minutes. It also supports bidirectional charging, which means the car can power your home, your tools, or, if you’re so inclined, another vehicle. Useful for businesses that want to think of their fleet as a mobile energy asset.
The fleet case
As a pure EV, the Capri qualifies for a 3% benefit-in-kind rate due to zero CO2 emissions, which is a compelling argument for any SME operator looking to reduce the tax burden on company car drivers. The five-star Euro NCAP safety rating is equally important for duty-of-care obligations.
Ford’s Full Protect service plan offers a 5-year package with scheduled maintenance every 24 months at unlimited mileage. For fleet managers who want predictable costs without the admin overhead, that is a genuinely sensible option.
Verdict
This is not the Capri your dad remembers. It doesn’t slide, it doesn’t roar, and it doesn’t smell of fags and petrol. It is, ultimately, another crossover SUV that happens to wear a legendary badge.
At just under £42,000, it sits above the VW ID.5 price point, and for some drivers, that premium and the Ford badge won’t add up. For Capri devotees of old, it almost certainly won’t cut it.
But for a business driver who wants something that looks slightly more interesting on a Tinder profile, while also clearing HMRC’s 3% BIK hurdle and covering nearly 400 miles between charges, the new Capri makes a rational, if not exactly romantic, case for itself.
Fleet focus
TCO – Total Cost of Ownership
Capital Expenditure: UK pricing starts at approximately £41,950 for the entry-level Select model and can rise to £52,185 for the fully loaded Premium AWD version.
Tax Benefits: As a zero-emission vehicle (0g/km CO2), it qualifies for a low Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) rate of 3% for the 2025/26 tax year, rising to 4% in 2026/27.
Residual Value: The Capri’s ‘cult classic’ status and modern EV architecture help it remain desirable in the used market, though fleets should note it is subject to standard EV depreciation curves.
Fuel Efficiency
Extended Range RWD: Offers up to 627 km (389 miles) WLTP range with a combined consumption of 13.3–14.0 kWh/100 km.
Extended Range AWD: Provides up to 592 km (368 miles) WLTP range with a consumption of 15.0–15.8 kWh/100 km.
Charging Costs: Based on the 77–79 kWh battery capacity, a full charge at home (roughly 7p/mile equivalent) remains much cheaper than a petrol alternative.
Maintenance Cost
Battery Warranty: Standard 8-year or 100,000-mile high-voltage battery warranty, guaranteed to at least 65% capacity.
Standard Warranty: Typically 3-years or 60,000 miles for general vehicle components.
Service Intervals: Fleet data indicates a service frequency of every 24 months with no mileage cap (999,999 miles), significantly reducing the number of annual garage visits.
Downtime
Rapid Charging: To minimize ‘refueling’ downtime, the AWD model supports 185 kW DC fast charging, allowing a 10% to 80% charge in approximately 26 minutes.
Roadside Assistance: New Capri purchases include two years of free Ford Roadside Assistance.
SMR Management: 12 months of free Ford Pro Vehicle Management Software is often included with business purchases to help fleet managers track vehicle health and schedule repairs.
Safety
Safety Rating: 5-Star NCAP overall rating.
Standard Tech: 12 ultrasonic sensors, 5 cameras, and 3 radars supporting Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Lane-Keeping Aid, and Pre-Collision Assist.
Insurance Groups: Typically Group 19E to 30E depending on the trim and driver assist packs, notably lower than premium competitors like the Range Rover Sport (Group 50).
