New Ford Capri review: electric fastback tested on UK roads

I've made a promise to myself not to draw any attention, in this review, to the fact there are plenty of people out there who argue this new Ford Capri is an insult to the brand's heritage, and the car from which it borrows its name... Oh, wait, I've accidentally just done it, haven't it? Oops. Oh, well, in for a penny.

The truth is I really don't care. When the new Capri was announced I did perhaps quietly hope we'd get another sporty coupe with a bouncy back end, dodgy interior trim, and more than a whiff of Essex Boy about it. But then I remembered I didn't really like the original Capri all that much, and I've since found myself defending the new one, because I actually think it's quite attractive and, as a sort-of-SUV, it's very of its time.

Some of the loudest voices came from the naysayers who spend far too much time on the internet decrying electric cars, because the new Ford Capri is all-electric. But that doesn't bother me either. We're past all that silliness now, surely?

Finally cutting to the chase, the new Capri is now a "fastback" with the profile of a jacked-up saloon with a sloping rear roof, and there's a certain air of sportiness to it, and a few subtle nods back to the original Capri, if you squint.

There's a 52kWh battery option with 170bhp and a 240-mile range, and then a 77kWh Extended Range version with up to 385 miles.

Prices start comfortably below £40,000, and quickly head into the 50s, depending on the spec you choose. But they're all quite well equipped.

Despite its sporty pretensions, the Capri is surprisingly spacious inside, and that's mainly because it feels big to drive. It's one of the things that surprised me most as I spent a week getting properly acquainted with it.

Another surprise came in its road manners. Of course, it's heavy, but it hides its size and bulk well, and rides neatly, grips securely, and there's little in the way of roll. Is it sporty? Not really, but Ford has done a decent job of the handling, and it's a nice thing to pootle around the country lanes in.

The dashboard is shared with its stablemate, the slightly more functional Explorer, but there are sporty seats, some slightly nicer materials, and a little detail on one of the spokes of the steering wheel that feels a little bit 1980s. I quite like it.

Most of the controls are, predictably, locked into the large central screen, but it's a pretty good infotainment system, and when the car is unlocked, it can slide back to a more upright position to reveal a hidden storage cavity. It's a neat touch, but a particularly horrible action. It doesn't glide, it judders uncomfortably into place. Shame.

And then there's the buttons on the steering wheel. They're touch-sensitive, which always irks me. Physical buttons are so much easier to use.

Otherwise, the interior is practical and comfortable. The boot is enormous for a fastback, at 567 litres, which makes up for the fact that there's no storage under the bonnet, despite it being quite a sizable thing.

If you really insist on being one of those people who can't bring themselves to consider this car as an option because you're too precious about its name, more fool you. I'm not convinced it would sell any more strongly with a more modern moniker, because it's a good car in its own right, and if you're in the market for this kind of thing, your prejudices could lead to you missing out on something really rather good.