It is always a worry when a manufacturer remakes one of their iconic models, and none more so than the Ford Capri.

The original Capri was much loved when it was launched in 1968, as in a British world of dull cars, the fastback coupe Capri had a whiff of the American ‘big boy’ cars about it. Named after the Italian island of Capri, having been refused the right to use the first choice of name, which was Colt, as Mitsubishi had registered that name, so the Capri was chosen.

Built in Ford’s Halewood plant, production ran from 1968 to 1986. It sold 1.9 million units, was an absolute hit, and was the go-to car for every boy racer, bank robber and TV super sleuth.

Today, that first model is highly prized as a modern classic, with the highest price achieved being £74,250 for a Mk.1 RS3100, and the prices will only climb.

As a Capri owner back in the day, and with the exception of the name, I can see no link to the original model, and that is a great shame, as so many previous owners would have flocked to the car if it rang a bell for them and gave them that sense of the past. Therefore, I have to review this car as a new car and not a sentimental throwback.

It’s fully electric, of course, and therefore drives like every other electric car – fast off the line, silent and relatively soulless – a tag that goes with all EVs. But within that class, it is pretty good and is helped by being based on the VW platform. The quality is good, everything is bolted down well, and there are few complaints about the interior.

The Capri is available in rear-drive 77kWh, 286hp form, or the 340hp, 79kWh, dual-motor, four-wheel-drive (AWD) version. There is also a smaller 52kWh, 170hp version incoming. 

The AWD version has a combined ‘quoted’ range of 346 miles, although my car achieved a late-200-mile range in cool Spring weather, with a 10-80% charge taking 26 minutes. Acceleration from 0-62mph was quick enough, but I don’t think it was fast enough to match the 5.3-second official figure. 

The drive is impressive with little body roll and good grip levels, and it is a very easy drive. Here is the list of standard equipment: blind spot info system, clear exit warning, cross traffic alert with active braking, evasive steering assist, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, front and rear park sensors, rear-view camera, independent adaptive cruise control, two-zone climate control, 5-in digital instrument cluster and 14.6-in adjustable central touchscreen, Bluetooth wireless Apple and Android mirror screening, heated steering wheel and front seats with massage, keyless entry and start, 19-in alloys, and a wireless smartphone charging pad.

No surprise that the dash is shared with the Explorer. It's a clean, horizontally-focused design. Unfortunately, when this is supposed to be a glam, design-led car, much of the structure is a sea of black and grey plastic. At least the fabric-clad soundbar cheers it up a little, and the B&O system in the Premium spec cheers your ears too.

The front seats have integrated head restraints. They're supportive and electrically adjusted as standard. Any driver will get comfy, thanks to straight-ahead pedals and plenty of seat and wheel adjustment. The squared-off wheel is a bit of an acquired taste, mind. The concise driver display is small enough to be seen beneath its rim.

The head-up display is always a great addition, but try as I might, I could not get the seat into a position where I could actually see it. It worked if I lowered the seat all the way down, but then I felt like I was a twelve-year-old who had nicked his dad’s car, trying to peek over the steering wheel.

The whole car is almost like-for-like with the new Explorer we had a few weeks back – motors, interior, the lot. Therefore, you have to ask yourself which one you want, as you’ll effectively get the same car with a different bodyshell.

Personally, I think the Explorer is a much better looking, chunkier car and, surprisingly, it’s £2,000 cheaper like-for-like with the base model of both. The Capri base is £37,485, while the Explorer is £35,285.

It's a bit of a no-brainer to me.