Prices dropped.
Not dramatically. Not by enough to make your heart stop racing. But for the Ford Explorer and its slimmer, sharper cousin, the Ford Capri, the price tag just got friendlier. They qualify for the UK’s Electric Car Grant now.
There’s a catch.
The smaller Ford Puma Gen-E gets the top-tier treatment, a full £3,500 hit-off because its motor is built right here. Local pride pays. The Explorer and Capri? They don’t get that same warmth from the government. They only snag the base Band 2 discount, which amounts to a modest £1,500.
Still money saved though.
That discount shaves the Ford Explorer’s base price down to £33,685. The Capri, designed with more style than space in mind, sits a bit higher at £35,485. That’s an £1,800 premium for that sloping roofline and sharper aesthetic.
You don’t need to buy the most expensive version to get the deal on the Explorer.
Pick your trim—Style, Select, or even the loaded Premium—and you can still claim the grant. The Premium model has restrictions. You’re locked into the rear-wheel drive setup, a 60kWh battery, and 187 horsepower. It’s supposed to manage 275 miles on a charge. Just enough to stay under the £42,006 ceiling required for the grant eligibility.
The other trims offer a different story.
Style and Select buyers can opt for the Extended Range package. It packs 282 horsepower and promises up to 374 miles according to the WLTP tests. More power. More range. And you still keep that government check in your pocket.
The Capri owners get less choice.
Only the base powertrain qualifies, whether you buy in Style or Premium spec. You get the discount, sure, but the menu shrinks significantly if you want that coupe-like silhouette.
So where does this leave them against the competition?
They’re playing catch-up.
These cars are basically re-badged Volkswagen ID.4s, sharing the same platform. The ID.4 also gets that £1,500 grant and starts at £35,495. It’s a dead heat, financially.
Then there’s Renault.
The Scenic starts at £33,245 and offers a 381-mile range, all thanks to landing in that more generous grant band. It’s cheaper than both Ford’s offerings. It’s longer-ranged too.
Maybe the styling is enough for some. Or maybe we’ll just wait to see who blinks first on the next round of cuts.
