Ford is quietly turning its most affordable electric SUVs into far more compelling everyday tools. The base Capri and Explorer now deliver longer range and stronger performance, without abandoning their role as the entry point into the brand’s EV line-up. For you, that means more real-world flexibility on a single charge and a bit more shove when you pull away from the lights, all while staying in the most budget-friendly versions.
The upgrades focus on the Standard Range variants, which are usually the ones you cross-shop against combustion rivals. By reworking the battery chemistry and fitting a more muscular motor, Ford has stretched how far you can drive between plug-ins and shaved time off key acceleration benchmarks. The result is a pair of EVs that feel less like compromise choices and more like smart, future-proof daily drivers.
Standard Range gets a smarter battery
The heart of the update is a new Standard Range battery that trades complexity for durability and cost control. Instead of the previous nickel-manganese-cobalt pack, Ford now uses lithium-iron-phosphate cells, a chemistry you are starting to see across the industry for mainstream EVs. The company confirms that the Standard Range battery improvements include a Capacity increase from 52 k to 58 kWh, which gives engineers more usable energy to play with while keeping the pack relatively compact and affordable.
That chemistry shift from NMC to LFP is not just a lab detail, it is the main reason you see a meaningful range bump in the entry-level Capri and Explorer. Ford explicitly links the range boost to its decision to move from NMC cells to the new LFP layout in these Standard Range packs, a change that also helps reduce reliance on more expensive materials and should improve long-term durability for high-mileage drivers. By building the Explorer and Capri Standard Range around this simpler LFP architecture, Ford is clearly signalling that it wants these models to be the accessible on-ramp for drivers making their first switch to electric.
Real-world range: beyond the 400 km psychological barrier
For you as a driver, the headline is simple: the Capri and Explorer Standard Range can now go further on each charge, enough to change how you plan your week. With the updated powertrain, Ford says the pair gain up to 70 km of extra range, pushing both EVs comfortably beyond the all-important 400 km mark on the official test cycle. That 400 km figure is more than just a number for marketing slides, it is the point at which many drivers stop worrying about whether an EV can handle a full day of mixed commuting, errands and a spontaneous evening detour without a mid-journey top-up.
The detailed figures underline how far the Standard Range versions have come. The electric Explorer Standard Range now offers a WLTP driving range of up to 444 km, or 275 miles, while the Capri Standard Range is quoted at 288 miles on a charge. That 288 miles figure, highlighted as a direct result of the New battery chemistry in the Capri, puts it squarely in the same conversation as many larger and more expensive EVs. When you combine those numbers with the reassurance that the updated Ford Explorer and Capri can travel longer distances between charges, as explained in the company’s own Q&A on How far the Ford Explorer and Capri can now go, you end up with entry-level EVs that feel ready for more than just city duty.
Extra shove from a stronger motor
Range is only half the story, because Ford has also addressed one of the common criticisms of base-spec EVs: that they can feel a little flat when you ask for full power. A new motor now fitted to the entry-level Capri and Explorer improves both power and torque, lifting outputs to 187 bhp and 258 lb ft. Those figures represent a clear step up from the previous 168 bhp and 229 lb ft, and they translate into more confident overtakes and brisker acceleration when you merge onto a motorway or pull away from a junction. The upgrade is framed as a way to make the cars feel more responsive in everyday use, not as a performance trim, which suits the Standard Range positioning.
That extra shove is particularly noticeable in the way the Capri and Explorer respond at typical urban and suburban speeds. With the stronger motor, the Standard Range versions now cut their benchmark sprint times, making them feel less like stripped-back fleet specials and more like well-rounded family cars. Reporting on the entry-level Capri and Explorer highlights how this new motor improves the pair’s power and torque outputs to 187 bhp and 258 lb ft, up from 168 bhp and 229 lb ft, which is a sizeable gain for models that still sit at the bottom of the price list. By focusing these changes on the most affordable versions, Ford is making sure you do not have to stretch to a long-range or dual-motor variant just to enjoy a car that feels eager, as detailed in the coverage of the new motor.
Capri vs Explorer: how the upgrades play out
Although the Capri and Explorer share their core hardware, the way you experience these upgrades will depend on which body style you choose. The Capri leans into its heritage nameplate with a more coupe-like silhouette, and the improved battery chemistry means the entry-level Capri will be able to cover 288 miles on a charge. That figure, highlighted in coverage by Alastair Crooks, shows how the New Capri uses its sleeker shape to squeeze the most out of the Standard Range pack. If you value style and efficiency, the Capri’s combination of the LFP battery and the uprated motor makes it an appealing alternative to more conventional crossovers.
The Explorer, by contrast, is the more upright and family-focused option, and the same LFP-based Standard Range battery helps it deliver that WLTP figure of 444 km, or 275 miles, despite its boxier profile. Ford has been clear that it is the Explorer and Capri Standard Range versions that benefit from these LFP upgrades, positioning them as the gateway to the brand’s electric line-up in Europe. The company’s own communications on how far the Ford Explorer and Capri can now drive on a single charge, framed around the question With the new battery option, underline that both models have seen a real-world improvement in usability. When you combine those official figures with independent reporting on the updated Explorer Standard Range and Capri Standard, you get a consistent picture of two EVs that now feel properly sorted for everyday family life.
Pricing, positioning and why it matters to you
All of these technical changes would matter less if they pushed the Capri and Explorer out of reach, but Ford is explicitly targeting value-conscious buyers with the Standard Range upgrades. The company has said that the updates focus on the most affordable Standard Range versions of both models, which means you get the benefit of the new LFP battery and stronger motor without being forced into a higher trim. Coverage of these changes notes that the improvements are designed to keep the entry-level versions attractive while still passing savings on to buyers, a point reinforced in reporting on the More Range and story around these cars.
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