Cupra Born Review

How much does it cost?

Cupra Born prices start from £35,690 in entry-level V1 form, which brings a good amount of equipment for the money, including 19-inch wheels and sporty bucket seats. At the other end of the scale is the more powerful VZ model, which comes in at £44,820 but does get the quickest acceleration time of the lot. The Born’s popularity means that there’s plenty of choice on the used market, though. There are some great deals to be had, in fact, with examples of that range-topping VZ model available via AA Cars for £35,989 with just 521 miles on the clock. Entry-level V1 models can be found for an impressively big discount, too, with certain models priced at £24,995 with just 29 miles on the odometer.

Engine and performance

Overview

While all Cupra models use a rear-mounted electric motor as standard, there are some differences in battery sizes. In fact, there are two to choose from - 59kWh and 79kWh. The key change between the two is range, of course; you should get around 260 miles from the smaller unit, or 345 miles with the larger one. The range-topping VZ model gets the longest range of the lot, too, with Cupra claiming up to 366 miles from a full charge. The 59kWh models can charge at speeds of up to 165kW, while the 79kWh model can accept a slightly quicker rate of 185kW, which will help to bring a 10 to 80 per cent charge in around 30 minutes for both versions.

Out on the road

There’s a lot to like about the way the Cupra Born goes down the road. For starters, visibility isn’t bad at all, with a good view out to the road ahead. All models benefit from plenty of ‘zip’ away from the lights, while range-topping VZ cars feel genuinely quick when you step on it. A relatively compact size means that the Born is also easy to place on the road and it’s a breeze to park, too, with standard sensors and cameras helping in this area. It’s also quiet and refined once you’re on the move, with only a small amount of road noise interrupting things. However, even when on the motorway, the Born stays hushed and this makes it a very relaxing long-distance cruiser.

Ride and handling

The Cupra Born shares a platform with cars like the Volkswagen ID.3 and Skoda Enyaq, but it’s actually quite a bit sportier to drive than both of its cousins. The suspension is firmer - though not too firm - and that means that there’s little body roll through the bends. Range-topping VZ cars get adaptive suspension - it’s available as an option on other models - and this allows you to firm up or soften off the ride depending on the driving situation. It’s a handy feature and, when in its softest settings, makes the Born really comfortable. Handling-wise, the Born does very well. This isn’t meant to be an out-and-out sports car, of course, but through the bends the Born stays true to its line and, because it’s real-wheel-drive, feels slightly sportier compared with your traditional hatchback. Interior and features

Interior and features

Interiors

It’s quite a high-tech place to be inside the cabin of the Cupra Born. Things are mainly focused around the large central touchscreen, which is packed with features but, annoyingly, can be glitchy from time to time and isn’t aided by any physical buttons. That said, the area around the screen feels nicely made and this is carried through to the rest of the car as well. There are plenty of eco-friendly materials used in the Born, too. In fact, most of the surfaces use something called ‘Sequal’, which is a material made from recycled marine plastics reformed into a cloth-like material. It feels robust and pleasant to the touch and don’t worry, there aren’t any seaside smells to go with it.

Boot space and practicality

The Born sits on a dedicated platform called MEB, which has been designed to maximise space while keeping a relatively compact exterior footprint. It’s why you’ll find plenty of leg and headroom for all occupants, despite this being a reasonably small car. In the rear of the Born you’ll also find a completely flat floor, which makes it comfier for three people to sit side-by-side than it might be in your typical hatchback. Boot-wise, the Born offers 385 litres as standard, which is about right for a car of this size and shape. You can lower the rear seats to expand this area further, too. Unlike some other electric vehicles, the Born doesn’t have an additional ‘frunk’ under the bonnet, so you need to keep the car’s charging cables under the boot’s false floor. It makes them a bit of a pain to access if the boot itself is fully loaded.

Features

There’s plenty of equipment included in all grades of Born. There’s a 12.9-inch infotainment system equipped on all models and it features both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, so it’s easy to pair up your smartphone and access those key apps. Entry-level V1 models also get sports seats and 19- or 20-inch wheels, as well as full LED headlights. One negative about the Born’s in-car features is the touch-sensitive heating ‘sliders’ mounted underneath the main screen; they’re hard to use and don’t illuminate at night, so they’re tricky to see.

Most people will be content with the mid-range V2 specification. This adds heated front seats, an augmented reality head-up display and tinted rear windows, among other features. From there, you can opt for V3 with its 20-inch alloys and massage chairs, as well as VZ with its upgraded performance. However, both of these upper trim levels start to increase the Born’s price quite a fair bit.

Trim and colour options

You’re sure to find a trim level which works for you on the Cupra Born. Starting off with the V1, you’ve got LED lights at the front and rear of the car, as well as keyless go and a variety of USB-C charging points located throughout the cabin. As mentioned, there’s a large infotainment system included as standard, as well as a driver’s display. Move up to V2 and you’ll get an augmented head-up display system as well as dual-zone climate control and a heated multifunction steering wheel. The front seats are heated with this grade, too, helping to make things more comfortable during the winter. Head to V3 and 20-inch machined alloy wheels are added alongside grey Dinamica-trimmed bucket seats with 12-way electric adjustment.

The front seats get a massage function with this specification, too. Finally, you’ve got sporty VZ trim. This adds an upgraded Sennheiser sound system with 12 speakers, as well as a wireless phone charger and an electric auxiliary heater which can help to boost efficiency. The available colours for the Born are all quite subdued, with mainly silvers and greys to choose from. An eye-catching blue helps to break things up, though.

Safety and reliability

As standard, the Cupra Born comes with a wide array of safety features. Forward collision warning and lane assist are fitted to all models, as is a huge range of airbags. You’ll find ISOFIX child seat mounting points on the outer rear seats, too. The latest Born was awarded a full five-star rating by expert testers Euro NCAP, with scores of 89 per cent and 87 per cent being recorded for adult and child occupant protection, respectively. As an electric vehicle, the Cupra Born should have less to repair than your standard petrol or diesel car and, as a result, it should be a touch more reliable. That said, certain owners have reported some gremlins with the infotainment system of the car, so make sure that everything is working just fine on a model you’re looking like if you plan to shop for a used example.

MPG, emissions and tax

How much it costs to run the Cupra Born will depend on how you’re able to charge. For instance, if you’re able to access low-cost home charging, then the Born could prove to be very cheap to keep going, with a full charge costing well under £15,000. However, if you need to use public charging more often, then prices could start to creep up. As an electric vehicle, the Cupra Born doesn’t emit any CO2. You’re looking at a standard 12-month rate of £195 in road tax for the Born as a result, though certain models do creep over £40,000 and on these cars, you’ll need to pay that additional Expensive Car Supplement payment which adds £425 per year for the first five years after registration.