Cupra Born Review (2022-present)
Cupra Born cars for sale
4.0
Expert review
Pros
More entertaining to drive than most EVs
Long range with 77kWh battery
Sharp and stylish looks
Cons
Busy ride
Annoying touch-sensitive controls
Not as roomy as a Skoda Enyaq
The CarGurus verdict
The Cupra Born drives as well as it looks, and it's one of the most compelling electric cars there is if you’re after something that’s affordable but fun and stylish. It’s also a practical family hatchback and the purchase and running costs are comparable with its rivals. The proliferation of annoying touch-sensitive controls is by far its greatest frustration.
It’s other big problem is the Renault Megane E-Tech, which has a better user interface and the edge for handling and ride comfort. At the other end of the priority list, for anyone who values space more than handling and style, then the Skoda Enyaq iV certainly offers more room for your money. For all that, the Cupra Born looks really great and drives well, and it’s very easy to see why you might fall for its hi-tech charms despite the plethora of competition.
What is the Cupra Born?
The Cupra Born was the first bespoke model from Cupra, the sporty Spanish brand that was spun off from what was Seat’s performance sub-brand. It is another Volkswagen Group company, then, so it’s no surprise that the Cupra Born shares its rear-wheel-drive MEB platform and many parts with the Volkswagen ID.3. It's been offered with three battery packs over time, meaning that you could choose from 45-, 58- or 77kWh battery options with official WLTP range figures of 211-, 263- or 335 miles. The entry-level option has since been discontinued, and a higher-performance VZ model has been introduced with a larger battery pack of 79kWh and a range of 372 miles.
Power output also varies depending on the battery size, although all get only one electric motor. The entry-level 45kWh battery has 148bhp, while the mid-range 58kWh battery gets either 201bhp or 228bhp, although onlt the more powerful option remains today. The 77kWh car has the same 228bhp, while the 79kWh VZ hot version has 322bhp.
The chief selling point for the Cupra is its sporty styling and handling. The frowning fascia and the Cupra brand’s trademark copper-coloured highlights throughout the interior make it feel quite different to the comparatively sedate ID.3, and it's more engaging to drive.
How practical is it?
The Cupra Born ticks the boxes in terms of practicality. There’s more leg- and headroom for front and rear passengers than you’ll find in a Volkswagen Golf, for instance, meaning six-foot passengers should be able to get comfy in four of the five seats. The exception is the middle-rear seat, because it's pretty narrow, and shoulder space is too tight to fit three bodies alongside each other comfortably.
The boot space of 385 litres is more than sufficient for a double buggy or a big dog. In fact, the Cupra and the VW ID.3 are a touch roomier and more practical than the Peugeot e-2008 despite the Peugeot’s pseudo-SUV stance. The sports seats are also very comfortable and supportive, with plenty of adjustment.
What's it like to drive?
We haven't driven the old entry-level Born with the 45kWh battery, but we’d hazard a guess that it may feel a touch humdrum given its 0-62mph time of 8.9 seconds. We haven't driven the most powerful VZ version, either, but by the same logic, we'd expect plenty of razzmatazz given its 0-62mph figure of 5.6 seconds.
The versions in between have more than enough gumption to feel sporty, so suit the Born's racy character. Ok, so it’s ultimately no quicker than the VW ID.3, and rivals such as the Renault Megane E-Tech offer similar performance, but that’s not a problem.
It’s the way the Cupra goes around corners that sets it apart from the ID.3; everything is tauter and more entertaining in the Cupra Born, so you really can have fun on a decent road when the mood takes you. We’d stop short of calling it an electric hot hatch, but it’s certainly one of the more entertaining electric family hatchbacks, even if the Renault Megane E-Tech just about pips it on handling.
The payoff is the ride, which feels a little chatty and busy over town roads, but it’s well controlled enough to not be a deal breaker for most. The optional dynamic chassis control (adaptive dampers) could be a wise move if you spend a lot of time on scruffy urban roads. These are standard on the VZ, meanwhile.
Technology, equipment and infotainment
There’s a very healthy amount of equipment in the Cupra Born, which is offered in V1, V2, V3 or VZ trims. Even the entry-level V1 gets 18-inch alloy wheels, full LED lights, adaptive cruise control, a rear view camera and a heated steering wheel, while V2 adds heated front seats, tinted rear windows, 19-inch alloys and a head-up display. Top-spec V3 brings 12-way electrically adjustable front seats with a massage function, 20-inch alloys and an upholstery upgrade. As well as much more power and range, the VZ gets styling enhancements, keyless go, a stereo upgrade and wireless phone charging.
All versions have a 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel and touch-sensitive volume and climate controls beneath the central screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, sat-nav and more are all included, and the big screen has very good graphics. In practice, it’s far too easy to accidentally change the volume or temperature when you’re using the screen, or to hit the switches on the wheel by mistake. Yet, when you actually want to change the temperature or the audio volume, it’s a little tricky to do so precisely.
Sure, standard voice control helps but still isn’t infallible. Ultimately, the touch-sensitive controls make for a modern, minimalist look, but they're also likely to be a daily frustration. The Renault Megane E-Tech’s Google-based system and its simple, physical climate switches and steering column-mounted audio controls are better in every way.
Cupra Born running costs
The Cupra Born is a little pricier than the Volkswagen ID.3 version-for-version, but the healthier standard equipment levels more than make up for it. Obviously, prices rise as you progress up the range, and do be aware that versions at the very top of the range have prices that are very close to those of desirable premium rivals.
If you'd prefer, you can acquire your Born on a subscription plan. This packages the monthly cost of the car, plus all the associated costs including maintenance and insurance, into one flat monthly fee, so electricity will be your only additional cost. Expect this to be pricier than traditional monthly finance because of its bundled nature. Think of it as buying a car as you might a mobile phone, and it makes more sense.
Assuming a cost of 28p per kWh for your domestic electricity, a full charge will cost around £13 for the 45kWh Cupra Born, £17 for the 59kWh car, and £22 the 77kWh. Using off-peak tariffs can help to reduce this by as much as half, rendering the Cupra Born cheaper to fuel than petrol or diesel equivalents.
Cupra Born reliability
Cupra's first appearance in the What Car? Reliability Survey in 2023 was a fairly inauspicious one, as the new fledgling brand found itself rooted to the foot of the table. By the time the 2024 instalment arrived, though, the brand certainly seemed to have got its house in order. It had risen up to 17th (out of 31) in the brand rankings, while the Born ranked 7th of 18 models in the electric car class, a thoroughly decent performance.
Initially, the Cupra Born came with the same three-year, 60,000-mile warranty as other VW Group brands, while the lithium-ion battery was covered for 100,000 miles and eight years, and would be refurbished or replaced if it drops below 70% of its as-new range potential. Since the Born was released, however, Cupra has enhanced its general vehicle warranty to five years and 90,000 miles, and is still the only Volkswagen brand to go the extra mile.
- Charging times in the Cupra Born vary depending on the battery size, and the age of your car. Early on, the 77kWh model had 125kW DC rapid charging, which delivered a 100-mile top-up in around 15 minutes at a 150kW charge point. The other batteries had 100kW DC charging, and could manage a 100-mile top-up in 20 minutes. Later on, DC charging speeds were upgraded to 165kW on the 59kWh car, 175kW on the 77kWh car and 185kW on the 79kWh VZ.
- Don’t be misled by Cupra’s statements on its website regarding 11kW AC home charging. Yes, the car’s capable of it, but in the UK very few homes can support an 11kW charger: that’s more likely to be relevant for offices and industrial sites. On a standard 7kW home charger, you’ll get a full charge in around nine hours for the 58kWh car, or 12 hours for the 77kWh version. The Cupra uses CCS and Type 2 sockets, which are the European standard and will be compatible with the vast majority of public and home chargers in Western Europe.
- Real-world range in the Cupra Born will, as with every electric vehicle, vary depending on the conditions. Cold weather and higher speeds reduce the range of every EV, while warmer temperatures and more moderate speeds will extended it. As a worst-case scenario, in very cold temperatures and on a steady motorway run, expect the 58kWh car to drop to around 150 miles of range, compared to something like 220 to 250 miles per charge in warmer weather.
- If you’re on a budget: Hunt out the 45kWh Cupra Born on the used car market, which will be the cheapest version but will still have a respectable 211-mile range.
- If you’re doing serious mileage: The 77kWh Cupra Born delivers the best balance of price and range if you’re routinely doing long journeys. Go for the V2 with heated seats and head-up display, as both will be welcome on chilly mornings or a tiring commute. Do be aware that the price of a top-spec, 77kWh Cupra Born is perilously close to that of the Tesla Model 3, the Polestar 2, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Kia EV6 and the Ford Mustang Mach-E, all of which might arguably make better options if you need a long-range family EV.
- If you want the sporty one: The VZ is the most powerful version of the Born - by some considerable distance - and comes with Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive suspension as standard.
- If you want the best family car: The 58kWh battery will be fine for range and it's cheaper than the the longer-range versions. V2 trim is a happy medium for equipment and price. The Cupra Born's safety equipment is as good as the near-identical VW ID.3's and it achieved a five-star Euro NCAP crash rating. Alternatively, consider the Skoda Enyaq iV, which isn’t as sporty, but is more spacious and doesn’t cost much more.
