CUPRA Born Review - CUPRA’s First Electric Car Gets a Makeover
Just in case you didn’t know, CUPRA is part of the enormous Volkswagen Group, which includes Skoda, Audi, Porsche, SEAT, Lamborghini, Bentley, Ducati and, of course, Volkswagen.
It’s the sister company to the Spanish SEAT brand, and some CUPRA and SEAT models are built on the same assembly lines at the Martorell plant on the outskirts of Barcelona. However, the CUPRA Born you see here is built in Germany alongside the Volkswagen ID.3, with which it shares a lot of parts.
The difference is that the CUPRA brand is used by Volkswagen Group to offer a sporty appearance and driving style, whereas the SEAT brand is seen as providing value for money at the cheaper end of the market. And it works, because CUPRA models do have something about them. They certainly look smart and, in the case of the CUPRA Born, the sporty character really does shine through.
The Born was the first all-electric car to appear in the CUPRA range, making its first appearance in September 2021. So the time has surely come for a bit of a refresh.
Production of the new model is underway and sales are expected to begin in the early summer. The outgoing model starts at £35,690 (April ’26) and I reckon the newly updated Born will still be around that figure. If you want one of the current CUPRA Born models, you’ll be restricted as sales are now from stock only.
Trims, Performance & Range
Three versions of the updated Born are available: V1, V2 (the one I tried), and the lively VZ. The V3 trim has been dropped.
The V1 and V2 get a choice of two battery sizes and power…187bhp and 228bhp, while the hot hatch VZ gets a hunky 322bhp powertrain. The smaller battery for the V1 and V2 is down on power when compared to the outgoing model (down by 41bhp) but CUPRA says that is to provide buyers with the option for better economy with mileage climbing to an estimated 279 miles. If you want to go further, head for the larger battery output, and you’ll manage an impressive 372 miles. The mighty VZ also comes close to that figure. A 10-80 per cent charge takes just under half an hour on a rapid charger, and your typical home charger gives a full boost in around 8 hours.
Driving Experience
I’ve always liked the CUPRA Born and found it one of the more enjoyable electric cars to drive. Even though it shares a lot of kit with the Volkswagen ID. 3, it’s a nicer car overall and will certainly appeal to drivers who prefer some sporty handling. I tested the CUPRA Born in V2 trim, powered by a 228bhp battery. There’s also a launch control, which makes things fun.
All versions offer one-pedal driving, where you can bring the car to a halt by steadily reducing the power and flicking the regen paddles behind the steering wheel. It takes a while to get used to, but it eventually becomes second nature in town driving. Use a bit of anticipation, and you’ll never touch the brakes.
You can also turn on a sound generator if you select CUPRA or Performance driving modes, although I didn’t bother.
The ride can feel a tad firm at slower speeds, but get moving on the quicker stuff, and the payoff is that the Born handles well. It’s not quite in hot hatch territory, but it’s not far off. On the plus side, it ticks most boxes when it comes to finding the middle ground between overly firm racer and sloppy cruiser.
Exterior
Outside, the Born’s new styling looks good and gives the car a more aggressive appearance.
You’ll find new 19 and 20-inch alloys, a new range of colours, matrix LED headlights, a rear light bar, some new styling touches and illuminated door handles.
Interior
Inside, there’s been a definite step-up in quality with the signature CUPRA copper colours spread around the cabin. It looks smart. The steering wheel has also been changed and, hurrah, you now get physical buttons rather than wretched haptic sliders, which are too easy to operate by accident. Bucket seats are now standard, and the central 12.9-inch touchscreen gets a new operating system, which makes it quicker and sharper. There’s also a new 10.25-inch digital screen for the driver. The previous one was about the size of a mobile phone. Boot space stays the same at 385 litres.
As for passenger space, there’s also a surprising amount of room. A couple of 6-foot adults in the back won’t complain. The front bucket seats are supportive and, although they don’t look it, are comfy. With the V2 trim adds, those front seats can be heated.
Warranty & Concluding Thoughts
It’s worth noting that CUPRA gives its cars a decent warranty, and the Born is no different, coming with five-year/90,000-mile cover. The battery is covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles.
The latest CUPRA Born picks up where the previous model left off. It looks smart, has a decent range, is fun to drive, is nicely equipped and now gets a premium standard interior. If you are in the market for an all-electric car, the Born should be on your list of ones to test drive.
words: Graham Courtney
pictures: CUPRA
