The CUPRA Born adds a more appealing twist to established VW Group engineering for compact EVs. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Review

Fledgling Spanish brand CUPRA offers a surprisingly appealing compact family EV with sporting genes, this car, the Born. It takes all the clever ingredients of other VW Group EVs, but blends them into a more engaging and characterful confection.

Background

It was only a matter of time before we started seeing performance-orientated versions of compact family EVs, but what if you could have one that was, in all its forms, fundamentally developed for enjoyment at the wheel? Yet still as practical, ecological and frugal as its battery-powered rivals. That's the promise of this car, the CUPRA Born. You may by now be vaguely aware of the CUPRA brand. Once it was purely a performance badge on fast SEATs, but now it's a marque in its own right offering two repackaged SEAT models (the CUPRA Ateca and the CUPRA Leon) and one design of its own (the CUPRA Formentor SUV). CUPRA was clear from the start that electrification would play a major part in its product development and, sure enough, the Leon and the Formentor can both be had in Plug-in 'e-Hybrid' forms. The Born though, is a full EV, using the same engineering you'll find in a Volkswagen ID.3 or a Skoda Enyaq, but packaged with a performance twist. You'd think this CUPRA EV model would have had a wider audience with the SEAT branding it was originally supposed to have (initially it was slated to be sold as a SEAT el-Born). But the VW Group has decided instead that this car should be a touch more aspirational than that. Let's check it out.

Driving Experience

The Born springs away from rest of course, as all EVs do, running out of puff just after the point where you realise that the torque rush has inadvertently pushed you over the speed limit. Everything so far is just as it would be in the Volkswagen ID.3 this Born is almost entirely based on. But CUPRA wants to convince you that this is a far sportier confection. And to that end, has fitted shorter coil springs lowering the ride height, along with wider tyres, a more direct variable-ratio steering set-up and a retuned stability control system. To fit with all this, the electric power output of the kind of Born model most people will choose - 204PS - is the kind of output only offered at the heady heights of the ID.3 line-up, though the 58kWh battery it's linked to is the one that most versions of that VW use, here delivering a range of up to 265 miles. That figure falls fractionally to 262 miles if you add in the optional e-Boost motor you can't have on an ID.3, which adds an extra 26PS of power for 30 seconds when you stamp on the throttle and ought to have been standardised on the Born to give it a more significant unique selling point. The 230PS e-Boost motor comes as standard if you pay the extra for the larger 77kWh battery, which increases driving range to 343 miles. At the top of the line-up, there's a sporty VZ model, which remains rear-driven but gets power boosted to 326PS (with 545Nm of torque), with handling tweaks to suit the extra power, which sees 62mph dispatched in just 5.6s on the way to a higher 124mph top speed. This top variant has a slightly larger 79kWh battery, offering an extended range of 372 miles. Across the Born range, there are four main drive modes - 'Comfort', 'Performance', 'Range' and 'Individual', with a further 'CUPRA' setting for the e-Boost and VZ models. Optional 'DCC' adaptive damping (standard on the VZ) enhances the 'Comfort' setting, but you don't really need it because the standard passive set-up is very good indeed. The Barcelona engineers must have worked really hard on that: a pity then, that they weren't given leave by Wolfsburg to fiddle with the steering, which despite its quicker rack feels remote and very light on feedback. Even as it is though, this is (as intended) a far more engaging thing than its ID.3 cousin; to the point where we'd find it hard to think of another similarly-sized EV in this price bracket that we'd recommend over this one to a keen driver.

Design and Build

CUPRA says this Born was 'designed and developed in Barcelona' - which is poppycock of course: it's a restyled Volkswagen ID.3. And rolls down the same German Zwickau production line as its sister car, unlike CUPRA's other Iberian-built models. You can't deny though, that it's got a bit more flair, attitude and presence than its Wolfsburg cousin. It's been described as the 'scary big sister' to the ID.3. Maybe so. It's certainly a little bigger, something you may pick up from a profile perspective, the Born measuring in 61mm longer, though that still leaves it some way short of the upper mid-sized EV hatches and crossovers CUPRA also wants to target - Volkswagen ID.4 for instance, is 262mm lengthier. At the wheel, you get quite a different ambiance from the other compact VW Group EVs available at this price point - and quite an agreeable one. What is familiar is the futuristic feel: as with an ID.3 or a Skoda Enyaq, there's no need for a gear lever, an ignition slot or a handbrake. And, also as with those cars, there's a 12-inch centre monitor and a 5.3-inch 'Digital Cockpit' instrument screen attached to which is a gear selector, the whole binnacle moving up and down as you adjust the wheel. Otherwise, this Born sets itself apart with a darker vibe, a strange indented passenger-side dash finish, sustainably-sourced soft-touch surfaces and the usual CUPRA brand copper-coloured highlights, which here appear on the steering wheel, the vents, the seat stitching and frame the open part of the lower centre console. There's a surprising amount of room for two adults at the rear. And out back, there's a reasonable 385-litre boot, the same as an ID.3. Push everything forward and that extends to 1,267-litres.

Market and Model

For a CUPRA Born, at the time of this test in mid-2024, the brand was asking in the £35,000 to £45,000 bracket for the various models. The availability of a smaller-battery 45kWh 150PS derivative would obviously make that entry-point price a little more affordable. There are three trim levels - 'V1', 'V2' or, as we tried, 'V3'. Above that in the range sits the high performance rear-driven VZ variant. Across the line-up, CUPRA offers a useful free 'EV&Me' app so that you can check out whether switching to an electric vehicle is right for you. From launch, the main powertrain option was the one we tried - a 58kWh battery mated to a 204PS electric motor. Avoid entry-level trim and you'll have the chance to pay for a couple of powertrain upgrades. Around £800 more gets you the 58kWh battery powering a perkier 230PS e-Boost electric motor; or around £3,600 more gets you the longer range of the larger 77kWh battery, which comes linked to that 230PS e-Boost motor. The top VZ gets a 79kWh battery with a 329PS front-mounted motor. If considering all of that has convinced you towards Born ownership, the decider might be a generous level of spec. Well, as you'd hope for this kind of spend, all variants come well equipped. There's LED headlights and tail lamps, auto headlamps and wipers, adaptive cruise control, Sport suspension, all-round parking sensors, keyless entry and a 'Drive Profile Selection' driving modes system with 'Range', 'Comfort', 'Performance' and 'Individual' settings - plus with the e-Boost electric motor, you get an extra 'CUPRA' mode. Inside every Born, expect to find a 5.3-inch 'Digital Cockpit' instrument binnacle screen, ambient lighting, a rear view camera, an auto-dimming rear view mirror and front sport bucket seats. Media's taken care of by a 12-inch centre Navigation display (12.9-inches in the VZ) with an online voice assistant and all the usual smartphone-mirroring and EV features. Plus there's a 'CUPRA Connect' app so you can remotely interact with your Born, even when you're not with it.

Cost of Ownership

Most customers will probably choose the 58kWh 204PS package we tried, which offers up to 265.3 miles of driving range. Add in the 230PS e-Boost motor and that drops fractionally to a best of 262.2 miles. Stretch to a better derivative with the 77kWh battery and the range figure rises to 343 miles. The 79kWh ZZ variant offers 372 miles. At the time of this Review, CUPRA hadn't confirmed whether it was ever going to import the base 45kWh 150PS model, but for reference, that variant offers up to 211 miles of driving range. As for charging, well for the 58kWh battery, charging from 0-100% takes 6 hours 15 minutes using an 11kW AC wall charger, but it can also be recharged from 5-80% using a 120kW DC rapid charger in just 35 minutes. The larger 77kWh battery can gain 62 miles of range in just 7 minutes if you happen to be using a 125kW charger, which can manage a 5 to 80% charge in 35 minutes. Customers will be offered a CUPRA-branded domestic wall box for home charging, which can be controlled using the company's 'Easy Charging' smart phone app. It's not only that your energy costs will be lower: you should also make savings in insurance, road tax and the fact that no oil changes are required. The Spanish maker says that its aim is to make sure that the battery pack lasts as long as the car and, sure enough, that battery pack is warrantied to have at least 70% of its usable capacity after eight years or 100,000 miles.

Summary

The decision to replace SEAT badges with CUPRA ones on this Born EV was interesting and says much about the VW Group's commitment to its sporting brand. Plus it also fits with this design's mildly dynamic vibe. Yes, in some ways it's a Volkswagen ID.3 in a track suit, but at the same time, it also offers something just a little different - and arguably more appealing. It's not as different from an ID.3 as CUPRA thinks it is; the Born's cause would have been helped in this regard if the brand has standardised the faster e-Boost motor and made that a unique selling point. But this car is more engaging to drive - and to our eyes more engaging to look at too. Do you really want to pay considerably more in this segment to get only slightly more space and fractionally more driving range? From an EV that almost certainly won't be as interesting at the wheel or look as good on your driveway? Such is the Born ultimatum. And we can understand if you found yourself tempted by it.

Body Glass

Rear wiper

Variable intermittent wiper

Heat insulated glass

Windshield wiper with light/rain sensor

Acoustic windshield

Dark tinted rear windows

Chassis/Suspension

Sports rear shock absorption

Shock absorption in front

Communication

Bluetooth

Wireless full link smartphone integration

Driver Aids

Dynamic steering

Lane assist

Forward collision warning with automatic braking

Driver Convenience

Tailgate

Driver Information

Right hand drive vehicle

5.3" digital cockpit with 12.9" central display infotainment system

e-call service

Voice assistant

Emergency steering support with turn assist

Augmented reality head up display

Driving Mirrors

Automatic dimming rear view mirror

Grey exterior mirrors

Electric adjustable/heated/folding door mirrors

Entertainment

2x USB sockets in rear, charge only

2x USB sockets in front

DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) and AM/FM radio

Exterior Body Features

Transport protection film

Rear side wing doors

Exterior Lights

Full LED headlights

Welcome home function and adverse weather function

LED daytime running lights

LED rear lights

LED 3rd brake light

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Dual zone climatronic air conditioning

Electric auxiliary air heater

Interior Features

Heated leather wrapped multi function steering wheel with satellite buttons

CUPRA emblem on steering wheel

Aluminium pedals

Safety

Attention and drowsiness assist

Extended safety system with proactive passenger protection system

Driver and front passenger airbags with front passenger airbag deactivation, side airbag in front with curtain airbag and front interaction airbag

3 point seatbelts on all rear seats

Tyre pressure monitoring system

Visual and acoustic seat belt reminder

Seats

Integrated front head restraints

Heated front seats

3 seat bench in 2nd row

Unsplit rear seat bench, split folding backrest, with centre armrest

Front bucket seats with 12 way electrically adjustable, pneumatically adjustable lumbar support and massage function

Rear headrests

Single front passenger seat

ISOFIX points in outer rear seats with top tether anchorage points

Security

Preparation for alcohol interlock

Anti theft wheel bolts

Keyless go central locking system

Anti theft alarm system with interior monitoring in cab, backup horn and towing protection

Manual child locks

Service/Warranty

Warranty - 5 Years/90,000 miles

Transmission

Gear ratio 12976

Vanity Mirrors

Sunvisors with illuminated mirror

Vehicle Charging

Charging cable mode 3, type 2/3 32 A

11 kW onboard charger

165kW DC charging capacity

Wheels - Spare

Tyre repair kit

Tool kit

Electric Vehicle Data

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Charge Time (Mins): 1740

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Power Supply - kW: 2.3

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Percentage Change: 0-100

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Charge Time (Mins): 390

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Power Supply - kW: 11

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Percentage Change: 0-100

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Charge Time (Mins): 24

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Power Supply - kW: 165

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Percentage Change: 10-80

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Charge Time (Mins): N

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Power Supply - kW: N

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Percentage Change: N

Coupler/Connector Type: CCS Type 2

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Years: 8

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Mileage: 100000

Battery Capacity in kWh: 63

Battery Leased: 0

Battery Type: Lithium-ion

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb: 417

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb - TEL: 428

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb - TEH: 365

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb: 16

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb - TEL: 15.6

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb - TEH: 18.2

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb: 3.9

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb - TEH: 3.4

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb - TEL: 4

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb: 259

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb - TEH: 227

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb - TEL: 266

Battery Capacity % guaranteed under warranty: 70

Charging Port Location: Right Side Rear

Usable Battery Capacity: 59

Maximum Charging Rate - kW: 165

Emissions - ICE

CO2 (g/km): 0

Standard Euro Emissions: N

Noise Level dB(A): N

CO: N

HC: N

NOx: N

HC+NOx: N

Particles: N

Engine and Drive Train

Cylinders - Bore (mm): N

Cylinders - Stroke (mm): N

CC: 1

Cylinders: N

Cylinder Layout: N

Number of Valves: N

Camshaft: N

Fuel Delivery: N

Catalytic Convertor: N

Engine Layout: N

Compression Ratio: N

Transmission: AUTO

Gears: 1 SPEED

Engine Code: EDCC

Fuel Consumption - ICE

EC Directive 1999/100/EC Applies: N

EC Urban (mpg): N

EC Extra Urban (mpg): N

EC Combined (mpg): N

General

Coin Series: V3

Coin Description: e-Boost

Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 5

Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 90000

Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3

Manufacturers Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 12

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Special Edition: 0

Special Order: 0

Based On ID: N

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 28E

Service Interval Mileage: 18600

Service Interval Frequency - Months: 24

Timing Belt Interval Mileage: N

Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: N

NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: 93

NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: 89

NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: 73

NCAP Safety Assist %: 80

NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: 5

Badge Power: 230

Badge Engine CC: 0.0

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Generation Mark: 1

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

Performance

0 to 62 mph (secs): 6.7

Top Speed: 99

Engine Power - BHP: 231

Engine Power - PS: No

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Power - KW: 170

Engine Power - RPM: 5300

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 229

Engine Torque - NM: 310

Engine Torque - RPM: N

Engine Torque - MKG: 31.6

Test Cycles

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

RDE Certification Level: N/A

Tyres

Tyre Size Front: 215/45 R20

Tyre Size Rear: 215/45 R20

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Wheel Type: 20" ALLOY

Wheel Style: THUNDERSTORM

Alloys?: No

Space Saver?: 0

Vehicle Dimensions

Length: 4324

Width: 1809

Wheelbase: 2766

Height: 1540

Weight and Capacities

Minimum Kerbweight: 1766

Gross Vehicle Weight: 2290

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): N

Max. Loading Weight: 524

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 385

No. of Seats: 5

Entertainment

Sennheiser premium audio

Exterior Body Features

Electric panoramic sunroof

Premium metallic paint

Metallic paint

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Heat pump

Interior Features

Additional Dinamica cloth upholstery

Interior Lights

Interior smart light

Packs

Pilot L pack with remote park assist - Born

Cargo pack - Born

Dynamic pack - Born

Tech M pack - Born

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Glacial white

Metallic - Geyser silver

Metallic - Midnight black

Paint - Solid

Solid - Vapor grey

Paint - Special

Premium metallic - Aurora blue

Trim - Cloth

Dinamica cloth - Aurora Blue

Dinamica cloth - Granite Grey

Wheels - Alloy

20" Firestorm machined alloy wheels in glossy black with wider performance tyres and dynamic chassis control