Cupra Born Review 2023
The Cupra Born is an electric hatchback with a spacious interior and solid electric performance. Built on the same foundations as the Volkswagen ID.3, the Born is a good choice for a family hatchback with a sporty edge.
Rivals to the Cupra Born include the Volkswagen ID.3, Kia Niro EV, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Peugeot e-208.
Our Cupra Born review covers:
- Sporty exterior with low-sitting grille and LED lights
- Spacious interior with a range of well-built materials
- 385-litre boot
- Three electric engines are available
- Three trim levels: V1, V2, and V3
Pros:
- Decent on-the-road performance
- Spacious interior
- Sporty exterior
Cons:
- Infotainment system awkward to use
- Not as fast as rivals
- Small boot for a family hatchback
As the Cupra Born is named after the El Born neighbourhood of Barcelona, it needed a bit of style and flair. Cupra has certainly done this; the Born comes with an angry-looking front, a low-sitting grille, and rear LED lights that stretch across the tailgate.
The Cupra Born is superb in terms of practicality. Anyone over 6 feet tall won't have any issues with head and legroom in front and back. The Born also feels quite wide on the inside, meaning nobody should be rubbing shoulders if four passengers are on board.
Storage space is also good. There's a large compartment in the centre console, which has various cubbies and cupholders. Also, pull down the middle seat in the rear to reveal a through-loading section with two cupholders.
Boot space comes in at 385 litres for the Cupra Born; however, the rear seats cannot be folded flat, restricting those bigger items. It also has a big drop from the lip to the boot floor, making it difficult to load heavier items. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 would be a better choice for those looking for a more practical boot.
As it's based on the VW ID.3, the Born feels a bit German inside, with a nice mix of practical and premium materials. The dashboard feels built to last, and you'll also find luxury materials such as soft-touch plastics and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
On the dashboard, you'll find Cupra's 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 5.3-inch digital cockpit behind the steering wheel. The infotainment system is sharp and responsive and features the usual applications such as Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and sat-nav. Although the screen is big, it can be a bit tricky to use and falls short of the system in the Kia Niro EV.
Three trims are available in the Cupra Born: V1, V2, and V3.
The entry-level V1 comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, folded and heated door mirrors, dual-zone air conditioning, keyless-go central locking, a heated leather steering wheel, ambient lighting, voice assistant, and a wide range of driver assistance systems such as front collision warning, lane assist, and driver tiredness recognition.
V2 adds to this with 19-inch alloy wheels, an augmented reality head-up display, heated front seats, and dark-tinted rear windows.
The range-topping V3 finalises the line with 20-inch aerodynamic alloy wheels and electric front seats with a built-in massage function.
Three options are available for Cupra Born drivers. Coming as standard is a 58kWh battery, which is furthered by a 77kWh unit; for those who want more power, there's an e-Boost option available. All are powered by a single battery electric motor which drives the rear wheels.
The entry-level 58kWh comes with a power output of 201bhp, has a top speed of 99mph, achieves 0-60mph in 7.3 seconds, and has a range of 264 miles. The 77kWh unit ups power to 227bhp and extends its range to 341 miles.
The e-Boost option is available for both batteries and improves the engine's overall performance. For the 58kWh unit, e-Boost drops 0-60mph to 6.6 seconds, while it achieves the 60mph mark in just seven seconds with the heavier 77kWh unit.
The Born is essentially a comfortable and practical hatchback, but its sporty stylish has transferred to its on-the-road performance, making for a bit of fun. Its handling is accurate and well-weighted, making it a breeze to drive around down, and you can have some fun on a country road when you up the speed.
Its suspension is also very good, with the Born absorbing potholes and bumps in the road with ease. The ride is a little firmer than in the ID.3, but it doesn't make too much of a difference for a car of the Born's size.
Prices for the new Cupra Born start from £36,420.00 OTR* or to lease from £363.00 per month.
Looking to lease the Cupra Born? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals available to suit your every need.
Leasing may prove to be cheaper than an outright purchase thanks to a low initial deposit, fixed monthly payments, and a range of benefits included in your deal, such as road tax and breakdown cover.
*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change, always check with your nearest retailer.
