Looks aren't everything but the Born is off to a good start
- Specifications
- Test details
- Test updates
- January 17: The Cupra Born, rivals and pricing — does it make sense on paper?
Specifications
- Model 72-reg Cupra Born 77kWh V3 230PS e-Boost
- Cupra Born priced from £36,475 OTR
- Price for 77kWh V3 230PS (as tested) £43,735 (£48,205) OTR
- Cost options fitted Dynamic Pack £830; Aurora Blue Dinamica seats £195; Premium Metallic paint (Aurora Blue) £880; Heat Pump £970; Beats Sound System £470; Tech pack M £540; Cargo pack £340; 20″ Blizzard alloy wheels £245
- Drivetrain Permanent magnet synchronous electric motor + 82kWh battery (77kWh usable)
- Transmission Single speed (automatic), rear-wheel drive
- Max power output 228bhp
- Max torque 229 lb ft
- Kerb weight 1,950kg
- Luggage capacity (rear seats in place) 385 litres
- Top speed 99mph
- Acceleration 0-62mph: 7sec
- Electric range (combined WLTP) 335 miles
- Max charging speed 135kW DC
- Charging time (best scenario @ 135kW) 5-80% in 36 mins
- Official consumption (combined WLTP) 3.55-3.96 miles per kWh / 17.5-15.7kWh/100km
- CO2 emissions 0g/km
- Road tax Free
- BIK tax payable (2023/24) 2%
- Insurance group 28P (as tested)
Test details
Test period December 2022 – June 2023
Starting mileage 70 miles
Test updates
- January 17, 2023 The Cupra Born, rivals and pricing — does it make sense on paper?
January 17: The Cupra Born, rivals and pricing — does it make sense on paper?
Normally when we request a new car for an extended test, the brand’s press officer will ask if there’s any particular version we’d like to try, then they see if they have something that fits the bill already “on fleet” – or perhaps available at a dealer. This Cupra Born was a first for me, though, as I was told to go to the Cupra website and configure the car I wanted, right down to colour and options packs, and to send over the resulting unique code for them to place the order.
I won’t lie, as someone who has only ever used a configurator to create dream cars, or for researching articles, using one to create a car to my own specifications that would then be built for real at the Zwickau plant in Germany was exciting. Especially as I wasn’t paying for it.*
So that’s why the car you see in the pictures is fully loaded. Top trim level? Tick. More powerful motor? Well, naturally. Cost option paint job? Yep, it’ll look better in photos. Heat pump? Well, that’ll help enormously with range during these winter months. Upgraded Beats Sound System? Our readers must know if it’s worth the extra cost. I went for the mid-spec wheels because I think they look best and would be easiest to clean (hello, mid-life) but by the time I’d finished the final price, as you can see above, was just over a grand shy of £50,000.
Even without options, the range-topping Cupra Born V3 with the 77kWh battery and more powerful motor (call e-Boost) will set you back £43,735, which seems like a lot for a family hatchback. So let’s consider your other options for that price with a similar range (335 miles per charge officially, though it may come as no surprise that I’ve not got near that yet — more on real-world range in a future update):
The 305-mile Tesla Model 3 costs from £42,990; the Skoda Enyaq iV 80 (which uses the exact same battery) costs from £42,925; a top spec Hyundai Kona Electric costs from £39,900 but has a range of “up to 300 miles”; the new Kia Niro EV in top spec costs from £42,295 and has a range of up to 285 miles.
And let’s not forget the VW ID.3, on which the Born is based (Cupra is part of the Volkswagen Group). That’s only available with the smaller 58kWh battery at the moment, providing an advertised range of 265 miles, and in one trim level (Life) for upwards of £37,140.
The biggest head-turner for buyers (and worry for the established brands) may be the newcomer MG4 Trophy Long Range, which at £32,495 and with a range of 270 miles per charge is very attractive on price. But then again you could go for the entry-level Born V1 with the 58kWh battery, which is still good for 264 miles (officially), at a cost of £36,475.
In other words, though there are cheaper hatchback EVs on the scene, the Cupra Born is competitive on price with most established rivals. Still, it has its work cut out to convince buyers not to go elsewhere. So what I’ll be looking at over the next five months is whether it’s worth it, highlighting the good points and the bad without any sugar-coating. I’ve already started a list of gripes, in fact — I’ll update you on those next month, but there’s also plenty that I really like about the car so far. There are also plenty more images to come, so bookmark this page.
Feel free to ask my questions along the way, either on Twitter (@wdron) or in the comments below.
- Mileage today 606 miles
- Distance since start 536 miles
- Indicated long term consumption 2.9 miles/kWh
If you’d like to ask me a question about the car, please message me on Twitter or comment below; I try to check comments every week.
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* After six months the car is sold on nearly-new, so this arrangement is a great deal for the carmakers given the coverage they get. Unless we hate the car, of course.
- After reading this extended test review of the Cupra you might be interested in our review of the Genesis GV60, a premium electric SUV
- Cupra announces three new models by 2025 including UrbanRebel, an electric supermini with a range of up to 273 miles
- Take a look at all the carmakers’ electric vehicle plans
Keyword: Extended test: 2022 Cupra Born review