CUPRA Born First Drive Review

The CUPRA Born is the first all-electric model from the CUPRA brand and will arrive in Ireland in March 2022. We got an early drive in the new Born ahead of its Irish launch next year. The range will go on sale from €31,440, with three battery sizes available. Designed and developed at CUPRA’s headquarters in Martorell, Barcelona, the CUPRA Born is produced at the Zwickau plant in Germany.

Styling

The CUPRA Born takes the shape of a cool hatchback. It’s edgy and distinct looking with an equally stylish selection of colours to choose from including Vapor Grey and the exclusive Aurora Blue. CUPRA’s signature copper accents and badging feature around the car. 18″ wheels will come as standard, with 19″ and 20″ available. All include aerodynamic inserts and copper accents. Contrasting C-pillars have a floating design, while puddle lights beam the CUPRA logo on to the ground from the door mirrors. The high-end finish is complimented by LED lights that run “coast-to-coast” at the rear of the car.

Interior

Inside, the CUPRA Born has a stylish and modern interior with a minimalist vibe. There is a small digital instrument cluster for the driver and a 12″ infotainment screen comes as standard. There are some nice materials used in the doors and around the dashboard to give a sportier and more premium vibe in line with other models in the new CUPRA range. Users can access online services, downloadable apps and service features as well as remote access and charging via the My CUPRA app or charge their mobile devices using the standard wireless QI charger. Standard bucket seats use SEAQUAL® Yarn made from upcycled marine plastics. The door panels and arm rests are made from Dinamica®, another recycled material.

Practicality

Space inside the CUPRA Born feels somewhere akin to a traditional family hatchback. It’s compact but spacious up front with seating for three in the rear. There is a 385 litre boot, which is competitive for a hatchback like this one.

Battery 

There are three battery sizes to choose from: 45 kWh (WLTP range of 350 km), 58 kWh (WLTP range of 424 km), and 77 kWh (WLTP range of 540 km). The CUPRA Born’s electric powertrain is available in a choice of 150PS (110kW), 204PS (150kW) and a 231PS (170kW) e-Boost pack for even more performance. Some models can avail of 170 kW DC charging and go from 5% battery charge to 80% charge in just 35 minutes.

Driving it

Built on the Volkswagen Group’s modular MEB platform, power goes to the rear wheels. The Born combines a MacPherson strut suspension at the front with an advanced five multi-link design at the rear. When equipped with Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), the Born rides 15 mm lower in the front and 10 mm lower in the rear. The fastest models in the range are fitted with the e-Boost package, pushing the Born to 100 km/h in just 6.6 seconds.

The electric motor is located above the rear axle while the battery sits low between the front and rear axles, delivering a low-slung centre of gravity and almost perfect 50:50 weight distribution. Five driving modes – Range, Comfort, Performance, Individual and CUPRA (e-Boost only) – adapt to the driver’s needs.

CUPRA say they have tuned the car for a sportier feel in line with their brand values. On the road the new CUPRA Born feels compact and agile. We had a quick drive in the 58 kWh version. It doesn’t feel too heavy on the road and behaves in a natural way. Steering is smooth and easy, the cabin hushed. 

Pricing

In Ireland the new CUPRA Born will go on sale priced from €31,440 for the Born 45 kWh. The Born 58 kWh will start from €35,550 and from €39,000 in the e-Boost trim. The Born 77 kWh with e-Boost will start from €42,650. All prices include the SEAI grant.

Summary

The CUPRA Born marks a new era of electrification for the brand, joining plug-in hybrid variants of the CUPRA Leon, CUPRA Leon Sportstourer and the CUPRA Formentor. The brand’s range will be 100% electric by 2030. There is a new electric SUV coming in 2024, the Tavascan, which will be followed by a new compact electric car in 2025.

The CUPRA Born stands out for its design, offering an exciting new entrant into the electric space. With three battery sizes available and a competitive entry price, the Born has a great opportunity to woo buyers in the market for a new compact EV.

We look forward to meeting the Born again in 2022 and bringing you a more detailed road test.

Caroline Kidd