2023 Cupra Born analysis

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【Summary】The Cupra Born is an electric vehicle that offers a competitive price and a driving range of 511km. It has a spacious interior with good leg room and adjustable seats. However, there are some drawbacks, such as the lack of rear power window switches and a confusing infotainment system. The car can be charged on AC power or DC fast-charged. The performance of the Born is decent but not as exciting as other hot hatches.

FutureCar Staff Sep 04, 2023 11:22 PM PT

The Cupra Born is the only electric vehicle in the country that offers a price and driving range starting with a '5'. Since its launch, the car has maintained its introductory price of $59,990 (before on-road costs) and claims a range of 511km.

The interior of the Born provides ample space for drivers to get comfortable, with adjustable seats that allow for a low driving position. However, the steering wheel does not adjust high enough for taller individuals.

One disappointing aspect of the Born's interior is the lack of rear power window switches for the driver. Instead of four separate buttons, there are only two, which can be converted into rear window-adjusters using a touch-capacitive button, but the functionality is inconsistent.

In the second row, there is a generous amount of space, even for tall occupants. The legroom, headroom, and foot space are all sufficient. The amenities include two USB-C ports, no air vents, two map pockets, and a fold-down center armrest with cupholders.

The infotainment system of the Cupra Born may take some time to get used to, but with experience, it becomes easier to navigate.

The car can be charged on AC power at up to 11kW or DC fast-charged at up to 170kW. A Mode 3 cable is included, and a Mode 2 cable can be purchased separately. Home charging solutions can also be obtained from a Cupra dealership.

During testing, the car's battery was replenished using a 170kW Ampol DC fast charger, but only achieved a charging rate of 70kW. This resulted in a charging time of a little over an hour to reach 100%.

The Born's claimed zero to 50km/h acceleration time of 2.8 seconds raises questions about its performance credentials. Additionally, the fine print mentions that this acceleration time may vary due to factors such as "fuel quality."

The 170kW/310Nm outputs from the single electric motor mounted on the rear axle are decent, but they don't provide enough excitement for the car's weight of 1960kg. Other VW Group hot hatches offer higher outputs and are lighter.

The Born's braking performance is inconsistent, with different pedal feels for friction braking and energy-recuperative braking. The front wheels have disc brakes, while the rear wheels have drum brakes.

Despite these drawbacks, the Cupra Born is competitively priced, offers a commendable electric car range, and feels well-built. The base model comes with impressive equipment and doesn't leave buyers wanting for extras.

There are plenty of Borns available with add-on packs, with 132 listed on the Cupra website at the time of publishing. According to brand representatives, customers can expect delivery within one to three weeks.

Tom Fraser is an automotive journalist who started his career by utilizing his photographic skills. He has worked for CarAdvice, Bauer Media titles including Wheels and WhichCar, and returned to CarAdvice in 2021 as part of the Drive content team. Tom covers automotive news, car reviews, and advice, with a special interest in long-form feature stories. He appreciates the unique requirements of car buyers and strives to provide entertaining enthusiast content. Tom's deep respect for all things automotive drives him to notice the subtle details that make each car special.