BUYING GUIDE
Cupra Born
The Born isn’t just a practical electric family car; it’s also more fun to drive than most rivals
GEORGE HILL
george.hill@haymarket.com
WE LIKE
■ Sharp handling
■ Quiet on the motorway
■ Spacious interior
■ Respectable range
WE DON’T LIKE
■ Poor infotainment on earlier cars
■ Fiddly touch-sensitive controls
ON SALE FROM 2022-present
PRICE FROM £16,000
OUR FAVOURITE VERSION 58kWh V1
SPAIN HAS A long-standing reputation for sporting excellence, with the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal ranking among the world’s best in tennis and Fernando Alonso likewise in Formula 1.
It might come as no surprise, then, that Spanish brand Cupra’s Born electric car has a sporty demeanour and, after winning several What Car? Awards over the years, plenty of excellence. It’s a well-rounded electric hatchback that’s based on the Volkswagen ID 3 but has bespoke looks, suspension and steering to help differentiate them and make it stand out next to other rivals such as the MG 4 and Renault Megane. Like the ID 3, the Born can be had with a 58kWh or 77kWh (usable capacity) battery, as well as a 201bhp electric motor that drives the rear wheels. An e-Boost option was available from new, hiking power to 227bhp.