- Updated CUPRA Born
- Adds sharper styling, improved interior with physical buttons, and better infotainment
- Up to 389-mile range and a 322bhp VZ performance variant
- Starts at £35,690 with four trims (V1–VZ)
- VZ brings strong handling, engaging cornering
- Straight-line speed feels less dramatic than expected
- Balances sporty driving with everyday comfort, making it a practical yet fun electric hatchback
(Our man Matt with the new CUPRA Born VZ)
It’s sharp, it’s electric, and it’s here to blend everyday comfort with hot hatch thrills — and we’ve been putting the CUPRA Born VZ to the test.
What better place is there to test the new CUPRA Born than in its home country of Spain, and moreover, Madrid.
The new CUPRA Born features some welcome enhancements over the pre-facelift model, including a new, sharper front end, a rear light bar with illuminated logo, and a redesigned steering wheel with physical buttons (hurray!)
The range kicks off with the 58kWh battery, mated to a 187bhp motor, giving a range of 300 miles.
Then there’s a 389-mile, 79kWh option, offered with a 228bhp motor or, as sampled here, a 322bhp unit. #
Similarly, CUPRA claims the Born will return between 3.9 and 4.1mi/kWh depending on how hard your drive it, and what battery is fitted.
CUPRA Born VZ - made for the urban jungle
Madrid’s 23-degree sunshine was sublime, having flown from Scotland’s 9 degrees. CUPRA had positioned the launch in Madrid’s busy city centre, the perfect place to get lost in the brand’s latest hatchback.
The Born is priced from £35,690 and is available in four trims: V1, V2, V3 and VZ.
Likewise, CUPRA has packed its electric hatch with equipment as standard, including 19-inch alloys, LED headlights, a rear-view camera, four USB charging sockets, front bucket seats, seven speakers, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and 120kW DC charging.
Moving to V2 adds heated front seats, a heads-up display, and tinted windows, while V3 adds 20-inch alloys, electrically adjustable front seats with a massage function.
The VZ trim tested here gets even deeper 'Cup' bucket seats, keyless entry and go, and is the only trim available with the more powerful motor; think of it as a hot hatch variant.
Buttons are back, too. You’ll find these on the door cards and the steering wheel.
Before getting too excited, the 12.9-inch touchscreen is still there for the bulk of the car’s controls, as are the annoying haptic slide controls for the temperature.
That said, the touchscreen is now running Android Auto, making it much easier to use.
One feature we loved while navigating busier areas was the newly introduced one-pedal driving mode, which allows the car to slow drastically when you lift your foot off the accelerator.
CUPRA Born: Rear-wheel drive thrills
Like before, it’s still rear-wheel drive, uses not-so-hot-hatch-like rear drum brakes, and is powered by the Volkswagen MEB platform that underpins the brand’s ID.3.
After 30 minutes of dodging Madrid’s avid cyclists and zealous drivers, while navigating bizarre road junctions, we were soon on a snake’s pass nestled somewhere deep in the Spanish wilderness.
With its sportiest setting engaged, its steering became tighter, while the Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) stiffened each damper, installing a better sense of connection between the driver and the road.
Perhaps we motoring journalists are spoiled with 600-plus bhp supercars and EVs, but the CUPRA Born VZ didn’t feel particularly quick whenever I mashed the throttle. At first, I was a little disappointed, but as the first set of tight bends appeared, I realised that CUPRA has built a strong, potent hot hatch, reminiscent of older ‘90s cars — minus a four-cylinder hum and a creaking dashboard.
Through each corner, the two-tonne CUPRA Born VZ holds tight, urging you to take the next one quicker — the steering providing sharp feedback, as you carve your way through bends.
Meanwhile, the traction control does a fine job at keeping you out of fields or, in our case, snake-filled bushes.
Does the CUPRA Born VZ have a synthetic engine noise?
As with many modern hot EVs, however, the Born VZ features a gimmicky rumbling EV noise, claimed to be inspired by Formula E cars, when 'CUPRA' mode is engaged.
Thanks to the VZ’s superb cornering abilities, we quickly caught up with traffic, which put an end to our corner carving.
As we re-entered Madrid’s buzzing town centre, the car settled, and its tyres and brakes cooled.
Switching from a zesty hot hatch to an easy-going city car was instant – with the suspension easily soaking up some of the city’s rutted tarmac and deep drain covers. Likewise, this was a perfect chance to test the car’s new 10-speaker Sennheiser audio system – a must-have for audiophiles.
Unfortunately, the only cars available were VZ trims, so we never got a chance to test the smaller battery or lower-powered motors.
Either of these would be adequate for the daily commute. We recommend the V2, which costs just £1,770 more than the base model.
If you like the idea of an EV with instant acceleration that won’t make you or your passengers sick, and enjoy fast cornering, however, then look no further than the CUPRA Born VZ.
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