Summary
The Cupra Born is an all-electric family-sized hatchback based on the Volkswagen ID.3, and the first EV to go on sale from SEAT’s performance-focused spin-off brand, Cupra.
With two different powertrains available – an entry-level 58kWh version and a top-spec 77kWh model – the Born’s review scores have improved markedly since its UK arrival, after initial reviews questioned the car’s credentials as a performance package.
Some titles like Top Gear maintain that Cupra’s performance-orientated ethos is not too present in its first electric model, while Carwow praises the hatchback for its “strong performance”, and Honest John comments that the Born’s fun driving experience makes it one of the best choices across all the models in the Volkswagen Group family.
“The Born must be one of the most fun-to-drive EVs around, with a sophisticated, sporty feel that the ID.3 doesn’t get near to”, Business Car says – one of the many publications to praise the hatchback for its well-built and practical interior. Like its ID.3 stablemate, however, the Born has collected some criticism directed at its infotainment system, which reviewers have described as very distracting to use while driving.
Dismissing the Cupra Born’s ID.3 roots, The Sun points out out that this five-door hatchback offers a much cheaper all-electric alternative to the popular Tesla Model 3, and The Sunday Times concludes that, should you not be too bothered by performance, the Cupra Born is a “superb electric car with a useful real-world driving range”.
Reviewers collectively agree that the all-electric Born is an impressive family car, but for drivers expecting hot hatch performance rivalling the similarly-priced Cupra Leon, it is likely to disappoint.
As of January 2025, the Cupra Born holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 82%. It has excellent results in every category, with the only caveat being that we don’t yet have enough data to issue a reliability rating.
Born highlights
- Competitive battery range
- Spacious and practical interior
- Attractive exterior looks
- Low running costs
- Good levels of equipment as standard
Born lowlights
- Performance does not match the sporty looks
- Fiddly touch-sensitive buttons
- No four-wheel drive models
- Not as fun to drive as the Cupra Leon
- Hard to recommend over the Volkswagen ID.3
Key specifications
Body style: Medium hatchback
Engines: electric motor, battery-powered
Price: From £36,475 on-road
Launched: Spring 2022
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The all-electric Cupra Born offers a sporty edge over its EV hatchback rivals.”
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Model reviewed: V1 (2023)
Score: 8 / 10
“The V1 is the cheapest version of the Cupra Born, but it certainly doesn’t scrimp on quality.”
Read review
Auto Trader
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Cupra Born takes Seat’s sporting brand into the electric age in fine style while being a sharper drive than the VW ID.3 on which it is based.”
Business Car
Model reviewed: 77kWh
Score: 8 / 10
“The Cupra Born 77kWH V3’s extra range has come at the expense of some of the keen drive.” (Martyn Collins)
Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The brakes could do with more feel and modulation. Plus, although improved, the Volkswagen infotainment system is harder work than it should be to operate. Despite this, the Born must be one of the most fun-to-drive EVs around, with a sophisticated, sporty feel that the ID3 doesn’t get near to.”
Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“In isolation, the Cupra Born is an impressive bit of kit. Stylish, with more than enough power for urban environments, it also feels a touch sporty when you get past the city limits. The interior is solid too, and it’s competitive on paper too. But in standard 45kWh or 58kWh trims, it’s hard to justify buying it over the VW ID.3.”
Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Born is a seriously likeable EV that should help Cupra grow its sales significantly. Its only real weakness is the firm ride, but if you can live with that for the sportier driving experience, it’s well worth considering.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.6 / 10
“The Cupra Born is effectively a sportier, more distinctive version of the Volkswagen ID.3.” (Ben Custard)
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Cupra Born is a spacious electric hatchback with a practical interior and strong electric performance. For a supposedly sporty car it isn’t a huge amount of fun to drive, though.”
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Discover EV
Model reviewed: 77 kWh V3
Score: 8 / 10
“As the company’s first electric vehicle, the Cupra Born has kick-started the brand’s electric journey in style, offering a sporty edge over its rivals. We think the entry-level 58kWh version is the one to go for (unless you travel long distances regularly, of course) because it is probably one of the most attractive EVs at that price point.”
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Driving Electric
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“More adventurous styling and a better-quality interior help set the Spanish brand’s first electric car apart from the Volkswagen ID.3 it’s based on.”
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Electrifying.com
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“We’ve been waiting for a compact family electric car with a sporting twist and finally we have it. I really like Cupra’s design direction and I can see this appealing to GTI drivers looking to switch to electric. The interior has some nice touches too, which lift it above the ID.3 in my opinion.” (Ginny Buckley)
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Evo
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Of all the MEB models we have driven, from Audi’s Q4 e-tron, Skoda’s Enyaq and VW’s ID.3 and 4, the Cupra Born is the most interesting to drive. The one with a small dusting personality and character that elevates it from its family members from being merely an automotive white good to a car.”
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Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: VZ 79kWh 326hp
Score: 9 / 10
“The Cupra Born VZ is now available which means a larger battery, a longer range, and more power, along with an excellent driving experience.”
Author: Paul Clarke
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Model reviewed: 58kWh V3
Score: 10 / 10
“The electric Cupra Born is basically a Volkswagen ID.3 with a few engineering and cosmetic tweaks; there’s no real difference compared to the ID.3 in terms of performance, but the small changes have resulted in an excellent all-round car.”
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“”The Cupra Born is, for all intents and purposes, a Volkswagen ID.3 with a racier look inside and out, plus more of a focus on sportiness in the driving experience. That means the Born still retains the largely excellent all-round qualities of its sibling, yet adds a bit of character that the VW is sorely lacking.”
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Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“The Cupra Born is essentially a Volkswagen ID.3 that’s had a sharp haircut and been spending some time down the gym. It’s fun to drive, sufficiently quick and has a pretty impressive interior – it could be our pick of the VW Group.”
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Motoring Research
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The electric Cupra Born is a sportier take on the Volkswagen ID.3, with stylish looks, nimble handling and an infuriating infotainment system.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.6 / 10
“Pricing is in line with key rivals and even entry-level models get plenty of equipment. Unsurprisingly, it shares most of its plus points with the VW ID.3 but with a more distinctive and sporty flavour that we suspect will appeal to many buyers.”
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The Sun
Model reviewed: Born 58kWh V2
“If you don’t want to stab the accelerator mid-apex to look like a hooligan, then the Born darts from corner to corner with composure, and before you know it, you’re having fun in an electric car which isn’t made by Tesla or costs £60,000-plus.”
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The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Combined with a more striking design and quality of interior finish, it has an edge over its closest rival, the Volkswagen ID.3. Even if you aren’t fussed by its on-road performance capabilities the Born is a superb electric car with a useful real-world driving range, and a modern and roomy interior.”
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed: 77kWh
Score: 8 / 10
“Still not a hot hatchback, the top model Cupra Born is, nevertheless, great fun and reasonably efficient. Outside of a rear-wheel-drive Porsche Taycan, this is the best-handling performance battery car you can currently buy. “
Read review
Model reviewed: 58kWh 204hp
Score: 6 / 10
“As a mildly entertaining ID.3, the Cupra Born just about passes muster. As a hot hatchback, however, it really doesn’t cut the mustard. There’s too much weight and size here to qualify, the steering isn’t as sharp as you’d want it and the damping feels clumsy and not at all like SEAT’s go-faster team’s normal efforts.”
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“A very competent electric hatchback, but not quite the EV hot hatch we expected from Cupra.”
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Which EV?
Model reviewed:
Score: 8.8 / 10
“The Cupra Born is essentially a Volkswagen ID.3 with a little more design flair and better infotainment. But once the e-Boost versions arrive it will have a little more performance too. It’s worth considering now if you like the styling, but e-Boost will make the Born live up more to the Cupra brand’s sporty image. It won’t quite be a GTI-killer, but it will provide plenty of fun to go with the style.” (James Morris)
Read review
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: July 2022
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 93%
Child protection: 89%
Vulnerable road users: 73%
Safety assist: 80%
The Cupra Born was tested by Euro NCAP in Summer 2022. Its collision tests resulted in impressive adult and child occupant protection scores when compared to the rest of the compact hatchback class.
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
Model tested: 170kW E-Boost Electric RWD Automatic
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: October 2022
Read the full Green NCAP review
Energy Efficiency Index: 9.3 / 10
Greenhouse Gas Index: 9.6 / 10
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of January 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Cupra Born to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Born, we’ll publish the score here.
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
Battery range | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
EV models | 285 miles | A | 261 – 341 miles | A – B |
Electrical efficiency | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
EV models | 4.4 m/KWh | B | 4.1 – 4.6 m/KWh | A – C |
Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
All models | 27 | B | 25 – 28 | B – B |
Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
Year 1 | £288 | C |
Year 2 | £535 | B |
Year 3 | £856 | B |
Year 4 | £1,047 | B |
Year 5 | £1,361 | A |
Overall | £4,087 | B |
The Cupra Born is a relatively cheap car to run, according to data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partners at Clear Vehicle Data.
Electrical efficiency (the EV equivalent of miles per gallon for petrol and diesel cars) is very good, which helps the Born to achieve a very good driving range of 285 miles, according to the official government lab tests. This varies from 261 miles to 341 miles, depending on which model you choose.
Insurance costs should also be good, while scheduled servicing and maintenance costs are generally good for the car’s first five years.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Cupra Born has received


2024
- Carbuyer Awards – Best Small Company Car
2023
- Carbuyer Awards – Best Small Company Car
- EcoCar Electrified Top 50 – Best Electric Hot Hatch
2022
- The Car Expert Awards – Best Small Car + Best Hot Hatch
- Carbuyer Awards – Best Small Company Car
- DrivingElectric Awards – Best Electric Hot Hatch
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Cupra Born, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Citroën ë-C4 | Honda e | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | Kia e-Niro | Kia EV6 | Mazda MX-30 | Mini Electric | Nissan Leaf | Polestar 2 | Tesla Model 3 | Volkswagen ID.3
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Cupra Born at The Car Expert
Buy a Cupra Born
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Lease a Cupra Born
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Car subscriptions
Subscriptions are becoming a very popular way for consumers to try an electric car for a few weeks or months to help decide whether it’s a suitable alternative to a petrol car. If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help. (PS: What’s a car subscription?)
Car subscriptions from Wagonex.
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