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Expert Rating

Cupra Born

(2022 - present)

Expert Rating

New car score:

82
%
A

Used car score:

80
%
A

Expert Rating report card

Media Rating:

76
%
A

Safety Rating:

88
%
A

Eco Rating:

100
%
A

Reliability Rating:

-

Running Costs:

84
%
A

How are our Expert Rating scores calculated?

Expert Rating

New car score:

82
%
A

Used car score:

80
%
A

Expert Rating report card

Media Rating:

76
%
A

Safety Rating:

88
%
A

Eco Rating:

100
%
A

Reliability Rating:

-

Running Costs:

84
%
A

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


Media reviews


Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express

+

Auto Trader

+

Business Car

+

Car

+

Car Keys

+

Carbuyer

+

Carwow

+

Discover EV

+

Driving Electric

+

Electrifying.com

+

Evo

+

Green Car Guide

+

Heycar

+

Honest John

+

Motoring Research

+

Parkers

+

The Sun

+

The Sunday Times

+

The Telegraph

+

Top Gear

+

Which EV?

+

Safety rating


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.

Eco rating


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

Clean Air Index: 10 / 10
Energy Efficiency Index: 9.3 / 10
Greenhouse Gas Index: 9.6 / 10

Reliability rating

MotorEasy logo 600x167

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.

Running cost rating

Clear Vehicle Data logo close crop

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Battery rangeAverageScoreVariationScore
EV models285 milesA261 – 341 milesA – B
Electrical efficiencyAverageScoreVariationScore
EV models4.4 m/KWhB4.1 – 4.6 m/KWhA – C
Insurance groupAverageScoreVariationScore
All models27B25 – 28B – B
Service and maintenanceCostScore
Year 1£288C
Year 2£535B
Year 3£856B
Year 4£1,047B
Year 5£1,361A
Overall£4,087B

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

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 EV6Mazda MX-30 | Mini ElectricNissan Leaf | Polestar 2 | Tesla Model 3 | Volkswagen ID.3


More news, reviews and information about the Cupra Born at The Car Expert

Everything you need to know about Cupra

Everything you need to know about Cupra

Don’t like your new Cupra EV? Just hand it back.

Don’t like your new Cupra EV? Just hand it back.

Cupra Born VZ now available to order

Cupra Born VZ now available to order

The best new electric cars for every budget 2024

The best new electric cars for every budget 2024

Cupra Born VZ to arrive in Autumn

Cupra Born VZ to arrive in Autumn

The best new electric cars for every budget 2023

The best new electric cars for every budget 2023

Best hot hatches of 2022

Best hot hatches of 2022

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Cupra Born EV now available to order

Cupra Born EV now available to order

The first Cupra electric vehicle is Born

The first Cupra electric vehicle is 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?)

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Car subscriptions from Wagonex.
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Used car finance from Blue Motor Finance.
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The Cupra Born is an all-electric hatchback commended for its practical interior and battery range, though reviewers find its performance underwhelming.Cupra Born