Born to run
There’s a lot to like about the Quick, Comfortable and stylish ev Cupra
The one thing on the minds of most car enthusiasts – those of us who let our hearts rule our heads when it comes to buying cars and who love driving – is whether it will be possible for manufacturers to build electric cars that are really enjoyable to drive.
As fun and exciting as their petrol forefathers.
Will Volkswagen make an electric hatchback that will match a fifth generation (my favourite) Golf GTI when it come to grins per mile?
Already the raw performance is not an issue, as even humble electric crossovers from manufacturers like MG and hyundai have 0-62mph times that would shame a 1990s sports car.
Perhaps this week’s road test subject will help answer those questions. It’s the Cupra Born. The name comes from Seat’s el Born concept car of 2019 which itself was named after a posh suburb of Barcelona.
It’s Seat’s version of the Volkswagen ID3 – just as the enyaq is Skoda’s – with all three using the Volkswagen Group’s MEB electric car platform.
Cupra, of course, is Seat’s upmarket performance standalone brand – and making its first pure ev a Cupra enables the firm to charge more for it and even make it more expensive against a comparable ID3. Our test car is left-hand drive with Spanish specification and is the entry-level model with a 58kwh battery and a single 201bhp electric motor that drives the rear wheels.
This battery gives the Born a range of up to 260 miles and an ability to sprint from 0-62mph in 6.6sec – quicker than a traditional hot hatch from the 90s could manage. The Born is also available with a 77kwh battery which raises maximum range to 335 miles but actually slows the 0-62mph time because that bigger battery adds weight.
Volkswagen recently added a twin electric motor model (making it allwheel drive) to its ID4 range which is badged as the GTX. Cupra will also follow suit with a four-wheel drive double-motored version of the Born.
There’ll also be a cheaper car with a 45kwh battery and less powerful motor, range 211 miles.
Our test car should cost around £35,000 in equivalent UK spec, and the entry level version just a few quid over 30 grand.
The appeal of the dearer Borns is of course their range, but the entrylevel car will get the same rather pleasant styling. Already I prefer the looks of the Born over the ID3 and that’s a pleasant looking car itself.
The Born looks more purposeful because it has a 10mm lower ride height at the front and 15mm lower at the back. A hot hatch from the 90s or noughties would be sent straight to Weight Watchers if it weighed as much as the 1,736kg Born – but at least the latter’s weight is carried very low down.
Along the quiet country roads down which we travelled the Cupra Born felt really rather good. Because it’s rear-wheel drive there’s no torque steer or wriggle from the steering as you power out of a corner.
The ride is comfortable and the handling impressive. Inside there’s a pleasant surprise: the interior features higher quality plastics and materials than you’ll find in the ID3.
What’s not so good is that the infotainment system and controls are confusing to use. There are few proper switches and buttons and instead you get the irritating touch sensitive buttons on the steering wheel. And, of course, the oftenmentioned touch sensitive buttons of the heater controls.
The Born is spacious inside with plenty of legroom front and back with a large glasshouse that lets in plenty of light. The luggage space with the rear seats in place holds 385 litres of clobber. By comparison the petrol-engined Seat Leon – whose owners may well switch to the Born – holds 5 litres less.
The Cupra Born might not be quite as much fun to drive as a performance hot hatch with a petrol engine under its bonnet but it is without doubt going in the right direction.
Quick, comfortable, stylish and with good ride and handling, there’s a lot to like. If only the Volkswagen Group would ditch its awful control systems and replace them with something simpler I’d properly like cars like the Cupra Born.