Cupra Born 230

Our EV’S true weight is revealed

OUR TRUSTY VEHICLE SCALES GOT A workout recently, giving me the perfect opportunity to find out how heavy our electric hatchback really is. Also hitting the scales were a selection of ICE hot hatchbacks and a few larger, heavier performance cars, some of which provided some useful context.

First up the ramps was an M3 Touring. BMW has been on the receiving end of a fair bit of heat for how heavy the G8x-generation M3 is, something only exacerbated by the xdrive all-wheel-drive system and estate bodyshell of the Touring. The result? It posted 1858kg – a lot for an M3 you might think, but when you consider all the moving parts, strengthening braces and heavy-duty chassis hardware that can be found under its pumped-up skin, maybe that figure isn’t so bad?

So what about the electric hatchback with a single motor, minimalist interior and compact footprint? 1600kg? 1750kg at a push? Nope. Try 1906kg. Not only is that 31kg more than the official figure of 1875kg, but it makes the Born nearly 50kg heavier than the M3 estate, putting into perspective how heavy even relatively compact EVS actually are.

Weighing the petrol-powered hot hatchbacks further emphasised this. The latest Civic Type R – which is a rather large-bodied hatchback these days, remember – tipped the scales at 1437kg, some 469kg lighter than the Cupra. Even the fourwheel-drive Golf R was 1529kg, meaning the Born is 377kg heavier. Can you feel the extra weight when you drive it? You better believe it.

Date acquired August 2022 Total mileage 5643 Mileage this month 380 Costs this month £0 mi/kwh this month 3.5