Cupra Born Review: The Hot Hatch Of Electric Cars?

With its sporty styling and peppy electric performance, the Cupra Born promises to bring some driving thrills to the mainstream EV segment. But does this Spanish upstart deliver on its racy looks?

Sharing its underpinnings with the more mainstream Volkswagen ID.3, the Born immediately stands out with its aggressive body kit, copper accents, and large 18-20 inch wheels. The front end looks particularly mean, with slim LED headlights and a gaping lower grille. Around back, a full-width light bar gives it an unmistakable presence on nighttime roads.

Step inside and you're greeted by a driver-focused cabin with supportive sport seats clad in suede-like upholstery made from recycled plastics. A racy flat-bottom steering wheel and aluminum pedals reinforce the sporty vibe. However, the minimalist interior design means very few physical buttons and knobs, with most functions being handled through touch-sensitive controls or the 12-inch infotainment system - something driving purists may lament.

Speaking of the infotainment, it runs fairly modern software and offers wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration. But the lack of a rotary controller makes it fiddly to operate on the move, and it exhibited occasional lagginess during our test. At least the slick head-up display makes up for the small digital instrument cluster.

The Born launches with reasonable authority thanks to its 204 horsepower electric motor. An e-Boost mode provides an extra 30-second burst of power for quick overtaking. Handling is fairly tidy too, with accurate steering and a planted feel through the corners - even if the stiff suspension does make the ride rather firm around town. But despite its performance pretensions, the Born doesn't feel properly fun or engaging from behind the wheel.

At least it delivers on the practical front, with a spacious 385L trunk and plenty of head/leg room for rear passengers. Speaking of passengers, range shouldn't be an issue for most with the bigger 77 kWh battery providing up to 340 miles between charges. The 58 kWh option is still decent at 260 miles. And when you do need to top up, DC fast charging at up to 170 kW allows an 80% battery refill in around 30 minutes.

Overall, the Cupra Born makes a compelling case as an electric family hauler with some sporty design flair. It's reasonably quick, surprisingly practical, and offers decent real-world range. But against the backdrop of the thrilling Hyundai Ioniq 5 and upcoming Volkswagen ID.Buzz, the Born's dynamic shortcomings mean it falls just short of earning a true "hot hatch" badge in the EV world.

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