First Drive: Cupra’s new hot hatch is a car ‘reborn’

Cupra is a brand that has enjoyed something of a meteoric rise over recent years. Starting out in life as an in-house sub-brand of Seat, the outfit has now surpassed its big brother and is now VW Group’s go-to badge for drivers who want a practical car with a sporty edge.

The old Born was the brand’s first EV and the new car looks to continue that legacy of electrifying performance, teamed with everyday usability. With rivals including the Volkswagen ID.3, MG4 EV, and Renault Megane E-Tech, there are plenty of competitors to choose from, so we’ve been to Madrid to see if this new car is still worth considering.

Cupra has made a raft of changes aimed at making the updated Born easier to live with every day. This includes the momentous decision to reintroduce physical buttons and do away with the majority of annoying touch-sensitive controls. While the car underneath is largely a case of ‘as you were’, Cupra has added a few more premium features such as launch control and a one-pedal driving mode, as well as small tweaks to the suspension.

On the outside, changes are kept to a minimum and the car very much looks like the old Cupra Born that we all know and love. However, there are a few subtle changes, including revised bumpers, new lighting signatures and fresh wheel designs.

The sporty VZ model that we drove around the Spanish capital was powered by a single electric motor, producing an impressive 322bhp and 545Nm of torque. The car also has a top speed of 124mph and can do 0-60 in as little as 5.6 seconds, meaning it is certainly no slouch. The rear-wheel drive Born VZ also has a single-speed automatic gearbox which feels both engaging and smooth both around town and at speed.

In terms of charging speeds, the VZ that we drove has a maximum capacity of 183kW, meaning a 10-80% charge will take 29 minutes, although this reduces to 26 minutes in the less powerful base car, which has a charging capability of 105kW.

This is where the old Born really came into its own. In a world filled with its fair share of fairly drab little EVs, the Cupra always felt sharper and sportier than many of its rivals. This new car continues that trend brilliantly and builds on the foundations set out by its predecessor.

On the twistier stretch of road above Madrid, the car felt grippy and nimble through the bends and while the addition of fake engine noise may not be to everyone’s taste, it does at least add a sense of occasion that is sorely missing in a lot of EVs. The steering, while maybe a touch on the light side, feels well-connected in most environments – although it did become a little twitchy at higher speeds.

As mentioned, it’s a case of evolution, not revolution here, and that is no bad thing. Since stepping out of Seat’s shadow, Cupra has always been a brand unafraid to plough its own furrow and the Born has a sporty look to match its performance.

Starting at the front, the Born’s sharp lighting signature and angular detailing give it a more aggressive stance than most compact EVs, while Cupra’s trademark copper accents also catch the eye nicely. Around the back, the light bar and distinctive clusters also help it stand out at night, contributing to a thoroughly modern look.

If changes to the outside feel more subtle, then tweaks to the interior certainly feel like more of a genuine step up in quality compared to what came before. Gone are the vast majority of cheap plastics that dragged the old car down and in their place are a mix of far more plush, premium-feeling materials.

The central console is dominated by a 12.9-inch infotainment screen, which is also far more responsive than the old car, while our test car also benefited from an optional panoramic fixed glass roof that allowed light to pour in, making the cabin feel like a thoroughly pleasant place to sit. This was also helped by the high level of comfort, brought by the bucket seats which not only look great but also feel supportive and offer an excellent driving position.

For a compact car, the Born is actually surprisingly spacious, especially for rear passengers who are given extra space by the flat floor, contributing to an interior which feels genuinely premium compared to both its rivals and its predecessor.

When it comes to spec, Cupra has kept the Born competitive, with a good level of tech coming as standard. The aforementioned 12.9-inch infotainment system comes complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, making smartphone integration simple and seamless, while the audio system generally is loud, crisp and clear.

There’s also a compact 5.3-inch driver’s display as well as a useful augmented reality head-up display on higher trims. Practicality is also strong for the class, with a 385-litre boot that’s on par with traditional family hatchbacks like the VW Golf.

In terms of range, Cupra claims that the basic Born can do up to 300 miles between trips to the plug, while the range-topping VZ can achieve 392.

Verdict

It can be easy for naysayers to be critical of EVs, accusing them of having no personality and being dull, but that is certainly not the case for the Born. In a field of pretty conservative hatchbacks, it manages to stand out by being genuinely sporty, exciting and fun to drive.

It looks great, the interior feels premium, and, as a driver’s car, it proves that the hot hatch most certainly is not dead.