CUPRA Born EV Owner Review: Why This Hatchback Is a Winner
When choosing our first-ever electric vehicle, we wanted comfort rather than out-and-out performance, and my wife specified that we needed a practical hatchback. The salesman was extremely helpful and not the least bit pushy. We looked at the Renault 5, but decided it was simply too small for my 6-foot-3 frame; the only way I could get comfortable was by pushing the driver’s seat so far back that there was virtually zero legroom left behind me.
In contrast, this CUPRA Born had sufficient space for me and a passenger sitting directly behind me. We were not keen on the standard factory colours, so we opted for an eye-catching blue at extra cost, and people genuinely love it.
Driving Dynamics & Comfort
The ride is nice and smooth, which is great in my old age (83), and my wife says it is lovely to drive. Powering our vehicle is a 58kWh battery, delivering an average range of around 285 miles from an 80% charge. Given that it is only 8 months old and has covered only about 1,200 miles, it is hardly surprising that it still feels like it is brand new.
Practicality & Everyday Usability
Space-wise, it is brilliant. There is enough room for the two of us, our daughter, and our grandson in his child seat, as well as enough space for all the things a small child needs and a large shop. It is also very easy to park.
The only minor frustration is the auxiliary socket, which is located in the tailgate. My electric tyre pump does not have a long enough flex to reach the front tyres—and I am very fussy about tyre pressures, checking them weekly as well as before a long journey—so I had to purchase an auxiliary cable. However, our grandson loves the auxiliary cable because I fitted it with a dummy ‘FIRE MISSILE’ button! Aside from that, we have experienced no faults with the car.
Technology & Interior Highlights
The infotainment screen is brilliant, the satellite navigation is very good indeed, and the other features are easy to access. Heated seats are nice when it is chilly, as is the heated steering wheel, and the air conditioning works well.
The best-kept secret about the car is the Head-Up Display, which is fabulous because your eyes don’t need to refocus between checking the dash and looking at the road—you have to wonder why it isn’t fitted on all cars! Furthermore, the regenerative braking means energy from slowing down is not lost.
Charging & Running Costs
We charge our electric car from home using an installed home charging unit. It is easy to use, allows charging to 80% to preserve battery life (we only charge to 100% for a long trip), and can be set to trickle charge overnight on the cheaper tariff. Our electricity supplier is Octopus, and we have nothing really to complain about since we can easily set our home charger for the cheaper overnight tariff.
Our daughter is the only one who has taken longer trips and needed to use public charging networks. She uses a mobile app that shows available chargers and rates, helping her avoid excessive pricing and non-availability.
For insurance, we originally used Direct Line for a number of years because we could make changes without extra costs (such as adding our son visiting from America). However, after a very excessive renewal premium, we switched to Admiral—though I wish we hadn’t. They charge for policy changes and insisted on fitting a black box (actually white) to monitor the main driver. It frequently malfunctions and transmits no data, and because our daughter uses the car for longer periods, Admiral keeps complaining about the lack of data transmission.
On the bright side, the EV is saving us a significant amount of money. A full charge from less than 20% costs less than £15 for a range of about 285 miles. On our previous diesel car, that would have been about £85 before the war in Iran, and I dread to think what it would cost now. We have had no other running costs apart from screen wash. (Prices correct as of November 2026)
Next EV?
Ultimately, we are thoroughly happy with the CUPRA Born and have no plans to look elsewhere; it has proven to be a comfortable, reliable, and deeply satisfying introduction to electric motoring.
Review by John M
