Derek O drives a CUPRA Born V2 58kWh 2022.
Derek has owned 5+ electric cars, he’s owned the CUPRA Born from new and drives 15,000-20,000 miles annually. The current mileage of the car is between 10,000-20,000 miles and he achieves 200 miles from a full charge.
Why did you choose the CUPRA Born?
Having bought an ID.3 I loved the way it drove. Then the CUPRA Born was launched and I just felt it looked a much nicer design. With order delays and used car pricing, the opportunity was there to move into a new CUPRA Born for no cost. I therefore ordered a Born and sold my ID.3 (for more than I paid for it and more than the Born cost!). Having now driven the Born for over 11,000 miles since it was delivered in July ’22 I can say I am delighted with my choice!
Positives
- The looks
- the performance and handling
- the size and space it offers (and it’s not an SUV).
Negatives
- As with the ID.3 the software can still be a little laggy and buggy
- The touch sensitive controls are difficult to use.
Have you experienced any faults with the car? If so, what have they been?
None
What are the standout technological features of the car?
Traffic assist remains a brilliant feature where the car recognises approaching road junctions and adjusts speed automatically if you lift off. Very clever!
Tell us something people wouldn’t readily know about this electric car
Although I haven’t set it up yet as I do the majority of my charging at home, the car is compatible with Plug & Charge which will be a great feature when I need it.
What electric car(s) are you interested in next and why?
Polestar 2 is my ideal of the current models although I’m also interested in the CUPRA Tavascan when launched as well as the full BEV version of the new DS4.
Home charging unit
As my wife and I both drive electric we have a twin charger set up with 2 x EO Minis. One is rated at 32A (7kW) and the other 16A (3.5 kW) so between the two chargers and the 4 hour Octopus Go window we manage fine.
Electricity supplier & tariff
We use Octopus Go which gives 4 hours at a discounted rate (which was 5p per kWh but is currently 12p). 4 hours is usually adequate, however a longer window would be helpful when the battery is very low.
What public charging networks would you recommend to others and why?
Never had any major issues with public charging so far, however I don’t rely on it very often.
Insurer
Insured through Admiral’s MultiCar policy and get a very good service.
Please itemise where you’re saving money (or not) owning & running a CUPRA Born
No longer saving as much as I used to with current energy costs, however home charging saves me over £1,700 per annum based on current fuel prices.
See other CUPRA Born Owner Reviews here