MOTORING REVIEW: Cupra Born - bold look matches electric

AT A GLANCE

Model: Cupra Born

Style: hatchback

Energy: all-electric (BEV)

Battery: 58kWh

Power: 231hp with e-Boost: Rear-Wheel Drive

Transmission: Automatic 1-speed / Electric

Torque: 310 Nm

0-100km/h: 7.3 secs

Road Tax: €120

Price: €42,080, my car €52,295; with options €53,077

THE CUPRA brand has gained huge traction among car buyers since it launched to the Irish market in 2020. Last year, Irish sales were up by a whopping 267pc on the previous year and I believe that trend will continue, but perhaps not at such a rapid pace.

My latest test drive was in Cupra’s all-electric Born five-door hatchback, a seriously stylish compact/small family C-segment car with lots of attitude and the brand’s first all-electric car.

Based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform, Born was developed at Cupra’s headquarters at Martorell in Barcelona, but is manufactured in Germany along with the VW ID.3 so both have the same underpinnings and batteries.

Born is obviously aimed at a younger audience than a more traditional type buyer. The stunning exterior catches the eye from every angle and the look is accentuated by copper accents. Big 19-inch alloy wheels also piqued interest.

Edge-to-edge rear lights give a brilliant show at night and the Cupra logo is projected on the driveway when you unlock the car.

The interior with a premium-car feel is plenty spacious for a small family who want to go the electric route. Again, beautiful copper accents add to the overall look. The steeply sloping windscreen and large far-forward A-pillar windows greatly aid visibility. Blind spot cover is via three orange lights on the insides of both side mirrors. The lights really don’t stand out enough when a vehicle is approaching from the year. Side mirrors are on the small side and when you lock the car, fold in at a peculiar angle.

Bucket seats use sustainable materials made from upcycled marine plastics and look great. Front ones have integrated headrests and can be heated; the driver’s also gets lumbar support and a massage function. Three adults can travel in comfort in the back, albeit at a squeeze, aided by the almost flat floor.

You can charge your mobile phone by placing it in the sloping area in front of the armrest but be warned that as there’s only a small ridge separating it from the area below, your phone can disappear out of sight under heavy braking.

The dash is dominated by an upgraded 12-inch floating touchscreen with navigation that I found quite fiddly to use but has beautiful graphics.

Volume and temperature controls are operated by sliding controls below the screen. I prefer knobs every time. The 5.3-inch digital cockpit display sits on the steering column with the gear lever attached on the right side which you twist to select the gear you want to engage. The reading shows on the small screen. It requires your concentration.

Number of cars stolen from multiple homes in Limerick

I particularly liked the perforated leather steering wheel, which can be heated. A round ‘satellite’ button on either side of the wheel is for the drive mode selection (there are four to choose from but I opted for Comfort mode to save on energy) and e-Boost function which maximises acceleration providing a more fun and engaging drive.

Boot capacity is a decent enough 385 litres but there was nowhere to put the charging cables below the floor.

Standard equipment included dark tinted windows, full LED lights, Cupra Drive Profile, 360deg top view camera, reversing camera, Auto Hold, parking sensors, Adaptive Cruise Control and rear traffic alert. Optional equipment included metallic paint (€603), Beats Audio (€477), the panoramic sunroof (€995) and 20-inch Firestorm Aero black alloy wheels with performance tyres (€1,708).

The basic 58kWh battery with a 204hp motor has a claimed range of 376-420km while the more powerful 77kWh claims to deliver up to 552kms. My car was the former with the e-Boost pack which adds another 20kW of additional power giving 231hp and a claimed 419km range. Max torque is 310 Nm; 0-100km/h takes 6.6 seconds which, though not exactly what you’d call in hot GTi hatch territory, will nevertheless appease most buyers.

On collecting the car, the battery was charged to 63pc which would provide me with 181kms. After a trip of about 60km or so, there was still 127kms left in the battery. Charging at a 150kWh fast charger later in the week, I upped the battery to 97pc which gave me 315km of range. Returning the car after a week’s test drive, the long-term calculation showed an energy return of 18.3kWh/100km. The top speed is 160 km/h and road tax €120.

Cupra’s suspension has been lowered by 15mm at the front and by 10mm at the rear which makes the car very agile and allows it corner well. However, the large alloy wheels mean you do feel bumps on uneven road surfaces but otherwise it provides for a smooth ride and a fun drive.

The brand currently has retailers in 11 locations throughout Ireland.

Cupra is the Latin name for the chemical element Copper, hence the copper inserts in the car, while Cupra was also a fertility goddess.

Prices are from €42,080; my car basic price €52,295 and with options €53,077.