MOTORING REVIEW: Cupra’s all electric ‘Born’ impresses

SEAT’s performance brand, Cupra, introduced its first fully-electric car the ’Cupra Born’ to Irish showrooms last March. The car competes in the compact family segment and is aimed at buyers seeking a sporty looking EV that delivers on performance.

This five-seater is up against many of its stablemates within the Volkswagen Group and is built on the same platform as the ID.3 but with some differences. The car is a real looker bursting with its own character when viewed from every angle and with copper metallic detail accents all around the exterior, and on its wheel designs. And of course the eye-catching copper Cupra badge. Contrasting C-Pillars have a floating design, LED lights run from end-to-end at the rear to emphasise the car’s width. Cab-forward A-pillar windows greatly aid visibility allowing the driver clearly see kerbs on corners in suburbs and housing estates but side mirrors just have the basic blind spot alerts.

The beautiful interior dark grey colour scheme in my review car and the interesting trims on dash and doors added to the whole styling. Nicely supportive sporty bucket seats with non-adjustable integrated headrests proved comfortable and supportive. Recycled textile material used in the seats partially comes from plastic collected from the sea, with other recycled microfibres also in use on the seats, armrests and door panels. Rear passengers have ample head head and leg room but seating three adults there could be a squeeze especially for long journeys.

MOTORING REVIEW: Limerick drivers will be impressed as iconic model goes all-electric

The driver-focused cockpit with a stand alone 12-inch infotainment system is tailored to our increasingly digital lifestyles. Users can access online services, apps, as well as remote access and charging via the My Cupra app, or charge their mobile devices with the wireless charger located on a slope in front of the armrest. Rear passengers can use the two ‘C’ type USB ports. I’m not a big fan of sliders for controlling temperature and radio volume instead of knobs but you do get used to how they work.

Boot capacity is an adequate 385 litres. Beneath the boot floor is an area to hold charging cables. The electric motor is located above the rear axle while the battery sits low between the front and rear axles allowing a low-slung centre of gravity and almost 50-50 weight distribution which aids handling.

My review car was the basic 204hp, 58kWh battery version with 310Nm torque and rear-wheel drive and had a claimed range of 417kms. Cupra claims an average consumption of 17kWh/100km. There are three pre-set driving modes while the top versions have an additional Boost function. Individual preferences can also be set.

The car comes with many high-end assistance systems including Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control, side and exit assist, Emergency Assist. Features include a Head Up Display, heated steering wheel/front seats, two-zone climate control, Cupra Connect, aluminium pedals, front and rear parking sensors. Onboard options were 20-inch alloys with copper and black finishes, premium metallic paint, and a Protect Pack including anti-theft alarm system, anti-theft wheel bolts and a Proactive Passenger Protection System.

On the road, I found the car handles well and is very agile, with power delivered to the rear wheels producing a sportier feel. I enjoyed the whole drive experience and reluctantly returned the car to its owners.

Born has achieved the top rating during Euro NCAP car safety assessment programme’s rigorous testing regime.

PRICE: From €38,160 including grants; my review car €42,410. Price includes available SEAI grants, VRT Relief, Delivery & CUPRA Care Plan.