Cupra Born review - Range, charging & running costs

As it stands, the Cupra Born represents slightly better value for money than the equivalent Volkswagen ID.3. That’s because while Cupra continues to offer its first EV in base V1 spec, the ID.3’s cheapest Pro Essential trim is almost £1,000 pricier.

The good news is that anyone opting for the cheapest Cupra shouldn’t feel short-changed. Standard kit is generous, and every version will do at least 260 miles on a charge. Charge at home on a cheap energy tariff and you could save on fuel, while strong residual values should help keep a lid on monthly PCP costs, too.

Cupra Born range & charging

The 58kWh (usable) battery offers a range of up to 262 miles, while the range-topping 77kWh battery can officially get the Born close to 340 miles, making it ideal for higher mileage drivers. In comparison, the cheapest Tesla Model 3 can manage 318 miles (390 miles for the Long Range), while the Renault Megane E-Tech Electric offers up to 292 miles.

Fitted with a 77kWh battery, the Born supports 135kW rapid DC charging, making it possible to add 62 miles of range in just seven minutes. A charge from 0-80% takes around 35 minutes. The 58kWh version gets 125kW charging but charging times are similar thanks to its smaller capacity. The hotted-up Born VZ gets a slightly larger 79kWh battery capacity, but its maximum charging speed is faster again at up to 185kW. A full charge from an 11kW wallbox takes just over six hours for the smaller battery and seven-and-a-half hours for the larger one; expect charging to take longer if you have a more common 7kW wallbox at home.

Like all electric cars, the Born is exempt from VED (road tax) until 2025 and will appeal to business users thanks to its very low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) band, especially when compared with petrol and diesel models. In fact, the Born in cheapest V1 trim will cost between £10 and £15 per month in tax for a 20% taxpayer.

Insurance groups

The Cupra Born starts in group 25 out of 50 for insurance, while e-Boost versions occupy groups 26 or 28. That shouldn’t mean your premiums are sky-high (the ID.3 Life is in a similar group 23) but we’d always recommend getting an insurance quote before agreeing to buy the car.

Warranty

Like other Volkswagen Group products, the Cupra Born comes with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty. That’ll be ideal for drivers on a three-year finance deal, but it looks a bit stingy compared to the seven years and ten years of cover you can get from Hyundai and Toyota respectively.

Servicing

Cupra offers a service plan designed to take the sting out of scheduled maintenance. Your dealer will be able to advise you on prices, but the Born should be relatively inexpensive to maintain because it has fewer moving parts than a petrol car.