- Cupra refreshes Born EV with new family face, upgraded tech.
- Steering wheel swaps hated haptic controls for physical buttons.
- Sportiest VZ version packs 322 hp and offers a 372-mile range.
The Cupra Born has always been the cooler, more rebellious cousin in Volkswagen’s electric hatchback family. Now the Spanish brand has given it a facelift that sharpens the looks, upgrades the cabin and adds a bit more range, while quietly fixing one of the few annoying features from the original ID.3 twin.
The makeover starts on the outside, where the Born now adopts Cupra’s latest design language. The nose gets a more aggressive shark-like shape and new triangular Matrix LED headlights that echo the styling of newer models like the Tavascan and Formentor.
Related: Cupra’s Smallest EV Just Drove Around Naked Hoping Nobody Would Notice
Taillights now include an illuminated Cupra logo integrated into a full light bar and new wheels arrive in 19 and 20-inch sizes wrapped in wider 235 mm tires. Cupra says the extra rubber helps improve grip and handling, which was already great, though it did come at the expense of a firm-ish ride.
Real Buttons
But inside is where one of the most welcome changes happens. The previous car’s frustrating haptic steering wheel controls have been replaced with actual physical buttons. It’s a shame Cupra didn’t replace the nasty touch-slider temperature controls on the main screen while they were at it, but that’s the drawback of sharing tech between multiple brands.
That 12.9-inch touchscreen introduced in a 2024 update is carried over, but gains a new Android based operating system. The digital gauge cluster has grown, though, from a tiny 5.3 inch display to a much more usable 10.25 inch screen.
Material quality, which was always better in the Born than in the VW ID.3, has also been further improved with redesigned door panels, softer surfaces and recycled textiles made from marine plastics. Rear passengers now get air vents as well, which might not sound exciting but is something the previous model lacked.
Less Power, More Miles
Under the skin the Born still rides on Volkswagen Group’s MEB electric platform, but the powertrain lineup has been tweaked, and now comes with a one-pedal driving mode. The entry-level Born Plus uses a 58 kWh battery and a 187 hp (190 PS / 140 kW) motor, down from 201 hp (204 PS / 150 kW) before. The payoff is in range, which increases from 264 miles (425 km) to 280 miles (450 km).
Step up to the larger 79 kWh battery in the Endurance and you’ll get around 372 miles of range (600 km) – up from 366 miles (590 km) – along with faster 185 kW charging and a power boost to 228 hp (231 PS / 170 kW). That grows to 322 hp (326 PS / 240 kW) in the VZ hot hatch, and since you get to keep all of the Endurance’s 372 range miles while gaining nearly 100 horses, it looks like the pick of the lineup.
The new-look Born hits European dealers this summer, but it better enjoy the spotlight while it can, because this year Cupra launches its little brother, the all-new Raval.
