The Cupra Born is a battery electric small family car (C-segment) marketed by SEAT through its performance-oriented Cupra marque.[2] Initially unveiled as the SEAT el-Born concept in 2019, the production car was revealed in May 2021 as the Cupra Born.[2] The Born is based on the Volkswagen Group MEB platform and has been manufactured at the same plant in Zwickau, Germany, as the MEB-based Volkswagen ID.3.[2] The car is named after a neighbourhood in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

Overview

Concept

SEAT el-Born Concept at IAA 2019

The vehicle was previewed as the SEAT el-Born, which was unveiled in March 2019 Geneva Motor Show.[3] The prototype car was fitted with a 62 kWh battery pack, with a claimed 420 km (261 mi) range (WLTP).[4] It was powered by a 150 kW; 201 bhp (204 PS) electric motor, able to accelerate to 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) in 7.5 seconds.[4] The battery is compatible with 100 kW DC supercharging, and features a thermal management system.[3] It featured a driver assistance systems, and is capable of Level 2 Autonomous Driving.[5]

Production version

Rear view
Interior
Cupra Born VZ (Front view)
Rear view

Production of the Born was confirmed in July 2020, and it is sold under the Cupra brand.[2][6][7][8] The production car would have a larger battery pack than the prototype.[9] The car was renamed to Cupra Born in February 2021, therefore dropping the "el-" from the name.[10] It was expected to cost around £40,000, which is noted to be around the price of the higher end models of the Volkswagen ID.3.[11]

The Born had its official premiere in May 2021. At launch there was an option of two powertrains, a base electric motor of 110 kW (150 PS; 150 hp) with rear-wheel drive, and a more powerful model with a rear motor of 150 kW (200 PS; 200 hp) and 310 Nm, which develops 170 kW (231 PS; 228 hp). With Boost Mode, it took 6.6 seconds for the flagship model to accelerate to 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph).[12] In 2024 the more powerful VZ was introduced, with an motor of 240 kW (330 PS; 320 hp) and 545 Nm, which achieves 5.6 seconds to 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph).

At launch it had three battery capacities of 45 kWh for the cheapest version and 55 kWh and 77 kWh for the higher-end models, with ranges from 340 to 540 km (210 to 340 mi). Charging on a fast charger up to 80% battery takes 35–60 minutes depending on the battery size, and according to Cupra, will increase range by 100 kilometers in 7 minutes. The interior features a 300 mm (12.0 in) touchscreen, sports seats with integrated headrests and a head-up display. Equipment also includes adaptive cruise control, Travel Assist system for semi-autonomous driving, traffic sign recognition, automatic braking system, Dynamic Chassis Control Sport suspension. Production started in September 2021.[13]

Facelift

In March 2026, the Cupra Born received a facelift. It includes traditional steering wheel buttons, improved materials, redesigned triangular headlights and taillights and a new Android-based infotainment system.[14]

Powertrain

Type Battery (usable) Layout Electric motor Power Torque 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) (claimed) Range (claimed) Charging Calendar years
WLTP (max) WLTP (min) AC (max) DC (max)
Born 45 55 (45) kWh lithium-ion RWD APP 310 110 kW (148 hp; 150 PS) 310 N⋅m (31.6 kg⋅m; 229 lb⋅ft) 8.9 s 349 km (217 mi) 7.2 kW 100 kW Cancelled[15]
Born 58 62 (58) kWh lithium-ion RWD APP 310 150 kW (201 hp; 204 PS) 310 N⋅m (31.6 kg⋅m; 229 lb⋅ft) 7.3 s 426 km (265 mi) 376 km (234 mi) 11 kW 120 kW 2021–2024[16]
170 kW (228 hp; 231 PS) 310 N⋅m (31.6 kg⋅m; 229 lb⋅ft) 6.6 s 422 km (262 mi) 373 km (232 mi) 11 kW 120 kW 2021–2024
Born 59 with E-Boost Pack 63 (59) kWh lithium-ion RWD APP 310 170 kW (228 hp; 231 PS) 310 N⋅m (31.6 kg⋅m; 229 lb⋅ft) 6.7 s 428 km (266 mi) 365 km (227 mi) 11 kW 165 kW 2024–present
Born 77 82 (77) kWh lithium-ion RWD APP 310 170 kW (228 hp; 231 PS) 310 N⋅m (31.6 kg⋅m; 229 lb⋅ft) 7.0 s 551 km (342 mi) 495 km (308 mi) 11 kW 170 kW 2021–2024
Born 77 with E-Boost Pack 82 (77) kWh lithium-ion RWD APP 310 170 kW (228 hp; 231 PS) 310 N⋅m (31.6 kg⋅m; 229 lb⋅ft) 7.1 s 560 km (348 mi) 487 km (303 mi) 11 kW 175 kW 2024–present
Born VZ 84 (79) kWh lithium-ion RWD APP 550 240 kW (322 hp; 326 PS) 545 N⋅m (55.6 kg⋅m; 402 lb⋅ft) 5.6 s 599 km (372 mi) 508 km (316 mi) 11 kW 185 kW 2024–present
References: [17][18][19]

Safety

ANCAP

ANCAP test results
Cupra Born
(2022, aligned with Euro NCAP)[20]
Test Points %
Overall: StarStarStarStarStar
Adult occupant: 35.47 93%
Child occupant: 43.89 89%
Pedestrian: 39.91 73%
Safety assist: 12.83 80%

Euro NCAP

Euro NCAP test results
Cupra Born 170 kW e-Boost Pack (LHD) (2022)[21]
Test Points %
Overall: StarStarStarStarStar
Adult occupant: 35.5 93%
Child occupant: 44 89%
Pedestrian: 39.9 73%
Safety assist: 12.8 80%
Euro NCAP test results
Cupra Born 170kW 59kWh e-Boost Pack (LHD) (2025)[22]
Test Points %
Overall: StarStarStarStarStar
Adult occupant: 36.0 89%
Child occupant: 43.0 87%
Pedestrian: 48.0 76%
Safety assist: 13.8 76%

Production

Calendar year Total production
2021 4,801[23]
2022 36,153[23]
2023 45,300[23]
2024 42,593[24]
2025 43,207[24]

References

  1. ↑ "CAR OF THE YEAR 2022 FINALISTS | CUPRA BORN". autodesignmagazine.com. 2022-01-10. Retrieved 2022-08-27.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "CUPRA's first all-electric vehicle is born". seat.co.uk. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  3. 1 2 "The SEAT el-Born premiere". seat.co.uk. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  4. 1 2 "New Seat el-Born electric car revealed ahead of Geneva Motor Show 2019 debut". Daily Express. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  5. ↑ "Seat's 201bhp el-Born is brand's first bespoke EV". Autocar. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  6. ↑ "New Cupra el-Born electric hot hatch offers 310-mile range". whatcar.com. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  7. ↑ "New 2021 Cupra El-Born is VW Group's first EV hot hatch". Autocar. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  8. ↑ "2021 Cupra El-Born electric car revealed: price, specs and release date". whatcar.com. 29 November 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  9. ↑ "New Cupra el-Born electric car 2020: pictures, specs and details". Driving Electric. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  10. ↑ "Cupra Confirms New Born (Formerly el-Born) Electric Hatchback". InsideEVs. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  11. ↑ van Oostvoorne, Nick Lette; Allen, James (22 February 2021). "'Cupra Born' name confirmed for EV hot hatch: price, specs and release date". carwow.co.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  12. ↑ "Cupra Born Officially Revealed With More Power Than VW ID.3". Motor1.com. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
  13. ↑ "New 2022 Cupra Born: hot hatch is Spanish brand's first EV". Autocar. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
  14. ↑ "Volkswagen's Cupra Born Electric Hot Hatch Gets More Buttons". Motor1.com. Retrieved 2026-04-04.
  15. ↑ "Cupra Born review". Top Gear. 2024-09-02. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  16. ↑ "Cupra revises the Born lineup". electrive.com. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  17. ↑ "Cupra Born Presales Catalogue 2021" (PDF). Cupra Official. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  18. ↑ "Cupra Born Catalogue 2024" (PDF). Cupra Official. 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  19. ↑ "Cupra Born UK" (PDF). Cupra UK. 2024-01-11. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
  20. ↑ "ANCAP results for Cupra Born". Ancap.com.au. 2022.
  21. ↑ https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/cupra/born/46243
  22. ↑ https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/cupra/born/57074
  23. 1 2 3 "SEAT". Volkswagen Group Annual Report 2022. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  24. 1 2 SA, Seat (2016-10-23). "Seat Annual Report 2025 : Seat SA : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive". Internet Archive. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupra_Born