Cupra Born review | Auto Express

There’s plenty of adjustment for the driver’s seat and steering wheel in all versions of the Born, while the upgraded Sabelt seats in the sporty VZ model are superb. They offer excellent support when cornering, while remaining comfortable on longer trips, too.

While slightly taller alternatives, such as the Hyundai Kona Electric and BYD Dolphin offer a little more rear legroom, the Born is above average for the segment, and passengers benefit from more shapely and supportive seats than in either the Kona or Dolphin, too. Headroom is fine for six-footers, although large C-pillars make things feel a little more gloomy in the back than in some rivals.

Dimensions and size

A short bonnet and fairly long wheelbase help deliver plenty of cabin space, given the Cupra’s relatively compact footprint. In terms of length, the Born is slightly longer than a VW Golf (4,324mm vs 4,282mm, respectively), slightly wider (1,809mm vs 1,789mm, respectively), and taller (1,540mm vs 1,483mm, respectively). 

Boot space 

With a volume of 385 litres, the boot is perfectly usable. It’s a shame that the lip is fairly high, though, and the cut-outs for the angular tail-lights make for some fairly jagged edges on the door. Unlike some rivals, the Born doesn’t have a front boot, so if you need to bring a charging cable with you on a long trip, it’ll need to be packed alongside any luggage or shopping you’re carrying.

“Thanks to a high centre console, which is more or less entirely dedicated to storage, there’s plenty of space to hide various items away. This area manages to compensate for the Born having a small glovebox.” – Alex Ingram, chief reviewer

Euro NCAP awarded the Born a five-star safety rating when it was assessed in 2022. Every model in the line-up has adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning and autonomous emergency braking, lane assist and traffic-sign recognition.