Cupra Born e-Boost 59kWh Review

The Tavascan may get more glances at Cupra Centre Singapore today, but it's worth remembering that Cupra actually had a different poster child for its march towards electrification. 

Things were different in early-2021. You were probably still warming to the idea of Cupra as a standalone brand, independent of Seat. Its lineup was also fully combustion-powered. Then, in June, it pulled the covers off a brooding compact hatch set to become its first all-electric offering. Transitions can also be interpreted as rebirths; that this angry-looking hatchback was named the Cupra Born felt extremely fitting for a new brand moving into a new era. 

Considering that it's taken approximately four years for it to finally reach us, and considering how crowded Cupra Centre Singapore has now become, you can be forgiven for initially overlooking this pint-sized member of the family. But don't let its small footprint fool you; the Born continues to pack an outsized punch that carries Cupra's original philosophy of performance into the electric era with unduplicated restraint and finesse.

The Born's styling is undeniably Cupra-esque, but is still distinct from its other siblings today

Born again

Ageing, it may be, the Born's caught-between-different-eras styling is refreshing no matter the perspective you take.

Conceived prior to the concretisation of Cupra's latest-generation design language, it's immediately the one that stands out from its other siblings, because it doesn't share their tri-triangular head lights or shark nose grilles.

A large rear diffuser is but one of the many indicators that the Born means business; 20-inch wheels are also massive for the car's size

Direct your attention outwards, and its uniqueness holds strong still. Against both the established crowd (Japanese, Korean, European) and the newcomers from China, the Born's sharp lines, scowling face, and obsession with copper mark it out as distinctively Spanish.

Other visual peculiarities give it extra character. Its rear spoiler and protruding diffuser are exactly what you'd expect from a hot hatch; those short overhangs and rapidly downwards-sloping bonnet, not so much. 20-inch tyres are also not typically in the wheelhouse of a hatchback just slightly over 4.3 metres in length. But here, they nicely fill the Born's wheel arches, and lend it extra presence. 

Outsized punch

The Born's interior feels truly special too, despite it not rising to the Tavascan's phantasmagoric heights.

Against the darker surfaces in the cabin, its enduring copper addiction provides a nice contrast whether applied on the air vents or on the fine stitching of the steering wheel and dashboard. Elsewhere, even non-environmentalists should be able to get onboard with the recycled materials used on the floor mats and sports seats, which look and feel good. Cupra's decision to opt for a suede-like material rather than faux-leather or hard black plastics for the centre console and doors also adds a special touch.

Rather than hard black plastics or faux leather, the use of suede-like materials and copper accents help to make the Born's interior feel extra special

Where the Born returns to more familiar territory is with its heavy dose of digitalisation. Apart from the capacitive touch buttons on the steering wheel, the experience is mostly pleasant. Most notably, its freestanding 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen delights with its responsiveness and crisp graphics. It also bears a Cupra-specific aesthetic that sets it apart sufficiently from other models within the Volkswagen Group. What’s more, the physical controls included by default within this setup (such as the indicator stalk and steering column-mounted gear shifter) convey quality with their pleasant damping.

A flat floor and long wheelbase means the Born is more adept at carrying passengers than you might expect

The Born's 385-litre boot edges out those found in many other compact hatchbacks, but does come with a sizeable load lip

Move rearwards and the Born will continue to impress still. Built atop of the bespoke MEB platform for EVs, its 2,766mm wheelbase trumps that of even electric crossovers, translating into generous legroom in the second row.

While the Born’s narrower body means longer journeys are still best reserved for four, a flat floor here means that squeezing a third passenger in the middle is less painful than you might imagine. If you can look past the rather sizeable load lip, its 385-litre boot is also generous for a hatchback of its size, edging out the likes of the BMW 1 Series, the Audi A3 Sportback, and even the Volkswagen Golf. 

Tiny electric dancer

For a full-fat experience of the Born's hot hatch claims, you'll probably want to reach for the range-topping VZ variant, which has specially-tuned steering and brakes, is equipped with Dynamic Chassis Control, and sees its power output bumped to 322bhp.

But even on this less bonkers variant, the Born is a delight to be behind the wheel of. The standard inclusion of what Cupra calls the 'e-Boost package' endows its single motor with enough strength to send up to 170kW (228bhp) and 310Nm of torque to the rear wheels. It's not quite Golf GTI power, but the urgency with which the car surges forwards - even without calling upon 'CUPRA' mode - is still sufficiently entertaining. On paper, 0 to 100km/h takes 6.7 seconds. The burst of acceleration that arrives when you pin your foot to the pedal makes you wonder if Cupra's team was half a second too slow to stopping the timer.

Even with the less powerful electric motor, and even without activating CUPRA mode, the Born is raring to go

It helps, too, that the Born's footprint is so tight. Cupra tells you its cars are made for rebels; inevitably, you'll find yourself tempted to drive like one, given how easy it is to dart in and out of traffic. Most electric cars have no problem gathering speed, but with rear-wheel drive, and without a hefty SUV body to haul, the Born does them one better: It feels genuinely agile. A smaller and lighter 59kWh battery on this variant undoubtedly does the car favours too, while still offering a real-world range of 380km.

Admittedly, the stark absence of any sort of aural drama means the Born loses points in the drama department. If we're being picky, its slightly elevated ride height means that even in its lowest setting, the driving position isn't as sporty as on more traditional hot hatches. 

The Born remains remarkably flat around bends, and grip levels are fantastic, with its Dinamica-finished sports seats providing excellent support too

But these gripes should be quickly forgiven on a winding road. The Born corners flat; grip levels are incredible; and its steering is sharp and accurate, if not exceptionally communicative. Amidst the fun, those Dinamica sports seats match up superbly with their supportiveness. 

Truly singular

All of these strengths make it hard not to have a soft spot for the Born.

Some risk of internal competition exists with the Volkswagen ID.5 and Skoda Enyaq Coupe residing at different ends of the same showroom housing the Cupra Tavascan; the Born's proposition as a hot electric hatch feels a lot clearer. It's to its benefit too that Volkswagen doesn't sell the ID.3 in Singapore. While hatchbacks haven't been given short shrift in the electric revolution so far (and surprisingly so), not even the stellar MG 4 EV places such overt emphasis on the driving experience. 

There's also its competitive pricing. To be clear, $190,000 in isolation is not chump change - but shop around this ballpark, and you'll find similarly-priced cars like the Mazda 3 Hatchback and even the Born's own distant cousin, the Volkswagen Golf.

These are household names with established fanbases for sure, yet with their familiarity also comes some dullness. Against them, the Born doesn't just stand as a more modern and more offbeat counterpoint while offering similar highs from the driver's seat; it's also well-specced (you get massage seats!), and packs extra firepower. Cupras in general are already not lacking in the uniqueness department, but the charm of this perky and pointy electric hatchback feels truly singular.

Here are some other hatchbacks in the market worth considering!

More than just an accomplished (if pricey) family hatch, the new Golf satisfies and delights by packing exactly the sorts of upgrades desired by the people

Without having its sparkling drive dulled, the MG 4 EV thrives even better with reduced power, thanks to the brightened spotlight on its space and value

The Mazda3 Hatchback impresses with its sleek sheet metal, premium cabin and mild hybrid engine