Cupra Born review - Range, charging and running costs
Longer journeys shouldn’t pose any problems as the top-spec Born provides more than 300 miles of range and decent charging ability
From launch, the Born is offered with a choice of either a 58kWh or 77kWh battery, with an entry-level 45kWh version joining the line-up later in 2022. The 201bhp 58kWh model is able to cover up to 259 miles on a single charge, although this is dependent on which trim you choose - opting for the top-of-the-range V3 specification (with bigger 20-inch wheels and heavier extra kit) will lower the predicted range to around 222 miles.
The 228bhp 58kWh version returns pretty much the same range, despite its extra bump in power, while a Born fitted with the 77kWh battery is able to travel a maximum of 340 miles before needing to recharge. As with all EVs, factors such as your individual driving style, the type of road you’re travelling on and even the weather will all have an impact on the Born’s overall range.
Charging speed is equally important to family buyers as overall range, as any benefit from travelling a good distance on a single charge will be immediately lost if you have to wait a long time to replenish the battery before moving on. Fortunately, the Born is up to the task; the 58kWh model has a 120kW charging capacity, which means a 5 to 80 per cent top-up can take just 35 minutes. Cupra claims the 77kWh version needs 36 minutes to perform the same function thanks to its 135kW maximum charging rate.
Insurance
All 201bhp Born models sit in insurance group 25, irrespective of which trim level you opt for. Moving up to the 228bhp version (58kWh battery) only sees a slight jump to group 26, while the 77kWh variant is in group 28.
In comparison, most Volkswagen ID.3 models occupy groups 25-26, so there’s not much of an insurance penalty if you go for the sportier set-up of the Born.
Depreciation
Buyers will be reassured by the Born’s strong residual values. Over a typical three-year/36,000-mile ownership period, the all-electric hatchback is predicted to hold on to around 61 per cent of its original value. This stacks up well against the similar figures of the closely-related Volkswagen ID.3.
