Overview

It’s the Bjorn. Again. No, not an ABBA tribute act or a spiritual awakening, but the facelifted 2026 CUPRA Born – and we headed to the international media drive in Madrid to find out what’s new.

The Born was a milestone for CUPRA when it launched in 2021, and it’s been a sales success since, with 45,300 units sold last year – a 44.4% jump on the year before. It was already a good car, so what’s changed? Pleasingly, most of the effort has gone exactly where it was needed: sharper design, a better interior and, crucially, far better technology.

That last point is the big one. A friend of mine owns an early Born and describes the infotainment as rubbish, and he’s thoroughly fed up with the software glitches. He’s not alone. CUPRA has listened, ditching the old Volkswagen Group software for a new Android-powered system, bringing back physical buttons and upgrading the batteries and driver assistance kit.

The line-up still consists of three rear-wheel-drive versions, with prices starting from £35,930. That’s a smart move given the rising tide of keenly priced Chinese EVs, and the Government’s decision to raise the expensive car VED supplement threshold for EVs to £50,000 makes the Born even more tempting. Rivals include the Volkswagen ID.3, MG4 EV, Kia EV3, Renault 5 and Alpine A290 at the sportier end.

Driving

There are three battery and motor combinations, and every one of them drives the rear wheels. The entry model pairs a 58kWh battery with a 187bhp motor, while the mid-range car uses a larger 79kWh battery (up from 77kWh) with 228bhp.

Topping the range, as before, is the VZ. It combines the 79kWh battery with a 322bhp motor, enough for 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 124mph. Big-battery cars also get launch control, should you fancy embarrassing a few hot hatches at the lights.

The Born has always been one of the more entertaining electric hatchbacks, and the facelift sharpens it further. Progressive steering, ESC Sport and up to 15 levels of Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC Sport) adjustment let you tailor how it feels, backed up by five driver profiles. The new car feels noticeably more responsive than before, and it’s now one of the most dynamic-feeling cars in its class.

One-pedal driving is available for easy town work, and there’s a new immersive sound in Performance and CUPRA modes. It’s designed to give a stronger sense of connection between driver and car, and it adds a bit of theatre without becoming irritating.

Safety systems have been re-engineered too. There’s a new Travel Assist with cloud-enhanced longitudinal control, new Crossroad Assist, an upgraded Front Assist with multi-stage warnings, and Pre-crash with rear detection.

Range and running costs

CUPRA quotes up to 372 miles of official range for the 79kWh cars and 279 miles for the 58kWh version. Those are strong numbers for a car of this size, and a useful step up on the old Born.

The reality is a little different. Driven enthusiastically on our test route around Madrid, the VZ was on course for something closer to 200 miles, which is the compromise you make with a hot hatch that’s this much fun. Drive more gently and you should comfortably see more, but don’t expect to get near the official figure on a cold UK motorway.

DC rapid charging from 10-80% takes around 26 to 30 minutes, depending on battery size. Plugged into a typical 11kW home wallbox, a full charge from empty takes roughly 6 hours for the 58kWh car and around 8 hours for the 79kWh models, so an overnight top-up is easy.

Running costs should be pleasingly low, especially if you can charge at home on an off-peak tariff. And with the Government raising the expensive car VED supplement threshold for EVs to £50,000, most buyers will avoid the extra charge altogether.

Design

Designed and developed in Barcelona, the new Born adopts CUPRA’s latest design language, with a shark-nose front end, redesigned bumpers front and rear and a more prominent diffuser. Triangular Matrix LED headlights, illuminated door handles and an illuminated rear logo set into the 3D rear light finish things off – and is it just us, or does that rear logo look a bit like the Transformers emblem? There’s CUPRA’s trademark copper detailing, the shape is more aerodynamically efficient, and you can choose from five new wheel designs, with wider 235mm tyres on both 19-inch and 20-inch rims. Six exterior colours are offered, including the new Timanfaya Grey pictured here, named after the volcanic national park in Lanzarote – presumably because it matches the grey lava rock.

Inside, the cabin feels plusher than before, largely thanks to new door panels with CUPRA’s signature patterned inserts and more ambient lighting. That lighting does more than set the mood: it uses colour changes and animations to reinforce warnings to the driver. Sports bucket seats are now standard, and most of the materials are recycled or upcycled, in keeping with CUPRA’s sustainability push. The redesigned steering wheel finally swaps fiddly haptic pads for proper physical buttons, and – hallelujah – there are now individual window switches for all four doors.

Comfort and practicality

The headline change is the 12.9-inch infotainment screen, now running an Android-based operating system. It’s smoother, snappier and more flexible than the old Volkswagen-derived software, and it’s exactly what existing owners have been asking for. It’s joined by a larger 10.25-inch digital instrument display and an augmented reality head-up display.

It’s not perfect, though. The volume, temperature, fan speed and air-con controls still rely on touch sliders, which are awkward to use on the move, and it’s baffling they weren’t replaced alongside everything else. Some may also dislike that the screen is angled towards the driver rather than centred for the passenger, although parents with grabby children might see that as a bonus.

Those in the back get their own air vents, which kids will love, and rear space is decent for a car of this size. The standard bucket seats are supportive and hold you well in corners, though their firm bolsters may not suit everyone, so try before you buy.

The boot offers 385 litres, which is about average for the class. More impressive is that bike rack integration is now standard, saving you the hassle of retrofitting a tow bar or wrestling with a strap-on carrier. Add Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability, and you can even top up an e-bike from the car.

Verdict

The facelifted CUPRA Born moves from a very good car to a genuinely excellent one. CUPRA has tackled most of the old car’s shortcomings, with the new Android-based infotainment, physical buttons and plusher cabin making it far easier to live with, while the rear-drive chassis remains one of the most enjoyable in the class.

With great-value Chinese EVs flooding the market, European brands can no longer rest on their laurels, and they need deeper tech and real engineering integrity to justify their prices. At £35,930, CUPRA has nailed it. The leftover touch sliders and modest real-world range in VZ form stop it from scoring top marks, but this is a hugely appealing electric hatch for existing owners and newcomers alike.

Perhaps it should have been called The Bourne Legacy – and you can bet its successor will be The Bourne Supremacy. Either way, this one really was born to be wild.

Key Specs

CUPRA Born

Price (RRP OTR): From £35,930
Top speed: 99–124mph (dependent on model/battery)
0-62mph: 5.6–7.3 seconds (dependent on model/battery)
Power: 140kW (187bhp), 170kW (228bhp), 240kW (322bhp)
Torque: 229–402lb-ft (dependent on model/battery)
Driving range (combined): 279 miles (58kWh), up to 372 miles (79kWh)
Charging time: approx. 6hrs (58kWh) / 8hrs (79kWh) (11kW, 0-100%), 26-30min (130kW, 10-80%)
Insurance group: 25–30 (dependent on model/battery)
Vehicle warranty: 3 years / 60,000 miles Battery warranty: 8 years / 100,000 miles