Agreed, this segment reminded me of the long-term test reviews I used to read in the back of Top Gear magazines - informative but entertaining (informtaining?)
Never knew about the tyres being a special size and the wiper blades being for LHD cars! Sadly these two issues would be enough for me to not touch it with a barge pole. Only buying top grade Continental Tyres!! Notice that the tyre "price" wasn't mentioned.... I bet it was around £200 each.
For someone who doesn't stand in front of a camera that often, well done. Do it some more. The car. VW said the chassis wasn't good enough to do a GTi (hot) version, so I'm disappointed this isn't the first mainstream EV hot hatch it looks like
@@Panterbell_Kuu in 2022 a VW big wig said they wouldn't make a performance version of an MEB product because reinvestment 800v blah blah. Basically an admission the platform isn't good enough. Look at the Skoda enyaq vrs. Not one review claims it even remotely sporty. The same can be said of every meb product. So, the Cupra Born may look sporty, but it's not. And that disappoints me as I really wish VW, with all its might, had been able to make a sporty EV. Such a shame. But, as the VW guy said, they are working on it for the next iteration. Hope that clears up what I originally said👍
Had my V3 58kwh for nearly a month (after ~5 month wait) - only option panoramic roof. Really like the car, it's quiet and drives well 😁. It feels a lot bigger than my previous Golf mk7 (on paper a similar size), particularly as you sit a lot higher due to the underfloor batteries (does give excellent visibility, though). The only cons so far; inability to switch off lane assist permanently, which is a real pain ☹️, and using touchscreen/haptic buttons is distracting when driving. Appreciated the ability to warm/defrost the cabin remotely + heated seats and steering wheel during the recent cold snap, were brilliant 😁.
We drive our Born since December and are absolutely loving it. It's the same model with 58kw Battery and that's just enough for everyday use. For me it's the smoothest car I ever owned and it's just fun to drive.
I’ve had my born for three months now and I love it. Heat to drive and very practical. to change back to Miles on app. Go to account bottom right then units at the top
To change back to miles in My Cupra App go to Profile / Account / Units....took me ages to find it!!! I agree with every one of your comments with the A pillar blind spot being my biggest moan. Other than that and the very hit and miss App, I love my V3!! By the way, my colleague received her V2 a few weeks ago and within 3 days the battery had blown leaving her stranded on a winding unlit back road...have been told a battery module has blown but Seat can't look at it until early Feb because it needs to go to a specialist battery centre.
Just starting month 3 with my Born . A 77kw V3 with e boost. First electric car, as a company car , to make the benefit of cheap BIK taxes. Anxiety from distance soon faded away with the larger battery,. Its a great car to drive and with the cars in the household, would always be the first key to get snatched by any driver needing transport. As all have said the software and infotainment is not fun at all. Cupra dealer changed my car to miles on the app on one of my visits , but they had issues with head offices servers , so its still not totally working on the app. Also, I have had irregular keyless entry issues. No real drama but should work. The alarm also works , as sometimes I open the door from locked, it unlocks and sets the alarm off. Cue hunting for the key in my pocket to shut it up and its ear piercing loud. Ask my neighbours. Range wise , I am getting 3.6miles/kw through the winter , that I have had the vehicle. Thats on comfort mode, heater, lights and pre-heat if required. So, hopefully make 4miles/ kw when it warms and I use less heating etc. Quick off the line with the e-boost button. Does surprise and make a difference. Wife , after I showed her to press it , took off like a scalded cat and then swore and hit the brakes and she isnt scared of power or speed, but took her by surprise. The dealer I bought it from sold me a tyre insurance ( gave him some pocket money) and judging by yourself and Top Gears long term cars both getting punctures, should work well in the term I am covered at the price of the tyres to what I ( well my boss) paid. Agree on the paint. Now 6k miles in and I had a stone hit the front 'bronze banana' which will be interesting to touch up and also the nose near the badge and a wing has chips already. Same issue with mileage randomly showing a shortfall of distance , weirdly mostly after charging. App does disconnect from the car sometimes when I need to pre-heat to defrost. So , I have to go into the car, connect the phone, go back indoors and turn the ac on. So, conclusion ( I didnt mention steering wheel sliders or dark volume sliders on the screen as everyone else does) is that its a lovely car to drive. Does get a bit fidgety on uneven road surfaces. Smooth tarmac at speed it like a quiet limo ride with a small hint of tyre noise. Peppy to take off from the lights. Good build quality. Feel the vents slide, just solid. No squeaks or rattle. In a way , a bit of a game changer for us with ICE cars . I dont believe I will get an ICE company car again.
Have covered 4500 miles in my V3 58kw e-boost version. Totally agree with what was said about the app being very modest about the range. Not a bad car at all, but the infotainment system seems to crash more often than not. Have also started to receive over the air updates.
The problem with the App underestimating range is really in the car. At some stage between leaving the car and starting it again the estimated range on the App drops to approximately 1/1.61 of what you will see in the car. This figure is in fact the km to miles conversion and the problem only affects cars using miles, as in UK. Cupra have told me they're working on a fix (a controller in the car) but it won't be available until early 2023.
I'm thinking about getting a Born V1, from your experience did you ever feel like the car needed the upgraded suspension optional extra or did it feel okay, especially over bumps and pot holes?
@@taylorthrall7321 I would not advise you to buy one new, all EVs have suffered massive depression. Mine has lost almost £10K. There are very good low mileage examples to be had from main dealership s across the UK. You can pick up a well spec V3 for around £30K. In regard to the suspension I find it is fine and think that the adaptive suspension is a waste of money. You can play it safe and get a V2 for under £29K, and last tip don't waste your time with the eboost variant. I've used mine four time in a year. Hope this helps
I Have a white V2 with sunroof & heat pump, got it at the end of June, done 6800 miles, use it mainly for work (62 mile round trip) had a few day trips e.g. lakes etc. Firstly love its looks & its comfort & space, for such a heavy car it handles pretty well. I found it a little tricky going up hard knot pass in the lakes probably due to its rear wheel drive not sure! It was pretty steep every car i have gone up there in have been diesel front wheel drive! I Have had 5.1 mile/kw when driving on country & town roads using its regen. At about 60miles/hr on motor way it drops to 3.5-3.8 miles/KW. In the extremely cold weather we had recently my range on 80% dropped from 220 (summer) to 145miles with the heater on at 25 deg C (since i have a heat pump it might be less in one with out) its now running at 165miles at aprox 6-7 deg. Also I followed Manuals advice at sub zero temp by keeping it at 40% & above, this meant recharging it every night during this period! I have a home Charger (Hypervolt) and I have Octupus go tarrif currently 7.5p/kw 12:30am to 4:30am I calculated its saving me aprox £2500/year on fuel not to mention no road tax & first service is after 2 years! Conclusion: Range drops considerably in Winter especially in extreme cold! Love the way it drives, comfort space & looks. Only charged it once at a public charger (120kw) in lakes took aprox 35/40 mins, I think if your doing lots of short journeys with the occasional long one, this car would suffice, if your doing high mileage I don't really know! My one concern is the public charging network, I have considered a PHEV since there have been times when I have let the battery run down so that I am not charging it to often to preserve the battery life, and that point I thought but what if I need to go on a journey and I had to wait for the car to charge or find a public one to get it charged quickly etc. Anyway that's my experience.
I'm thinking about getting a Born V1, from your experience did you ever feel like the car needed the upgraded suspension optional extra or did it feel okay, especially over bumps and pot holes?
Its a bit firmer than lets say a c4 electric which i had as a hire car (C4 electric) However I thought the born handled better! It was a superior car which shows the difference between a car that's designed to be Electric as apposed to a car thats basically ICE thats had batteries and an electric motor thrown in! I am not sure what the upgraded suspension would do since I never drove one with it! But all i can say is that I have no problems with the normal suspension! Its up to you! if you can afford it, it maybe worth it! However if you have test driven a normal one, & i presume you have and maybe you think its too firm then maybe yes. Personally i think its fine! But everyone is different.
Some really good practical insights. The wipers, for example. That would about the bejesus out of me. Thanks for that. Still an interesting proposition. Will be Interested to see how they be received here in Australia, with our long distances and crappy charging infrastructure! The rest of the cupra brand cars are doing very well, having just been launched here. Great content. Keep it up!
The paint is because all manufacturers are/required to move to low VOC paint, so they are water based. We all know that several years ago Tesla had a problem, then Kia, Hyundai group and now VW. It takes a few years for each company to sort out their water based paints but they get much better as the companies refine it.
A very balanced and fair review. I have had my Born V1 since last July. Yes it is a very comfortable and easy car to drive and yes it looks heaps better than the ID3. There are, however, a number of very irritating things. Two are ones Tom mentioned, the A pillar which, for me, is a problem on some right hand turns, and the windscreen wipers being the wrong way round and how they add another inch of width to the A pillar. I find the infotainment system a nightmare. You cannot use this at all while driving full stop. It's a distraction and could be dangerous. Maybe that's just me but I would very much like to have the option of shutting it off altogether. The rear of the car has been designed for aerodynamic efficiency which sounds good but in reality means that you have to keep using the rear wash wipe to be able to see through the back window. It also means that everyday I have to wash the back of the car as it gets so dirty. Also, unbeknown to me, the car was fitted with summer tyres when I got it. Fine through to November but then with the bad snow we have had up here in the Highlands the car just could not cope. I had to spend another £500+ on getting some all season tyres. At first the Cupra app was great but then nobody can tell me how you access any notifications that are indicated in the little red circle. Also, for no apparent reason, it has stopped showing total mileage in the driving data and again nobody at the dealership can tell me why this has happened or how to get it back. My car also has the 58 kW battery but I do not get anything like the mileage Tom gets, especially in winter (colder) weather. When I was taking delivery of the car I was told in no uncertain terms to never charge the car above 80% and to never ever go below 20%. This effectively cuts the range down further from the claimed figures. My efficiency since getting the car and having done 5,500 miles is at 3.3, so well done to Tom for getting 3.9. Perhaps he could offer some advice as to how to do that. To sum up, the Cupra Born is a very nice and smart car to drive in many ways but I will not be getting another one unless all the above irritations are sorted with any future model.
I'm thinking about getting a Born V1, from your experience did you ever feel like the car needed the upgraded suspension optional extra or did it feel okay, especially over bumps and pot holes?
I think you are pretty mild on the car. it's not only the infotainment system that's impossible to use, it's the climate control too, and the rear windows, and the cruise control...basically everything except the actual driving. On my previous EV I had the regeneration set so I could effectively drive it with just one pedal, this doesn't brake anywhere nearly as strong so you need to use the brake a lot more whis is less efficient. In all, a very pretty car...but a very bad thought out and very bad designed car, don't buy!
Interesting Cupra are only bringing in the 77kWh version to Australia with orders opening on the 20th Dec with orders arriving in March/April next year. I like it over the ID.3, looks so much better almost hot hatch looking, they just need to give it hot hatch performance and fix the software.
When I tested this car I had already tested a lot of different cars, and I was very disappointed by the Born. It wants to be a hot hatch, but drives more similar to a family monovolume. It's not low enough to the ground, sure, but even then there is nothing sporty about it bar the rear-while drive and the looks. I had the same 204bhp version as the video and it lacked power compared to other cars. It did drive very comfortably, but it doesn't fit the image they try to project. Another thing is that the accelerator has a sluggish feeling. If I put my foot down, I want max power, don't build it up over a second or two. At least in sport mode I expected to have this fun and dynamic driving. I just could not have fun driving it. I'll admit, the car I tested before was a BMW i4 and that punches you in your back when you want it to, so the Born was disappointing to drive afterwards. The worst thing however, is the infotainment and specifically the haptic buttons on the steering wheel. I'm not sure if mine was a bit defective, because it was so sensitive that I changed the volume multiple times over a 30 min drive. A slight touch or even when you skin gets very close it activates the button. And a swipe touch area for volume? Piss off. Bad design. What a cheap-out. Cupra should have designed a better infotainment and steering wheel, even if it made the car more expensive. Don't just follow VW if it's something bad. Good looking car, but too many disabilities. It's a case of "All bark, no bite" IMHO
Maybe the reason why several cars from different brands have 202hp is just the conversion from 150kW. Electric motors are usually rated with "round" values in W or kW. 100kW, 110kW, 150kW...300kW... are tipical values of power of electric motors.
A fair assessment. We have one sat on the driveway now and I agree with you main points. The car is mechanically great; looks great, drives great but the software is less than great but that's well documented. Evidence, I feel, of the VW Group execs overriding engineering advice in the rush to get something to market. Of course the CUPRA sadly inherits a lot of that code. To be fair to CUPRA, they seem to be taking steps to address the bugs. And yes, that A Pillar blind spot is dangerous. Driver need to be 100% aware on right hand bends. Overall a great car though, despite the niggles.
I have a 58kWh V2 with e-Boost... Really great car, not perfect by any means (ID software, I'm looking at you!), but the drive is lovely. My household also has a LR AWD Model 3 and I'd take the Born any day.
I'm thinking about getting a Born V1, from your experience did you ever feel like the car needed the upgraded suspension optional extra or did it feel okay, especially over bumps and pot holes?
Had mine (73 plate) for 6 weeks ish and i love it. Last car was a Ateca cupra and before that leon estate cupra, both 300 This is my first ev and i absolutely love it. Love how it (she) drives She's plenty quick enough. Very comfy and looks great A lot of people ask about it and as you said people seem to love it Infotainment and steering wheel has been fine. Had no issues. Took a couple of days to get used to it but thats the same with all new cars Love her
Very good report. Like Tom Barnard I've done a similar mileage in almost 6 months. It's a really engaging car to drive and I enjoy the RWD push feeling. I had a '96 Renault Laguna which also had a steeply raked A pillar. I had a blind spot accident when turning right and I hit an on coming car. I quickly learned Tom's double head bob and it came back to me instinctively when I test drove the Born. ( Tom, BTW the App has a built in kms to miles 1.603 conversion factor, incorrectly applied, which goes away the next time the phone connects directly to the car. Oh and I was amazed how few problems you experienced with the hateful Infotainment system, but I still love mine.)
I'm thinking about getting a Born V1, from your experience did you ever feel like the car needed the upgraded suspension optional extra or did it feel okay, especially over bumps and pot holes?
I bought a stock order V1 car but due to parts shortages I got 19" V2 wheels! There wasn't an "upgraded suspension option" in early June 2022 (AFAIK there isn't now either🤔) all models came with "Sports" suspension. For these reasons I can't answer your question objectively but I can tell you that I find the ride perfectly acceptable. Yes, initially I wanted the 18" wheels but more for the conventional tyre type. The 19" & 20" are "self sealing" tyres and don't come with a "get you home kit". I carry a self inflating can of "goo" JIC! It really is a comfortable car and great to drive. If you are buying 2nd hand make sure you check that it has had the 4 Service Campaign items dealt with by checking the VIN No. with Cupra CS. Most importantly if it has Goodyear tyres it almost certainly hasn't 😮!
Coming back to this review after a few months of having my ID.3 but wanting something nicer to drive (ID.3 GTX?) which I can fit my tall frame in to - I find the same issue with the A-Pillar and thought it was just me having the driving seat too far back - thanks for that. Also finding the same issue with paint - I've got almost the same on a crease at the front of my ID.3 under the headlight - almost invisible but noticeable on a white car. Thanks for the review Tom!
Thanks for the encouragement! The problem we have with the Leaf is that we could trade it in, use the value as a deposit on finance and then pay £200 per month and have no car at the end. Or just keep the Leaf until it dies. Which is the plan for now.
A helpful, balanced review I agree it is annoying that the wipers are set for left hand drive. Have heard a rumour that the latest cars have this properly set for RHD?
I bought the 58KWh V3 e-boost model and I absolutely LOVE the car. The drive is really nice, it’s comfortable, it has lots of space inside, looks miles better than the ID3. I originally looked at Tesla’s, the EV6 and the Ionic 5 and I don’t regret my descision at all. It looks tasty but it’s practical too - a great combination. Also some reviewers have moaned about the touch controls on the wheel, personally I think they are all just copying each other or they flap their hands around wildly whilst driving. The touch controls are perfectly fine after a couple of days with the car and I have never pressed any of the accidentally. Really love the CUPRA brand and maybe the Tavascan will be my next car.
They do take some getting used to, but we've mastered the steering wheel controls now and don't mind them at all. The window switches still annoy us though.
I'm thinking about getting a Born V1, from your experience did you ever feel like the car needed the upgraded suspension optional extra or did it feel okay, especially over bumps and pot holes?
I have never done a single ride without changing the speed on the Cruise control by accident, nearly got run off the road by a lorry because the car decellerated instead of accelerating. It's not a nuisance, it's dangerous! And then there are the bad visibility, the awkward rear view camera (that's always dirty because it's placed to low down), the annoying window swithces, the unusable climate control, the laggy screen which you can't switch off or restart when it crashes (when, not if), the non unresponsive app and the failing charging pad (it is a charging pad on my car Tom, it just doesn't work most of the time). Then charging...100kw? I get 43 at best! it has been cold yes but my previous EV would get up to 60 of its maximum of 77kw, even in these temperatures. Would I have a Cupra Born again? no, i'm stuck with it for a year (company lease car) but I am going to buy a second hand car and use that instead of the Cupra, it's that bad.
I know it's based on the ID3 but it looks an awful lot better. Funny how subtle body shape changes can make or break a car in terms of desirability. I think it's a great looking EV and the efficiency you've got from the 58kW battery pack is pretty good; comparable to many of the other EV's on sale in the UK at the moment.
Thanks, looks much better than the ID3. Nearly all EVs are fast enough without boost buttons. Mine has sports mode which will take you to 60 in under 5 secs, I almost never use it, it is actually a bit unpleasant in most UK traffic situations. Thanks for a good video.
I own this Cupra Born and I actually started to doubt myself a little bit with visibility, I didn't even think about that the pillar is positioned differently compared to the previous cars I've owned. I've been mastering the shuffle though, it's just a pity that you have to do it in the first place.
You probably already do this for Conversions of Kilometres to Miles but the magic number is 6. So 100 K's multiply first two numbers by 6 = 60 M.P.H, 80K's First number = 48 M.P.H. It's obviously just a rough guide. In Australia we transitioned to metric when I was still young so had a long time to learn.
I'm in the market for a small hatchback EV to replace my current Corolla/Auris. No other reviewer has mentioned the wipers issue (for RHD markets). Thanks for the long term perspective!
I'm thinking about getting a Born V1, from your experience did you ever feel like the car needed the upgraded suspension optional extra or did it feel okay, especially over bumps and pot holes?
I would really like the long range version but very occasionally need a third person in the back between two booster seats - is there any way to fix that?
Great review. The car great looks and I love a cupra... BUT it fell apart for me on the wiper issue + blind spot. AND the paint work I expect to last. I Dragon once said 'I'm out' Shame but that would stop me spending my hard earned cash....
Great vid. just bought one. expecting in July so this vid has defo helped with any byuers remorse ... refreshing straight to the point approach to the review too.. just the right amount of humour
@@Electrifyingcom My plan has always been to enrage chimps worldwide so they track down the VW software team and thrash them until the UX and bugs are resolved... Primate violence is the solution, I'm sure.
I recently sat into a Cupra Born, in that particular one the rear passenger doors plastic door cards moved and creaked not sure why however what really put me off was the lack of headroom in the back, I'm 6'1 and was wedged in, legroom was ok though, the dealer also had an MG4 which I had about an inch of headspace in the back seat also no rattles. Most of my family and friends are tall so the born wouldn't work unfortunately, also you mentioned the polestar 2, that was a disaster for headroom in the back, pity since it was fun to drive.
Anyone who has seen both this colour and the white can you please give your opinion on which is best. I’m ready to order a V3 but keep flip flopping between the 2 colours. They use the white more in the show room which leads me to believe it’s the best looking and compliments the rest black accents better but I think the grey compliments the copper accents better
Really good review! Even handed, didn’t shy away for criticism or praise where due. Some really insightful points and not just the copy and paste review from the likes of Car Wow which talks about irrelevant and ill-judged nonsense
My V2 phone charging pad works fine ??? Stoprs charging every now and again but just remove phone and replace it back on the pad and it starts charging again. Not much after market styling for the Born but if I keep my car tempted to lower the car with KW suspension and nicer alloys, even older ID3 cars have nicer alloys. Soft paint money saving as a lot of cars now have softer paint which I think is due to less paint and lacquer. ppf on the front might help ?
I think its abit of a myth that you will get one fast from the factory. I ordered mine late june and delivery is March 2022. Thats for the V1 with no options. If a dealer has stock then you can get hold of one quickly but people getting one through a company car scheme will have a long wait.
Just to update this comment. It's now 14 months since I ordered the car, I've had many issues with the dealer but they assure me it will arrive on Tuesday next week.... 14 months after ordering. Original delivery date was Jan ....
I have done 15K KM in 2.5 months Now with the 58KW Version It rides well, looks nice, but honestly the software SUX, the app is a 1 out of 10, the V3.0 software is buggy. dont have the massage seats , just the normal manual bucket seats. Would I get it again, as a 2nd electro car : yes, still waiting for my KIA EV^ GT to arrive. re visibility : yes.. the blind spot at the A Pilar.. is big Mine has the charging Pad, but my Phone (S20 Note Plus ) overheats when wireless charging AND wireless android auto, and then stops charging al together. I prefer to use the USB cable. The charge Curve of the car is not linear, but starts at 120KW ( when Battery warm and Low SOC) and then gradually drops towards 35KW. a 10-80 full charge will take about 35-40 Minutes I tend to charge 80% at Fast/Hyper chargers as FASTNED and IONITY as these are currently cheaper than homecharging. In Summer I will use the Homecharger from the solar
Got a 77kw V3 coming next week as a company car. First foray into electric cars. 77 kw just because of range anxiety, distance drives and also that my charger is the supercharger at the office , which I will now share with my boss and his Etron GT. So, even though I have pulled the trigger, I am now looking at reviews, in a sort of 'wrong way to do it'. But reviews seem to be more positive than negative , so I look forward to its arrival at the end of next week. Mine was an ex demo , so have 4 k miles on it and immediate delivery . For the BIK situation its a no brainer. From hybrid cars to electric my BIK was reduced by about 75% . Just got to get on with panic charge movement until I wonder what the fuss was about ..................
I'm thinking about getting a Born V1, from your experience did you ever feel like the car needed the upgraded suspension optional extra or did it feel okay, especially over bumps and pot holes?
@@taylorthrall7321 the car rides well on the standard suspension. It does feel a littĺe 'bobby' front to rear over some road surfaces but its probably just wheelbase and weight as the issue. 10k miles in on this car and although i have nothing to compare would potentially have another. One thing to bear in mind is the Cupra dealers are woeful with our Formentor. 3 months to book in for an engine management light warranty booking is shocking. But the Born hasnt needed to visit one as yet.
You guys in the UK should finally switch to driving on the right side and have the steering wheel on the left. Then, the Cupra will have amazing view through the windshield :)
I’ve had my 58kWh V3 for a couple of weeks now, it’s an ex-demonstrator, so no waiting! Coming from Leaf Tekna the drive and interior are a big improvement. To get wireless phone charging you need the Tech Pack M or L. It seems to me the wiper motors are In identical positions either side of the screen, the arms and blades are identical, so it should be possible for the manufacturer to set the spline position so the drivers wiper is uppermost and re-program the motor logic to start the driver’s wiper first.
We have wireless charging which comes with the L Pack. A lot of people say it makes the phones hot, but I can't say as our phones are not compatible. I see what he says about the wipers, but have not noticed any problem. The double A pillar is bad for visibility though!
I have the v1 in vapour grey, nice car, a little twitchy on the steering in the wet. So far I've covered 2200 miles, totalling £50 in costs, why? ........ Using free chargers
Windscreen wrong lead wiper is a big deal breaker for me (I owned a car with it this way for 20 years, and every single time I used the wipers in rain, I cursed them!!!!) and no sunroof in any model trim. And could the interior be made to look anymore depressing?
Have you tried charging your phone the other way around? My wife has a born and told me her iPhone wouldn't wirelessly charge, I turned it around so the charging end was at the top and it was fine.
Yes but do you *believe* that 3.9m/kwh average, or do you do your own calculation based on KwHs charged and miles driven? The Mii is telling me 6.2m/kwh average over the 600 miles I've driven it. My calculation says 4.8 m/kwh overall, though I have had some longer trips at 5.2 m/kwh. I kinda thought the car and the App figures were optimistic .... 3.9 would be a good figure for a car of that heft. 5 is reasonable for the Mii.
I think the Cupra Born is a fantastic looking car. It's what the ID.3 should have been. A bit expensive though. VW group seriously need to rethink their controls & infotainment though.
I don't have a problem with them. My Leaf is constantly getting corrosion as the rear brakes are hardly used. Have a read of this: www.electrifying.com/blog/article/time-to-brake-free-electric-car-makers-experiment-with-brakeless-vehicles
@@Peter-vn8ue ok, fair point, but VW just figured that drum brakes made sense as most of the braking on the rear was now going to be done by the motor as regenerative braking they don't have to worry about brake fade and it simplifies the parking brake as well as reducing brake rotor corrosion on the rear brakes. On cars that use their friction brakes a lot, discs are by far the best option all round, however I can also understand VW's justification here.
It does. All cars that use this platform do. You don't see them of course as they are hidden by the wheel discs and they perform really well, presumably because the regen braking takes most of the strain.
The stated charging performance is 5-80% in 35 minutes on a 58(62) battery. So 75% of 58 is 43.5 so in 35 minutes it needs to average 75kwh over that range. The best I’ve ever achieved was 72 on ionity once - all this has been scheduled out to Listers and VWs solicitors in detail and none of my figures have ever been challenged at all! Not anything. Not one charge, one number: nothing. It simply doesn’t perform ever at that stated level. In contrast my BMW i4 just hits the numbers ever single time
I have a born v3 eboost for 18 months it is the worst new car I have ever owned when it goes wrong the dealers can not fix it . and are so busy it will take months just for them to look at it ! 15.000miles I waiting for my second set of drive shafts 😢 the biggest issue is what no one ever talks about , you can’t sell it no one wants a second hand born ! Not Evan the dealers ! I have lost £21000 on this car so I am stuck with it any one thinking of buying one don’t !
I have a Cupra Born for just over a month and I hate it. It's the prettiest car I've ever owned but it's a heap of shit to actually use. Climate settings are impossible to adjust while driving and i've not gone around a single roundabout or motorway junction without changing the settings on my Cruise control, outright dangerous car to drive. Further irritations: really bad view around the A-pillars, you can't see anything out of the rear window and the rear view camera is way to low to actually get a view on whats behind you plus it's ALWAYS dirty. Charging is bad too, it says it will do a 100kw for this battery but it actually won't go over 45kw. yes, it's cold now (November) but my previous Kia e-Niro would do at least 60, mostly just up to it's maximum of 75, albeit after a few minutes to warm up the system. Before you choose a car, don't look at the kw number, look at the charging curve, you can find tables for every make and model. It's not bad on efficiency but it's overestimating it's range constantly and not by a little bit. pros: prettiest car i've ever had good ride very silent good seats good stereo cons: rediculous infotainment system, there is no logic to be found here no thought ever went into useability in the interior not much space in the interior to put stuff bad interface design on steeringwheel bad interface design on infotainment rear view camera unusable automatic lights don't come on quick enough, don't recognise fog or low sun sunvisors are difficult to reach! (why!?) interior lights dont't come on when you open the doors (must be a setting somewhere but unable to find it, probably touched one of those touch buttons without knowing...) slower than expected really bad vision all around slow charging doesn't adjust range to actual usage (not nearly as good as others do) strange whining noise when wind comes from a certain angle! one pedal driving isn't a thing in the Cupra, nowhere near enough regenerating force (bad decision on the rear wheel drive probably as you can't apply that much braking) In short: typical VW product: all good in theory but only in testing circumstances, in real life it's not nearly as good as it's competitors
15.9 kWh for that small car, are you joking? I do 16.4 kWh with my Kia EV6 AWD since May, now at 0°C to 5° with wipers on, clima at 21°, steering wheel heating, full light and winter tires (Yes, we have snow up in our Swiss mountains) I use 2 to 4 kWh more! That my friend, I call efficient in a 333 hp (officially 325) roomful AWD crossover! Volkswagen and also Polestar are not up to date in efficiency and has the Cupra really no HP? No Frunk is with all German cars a must as it seems and pulling a trailer up to 1600 kg even Mercedes EQE cannot. Of course the Cupra is cheaper at first sight but a complete version is quite too expensive for what you get. Anyhow among the mediocre this is the best choice and looking good!😂🤓
Bizar to read your charging pad isn't a charging pad! My 6month old June Copper Edition Born's charging pad is.... A charging pad! Rear view camera refusing to work at delivery and subsequent faff to get a garage that would do warrantee work, even directly through Cupra, has been an infuriating experience but to date that's the only real negative aspect of my Born that really got under my skin.
Nice car to drive but horrendous to live with. It has AC and DC charging faults Cupra have no idea what to do about. Too much comment on range: real issue is charging. Basically you get half what website says!
I’d avoid like plague. Car is ok but electric platform is very poor in my experience- doesn’t charge properly on ac or dc! Never hits specified figures in technical drop down on website and regularly half charged overnight apparently due to a battery safety issue!! Save up for an BM i4, superb
I’ve never seen Tom Barnard before. He is really good. Please let him review more cars. Very good presenter. Great review.
I like Tom's reviews! He has a calm demeanor and gets to the point without a bunch of fluff. More reviews just like this, please!
Agreed, this segment reminded me of the long-term test reviews I used to read in the back of Top Gear magazines - informative but entertaining (informtaining?)
A rare video on this channel, a personable presenter giving a true account of a car.
Really good report and nice to see they let Tom Barnard out. Go on let him out more he's not just for Christmas.🖖
Never knew about the tyres being a special size and the wiper blades being for LHD cars! Sadly these two issues would be enough for me to not touch it with a barge pole. Only buying top grade Continental Tyres!! Notice that the tyre "price" wasn't mentioned.... I bet it was around £200 each.
KUdos for minor but key points like the A pillar and wipers which in the longer term can make or break the driving experience longer term
For someone who doesn't stand in front of a camera that often, well done. Do it some more.
The car. VW said the chassis wasn't good enough to do a GTi (hot) version, so I'm disappointed this isn't the first mainstream EV hot hatch it looks like
Wait, they wanted to take the Cupra Born body and put the Golf GTI inside? Where did you read that?
@@Panterbell_Kuu in 2022 a VW big wig said they wouldn't make a performance version of an MEB product because reinvestment 800v blah blah. Basically an admission the platform isn't good enough.
Look at the Skoda enyaq vrs. Not one review claims it even remotely sporty. The same can be said of every meb product.
So, the Cupra Born may look sporty, but it's not. And that disappoints me as I really wish VW, with all its might, had been able to make a sporty EV. Such a shame.
But, as the VW guy said, they are working on it for the next iteration.
Hope that clears up what I originally said👍
Had my V3 58kwh for nearly a month (after ~5 month wait) - only option panoramic roof.
Really like the car, it's quiet and drives well 😁.
It feels a lot bigger than my previous Golf mk7 (on paper a similar size), particularly as you sit a lot higher due to the underfloor batteries (does give excellent visibility, though).
The only cons so far; inability to switch off lane assist permanently, which is a real pain ☹️, and using touchscreen/haptic buttons is distracting when driving.
Appreciated the ability to warm/defrost the cabin remotely + heated seats and steering wheel during the recent cold snap, were brilliant 😁.
We drive our Born since December and are absolutely loving it. It's the same model with 58kw Battery and that's just enough for everyday use. For me it's the smoothest car I ever owned and it's just fun to drive.
I’ve had my born for three months now and I love it. Heat to drive and very practical. to change back to Miles on app. Go to account bottom right then units at the top
To change back to miles in My Cupra App go to Profile / Account / Units....took me ages to find it!!! I agree with every one of your comments with the A pillar blind spot being my biggest moan. Other than that and the very hit and miss App, I love my V3!! By the way, my colleague received her V2 a few weeks ago and within 3 days the battery had blown leaving her stranded on a winding unlit back road...have been told a battery module has blown but Seat can't look at it until early Feb because it needs to go to a specialist battery centre.
Just starting month 3 with my Born . A 77kw V3 with e boost. First electric car, as a company car , to make the benefit of cheap BIK taxes. Anxiety from distance soon faded away with the larger battery,. Its a great car to drive and with the cars in the household, would always be the first key to get snatched by any driver needing transport. As all have said the software and infotainment is not fun at all. Cupra dealer changed my car to miles on the app on one of my visits , but they had issues with head offices servers , so its still not totally working on the app. Also, I have had irregular keyless entry issues. No real drama but should work. The alarm also works , as sometimes I open the door from locked, it unlocks and sets the alarm off. Cue hunting for the key in my pocket to shut it up and its ear piercing loud. Ask my neighbours.
Range wise , I am getting 3.6miles/kw through the winter , that I have had the vehicle. Thats on comfort mode, heater, lights and pre-heat if required. So, hopefully make 4miles/ kw when it warms and I use less heating etc.
Quick off the line with the e-boost button. Does surprise and make a difference. Wife , after I showed her to press it , took off like a scalded cat and then swore and hit the brakes and she isnt scared of power or speed, but took her by surprise.
The dealer I bought it from sold me a tyre insurance ( gave him some pocket money) and judging by yourself and Top Gears long term cars both getting punctures, should work well in the term I am covered at the price of the tyres to what I ( well my boss) paid.
Agree on the paint. Now 6k miles in and I had a stone hit the front 'bronze banana' which will be interesting to touch up and also the nose near the badge and a wing has chips already.
Same issue with mileage randomly showing a shortfall of distance , weirdly mostly after charging. App does disconnect from the car sometimes when I need to pre-heat to defrost. So , I have to go into the car, connect the phone, go back indoors and turn the ac on.
So, conclusion ( I didnt mention steering wheel sliders or dark volume sliders on the screen as everyone else does) is that its a lovely car to drive. Does get a bit fidgety on uneven road surfaces. Smooth tarmac at speed it like a quiet limo ride with a small hint of tyre noise. Peppy to take off from the lights. Good build quality. Feel the vents slide, just solid. No squeaks or rattle. In a way , a bit of a game changer for us with ICE cars . I dont believe I will get an ICE company car again.
Have covered 4500 miles in my V3 58kw e-boost version. Totally agree with what was said about the app being very modest about the range. Not a bad car at all, but the infotainment system seems to crash more often than not. Have also started to receive over the air updates.
The problem with the App underestimating range is really in the car. At some stage between leaving the car and starting it again the estimated range on the App drops to approximately 1/1.61 of what you will see in the car. This figure is in fact the km to miles conversion and the problem only affects cars using miles, as in UK. Cupra have told me they're working on a fix (a controller in the car) but it won't be available until early 2023.
I'm thinking about getting a Born V1, from your experience did you ever feel like the car needed the upgraded suspension optional extra or did it feel okay, especially over bumps and pot holes?
@@taylorthrall7321
I would not advise you to buy one new, all EVs have suffered massive depression. Mine has lost almost £10K.
There are very good low mileage examples to be had from main dealership s across the UK. You can pick up a well spec V3 for around £30K. In regard to the suspension I find it is fine and think that the adaptive suspension is a waste of money. You can play it safe and get a V2 for under £29K, and last tip don't waste your time with the eboost variant. I've used mine four time in a year. Hope this helps
I Have a white V2 with sunroof & heat pump, got it at the end of June, done 6800 miles, use it mainly for work (62 mile round trip) had a few day trips e.g. lakes etc. Firstly love its looks & its comfort & space, for such a heavy car it handles pretty well. I found it a little tricky going up hard knot pass in the lakes probably due to its rear wheel drive not sure! It was pretty steep every car i have gone up there in have been diesel front wheel drive! I Have had 5.1 mile/kw when driving on country & town roads using its regen. At about 60miles/hr on motor way it drops to 3.5-3.8 miles/KW. In the extremely cold weather we had recently my range on 80% dropped from 220 (summer) to 145miles with the heater on at 25 deg C (since i have a heat pump it might be less in one with out) its now running at 165miles at aprox 6-7 deg. Also I followed Manuals advice at sub zero temp by keeping it at 40% & above, this meant recharging it every night during this period! I have a home Charger (Hypervolt) and I have Octupus go tarrif currently 7.5p/kw 12:30am to 4:30am I calculated its saving me aprox £2500/year on fuel not to mention no road tax & first service is after 2 years! Conclusion: Range drops considerably in Winter especially in extreme cold! Love the way it drives, comfort space & looks. Only charged it once at a public charger (120kw) in lakes took aprox 35/40 mins, I think if your doing lots of short journeys with the occasional long one, this car would suffice, if your doing high mileage I don't really know! My one concern is the public charging network, I have considered a PHEV since there have been times when I have let the battery run down so that I am not charging it to often to preserve the battery life, and that point I thought but what if I need to go on a journey and I had to wait for the car to charge or find a public one to get it charged quickly etc. Anyway that's my experience.
I'm thinking about getting a Born V1, from your experience did you ever feel like the car needed the upgraded suspension optional extra or did it feel okay, especially over bumps and pot holes?
Its a bit firmer than lets say a c4 electric which i had as a hire car (C4 electric) However I thought the born handled better! It was a superior car which shows the difference between a car that's designed to be Electric as apposed to a car thats basically ICE thats had batteries and an electric motor thrown in! I am not sure what the upgraded suspension would do since I never drove one with it! But all i can say is that I have no problems with the normal suspension! Its up to you! if you can afford it, it maybe worth it! However if you have test driven a normal one, & i presume you have and maybe you think its too firm then maybe yes. Personally i think its fine! But everyone is different.
Some really good practical insights. The wipers, for example. That would about the bejesus out of me.
Thanks for that.
Still an interesting proposition. Will be Interested to see how they be received here in Australia, with our long distances and crappy charging infrastructure!
The rest of the cupra brand cars are doing very well, having just been launched here.
Great content. Keep it up!
The paint is because all manufacturers are/required to move to low VOC paint, so they are water based. We all know that several years ago Tesla had a problem, then Kia, Hyundai group and now VW. It takes a few years for each company to sort out their water based paints but they get much better as the companies refine it.
A very balanced and fair review. I have had my Born V1 since last July. Yes it is a very comfortable and easy car to drive and yes it looks heaps better than the ID3. There are, however, a number of very irritating things. Two are ones Tom mentioned, the A pillar which, for me, is a problem on some right hand turns, and the windscreen wipers being the wrong way round and how they add another inch of width to the A pillar. I find the infotainment system a nightmare. You cannot use this at all while driving full stop. It's a distraction and could be dangerous. Maybe that's just me but I would very much like to have the option of shutting it off altogether. The rear of the car has been designed for aerodynamic efficiency which sounds good but in reality means that you have to keep using the rear wash wipe to be able to see through the back window. It also means that everyday I have to wash the back of the car as it gets so dirty. Also, unbeknown to me, the car was fitted with summer tyres when I got it. Fine through to November but then with the bad snow we have had up here in the Highlands the car just could not cope. I had to spend another £500+ on getting some all season tyres. At first the Cupra app was great but then nobody can tell me how you access any notifications that are indicated in the little red circle. Also, for no apparent reason, it has stopped showing total mileage in the driving data and again nobody at the dealership can tell me why this has happened or how to get it back. My car also has the 58 kW battery but I do not get anything like the mileage Tom gets, especially in winter (colder) weather. When I was taking delivery of the car I was told in no uncertain terms to never charge the car above 80% and to never ever go below 20%. This effectively cuts the range down further from the claimed figures. My efficiency since getting the car and having done 5,500 miles is at 3.3, so well done to Tom for getting 3.9. Perhaps he could offer some advice as to how to do that. To sum up, the Cupra Born is a very nice and smart car to drive in many ways but I will not be getting another one unless all the above irritations are sorted with any future model.
I'm thinking about getting a Born V1, from your experience did you ever feel like the car needed the upgraded suspension optional extra or did it feel okay, especially over bumps and pot holes?
I think you are pretty mild on the car. it's not only the infotainment system that's impossible to use, it's the climate control too, and the rear windows, and the cruise control...basically everything except the actual driving. On my previous EV I had the regeneration set so I could effectively drive it with just one pedal, this doesn't brake anywhere nearly as strong so you need to use the brake a lot more whis is less efficient. In all, a very pretty car...but a very bad thought out and very bad designed car, don't buy!
@bjiz1 that's your opinion and I disagree with all your points go buy one brilliant
Interesting Cupra are only bringing in the 77kWh version to Australia with orders opening on the 20th Dec with orders arriving in March/April next year. I like it over the ID.3, looks so much better almost hot hatch looking, they just need to give it hot hatch performance and fix the software.
When I tested this car I had already tested a lot of different cars, and I was very disappointed by the Born. It wants to be a hot hatch, but drives more similar to a family monovolume. It's not low enough to the ground, sure, but even then there is nothing sporty about it bar the rear-while drive and the looks. I had the same 204bhp version as the video and it lacked power compared to other cars. It did drive very comfortably, but it doesn't fit the image they try to project. Another thing is that the accelerator has a sluggish feeling. If I put my foot down, I want max power, don't build it up over a second or two. At least in sport mode I expected to have this fun and dynamic driving. I just could not have fun driving it. I'll admit, the car I tested before was a BMW i4 and that punches you in your back when you want it to, so the Born was disappointing to drive afterwards.
The worst thing however, is the infotainment and specifically the haptic buttons on the steering wheel. I'm not sure if mine was a bit defective, because it was so sensitive that I changed the volume multiple times over a 30 min drive. A slight touch or even when you skin gets very close it activates the button. And a swipe touch area for volume? Piss off. Bad design. What a cheap-out. Cupra should have designed a better infotainment and steering wheel, even if it made the car more expensive. Don't just follow VW if it's something bad.
Good looking car, but too many disabilities. It's a case of "All bark, no bite" IMHO
Maybe the reason why several cars from different brands have 202hp is just the conversion from 150kW.
Electric motors are usually rated with "round" values in W or kW.
100kW, 110kW, 150kW...300kW... are tipical values of power of electric motors.
The conversion is 150 kw is 203,9 in hp at least in Germany
That might be the reason for the 204 claim
A fair assessment. We have one sat on the driveway now and I agree with you main points. The car is mechanically great; looks great, drives great but the software is less than great but that's well documented. Evidence, I feel, of the VW Group execs overriding engineering advice in the rush to get something to market. Of course the CUPRA sadly inherits a lot of that code. To be fair to CUPRA, they seem to be taking steps to address the bugs.
And yes, that A Pillar blind spot is dangerous. Driver need to be 100% aware on right hand bends.
Overall a great car though, despite the niggles.
I have a 58kWh V2 with e-Boost... Really great car, not perfect by any means (ID software, I'm looking at you!), but the drive is lovely. My household also has a LR AWD Model 3 and I'd take the Born any day.
I'm thinking about getting a Born V1, from your experience did you ever feel like the car needed the upgraded suspension optional extra or did it feel okay, especially over bumps and pot holes?
Had mine (73 plate) for 6 weeks ish and i love it.
Last car was a Ateca cupra and before that leon estate cupra, both 300
This is my first ev and i absolutely love it.
Love how it (she) drives
She's plenty quick enough.
Very comfy and looks great
A lot of people ask about it and as you said people seem to love it
Infotainment and steering wheel has been fine. Had no issues. Took a couple of days to get used to it but thats the same with all new cars
Love her
Very good report. Like Tom Barnard I've done a similar mileage in almost 6 months. It's a really engaging car to drive and I enjoy the RWD push feeling. I had a '96 Renault Laguna which also had a steeply raked A pillar. I had a blind spot accident when turning right and I hit an on coming car. I quickly learned Tom's double head bob and it came back to me instinctively when I test drove the Born. ( Tom, BTW the App has a built in kms to miles 1.603 conversion factor, incorrectly applied, which goes away the next time the phone connects directly to the car. Oh and I was amazed how few problems you experienced with the hateful Infotainment system, but I still love mine.)
I'm thinking about getting a Born V1, from your experience did you ever feel like the car needed the upgraded suspension optional extra or did it feel okay, especially over bumps and pot holes?
I bought a stock order V1 car but due to parts shortages I got 19" V2 wheels! There wasn't an "upgraded suspension option" in early June 2022 (AFAIK there isn't now either🤔) all models came with "Sports" suspension. For these reasons I can't answer your question objectively but I can tell you that I find the ride perfectly acceptable. Yes, initially I wanted the 18" wheels but more for the conventional tyre type. The 19" & 20" are "self sealing" tyres and don't come with a "get you home kit". I carry a self inflating can of "goo" JIC! It really is a comfortable car and great to drive. If you are buying 2nd hand make sure you check that it has had the 4 Service Campaign items dealt with by checking the VIN No. with Cupra CS. Most importantly if it has Goodyear tyres it almost certainly hasn't 😮!
Coming back to this review after a few months of having my ID.3 but wanting something nicer to drive (ID.3 GTX?) which I can fit my tall frame in to - I find the same issue with the A-Pillar and thought it was just me having the driving seat too far back - thanks for that.
Also finding the same issue with paint - I've got almost the same on a crease at the front of my ID.3 under the headlight - almost invisible but noticeable on a white car.
Thanks for the review Tom!
Rode my bike past a Born today and I found myself smiling. It really is a nice little car.
I’m still not sold on ev’s. Enjoyed your review though, so thanks for uploading.
Great honest review,thanks for posting.Great seeing you up front for a change, but would it tempt you away from your old leaf?
Thanks for the encouragement! The problem we have with the Leaf is that we could trade it in, use the value as a deposit on finance and then pay £200 per month and have no car at the end. Or just keep the Leaf until it dies. Which is the plan for now.
A helpful, balanced review
I agree it is annoying that the wipers are set for left hand drive. Have heard a rumour that the latest cars have this properly set for RHD?
I bought the 58KWh V3 e-boost model and I absolutely LOVE the car. The drive is really nice, it’s comfortable, it has lots of space inside, looks miles better than the ID3. I originally looked at Tesla’s, the EV6 and the Ionic 5 and I don’t regret my descision at all. It looks tasty but it’s practical too - a great combination. Also some reviewers have moaned about the touch controls on the wheel, personally I think they are all just copying each other or they flap their hands around wildly whilst driving. The touch controls are perfectly fine after a couple of days with the car and I have never pressed any of the accidentally. Really love the CUPRA brand and maybe the Tavascan will be my next car.
They do take some getting used to, but we've mastered the steering wheel controls now and don't mind them at all. The window switches still annoy us though.
I'm thinking about getting a Born V1, from your experience did you ever feel like the car needed the upgraded suspension optional extra or did it feel okay, especially over bumps and pot holes?
I have never done a single ride without changing the speed on the Cruise control by accident, nearly got run off the road by a lorry because the car decellerated instead of accelerating. It's not a nuisance, it's dangerous! And then there are the bad visibility, the awkward rear view camera (that's always dirty because it's placed to low down), the annoying window swithces, the unusable climate control, the laggy screen which you can't switch off or restart when it crashes (when, not if), the non unresponsive app and the failing charging pad (it is a charging pad on my car Tom, it just doesn't work most of the time). Then charging...100kw? I get 43 at best! it has been cold yes but my previous EV would get up to 60 of its maximum of 77kw, even in these temperatures. Would I have a Cupra Born again? no, i'm stuck with it for a year (company lease car) but I am going to buy a second hand car and use that instead of the Cupra, it's that bad.
I know it's based on the ID3 but it looks an awful lot better. Funny how subtle body shape changes can make or break a car in terms of desirability. I think it's a great looking EV and the efficiency you've got from the 58kW battery pack is pretty good; comparable to many of the other EV's on sale in the UK at the moment.
Torn between the Born and new Megane, love the appearance of the born but Megane tech seems way ahead.
Thanks, looks much better than the ID3. Nearly all EVs are fast enough without boost buttons. Mine has sports mode which will take you to 60 in under 5 secs, I almost never use it, it is actually a bit unpleasant in most UK traffic situations.
Thanks for a good video.
Just saw one of these when I was in Australia. Cool car. It’s what America needs instead of yet another SUV.
I own this Cupra Born and I actually started to doubt myself a little bit with visibility, I didn't even think about that the pillar is positioned differently compared to the previous cars I've owned. I've been mastering the shuffle though, it's just a pity that you have to do it in the first place.
You probably already do this for Conversions of Kilometres to Miles but the magic number is 6. So 100 K's multiply first two numbers by 6 = 60 M.P.H, 80K's First number = 48 M.P.H. It's obviously just a rough guide. In Australia we transitioned to metric when I was still young so had a long time to learn.
I'm in the market for a small hatchback EV to replace my current Corolla/Auris. No other reviewer has mentioned the wipers issue (for RHD markets). Thanks for the long term perspective!
I love My Born. Best car I've ever had.
My critic would be the rear view. It's tight under that spoiler.
I'm thinking about getting a Born V1, from your experience did you ever feel like the car needed the upgraded suspension optional extra or did it feel okay, especially over bumps and pot holes?
you've had pretty rubbish cars then...
@@taylorthrall7321 it feels oké. Nothing special needed unless you are going to track days
@@bjiz1 well that could be. They were all ICE 🤗
@@RedBatteryHead 🤣
I would really like the long range version but very occasionally need a third person in the back between two booster seats - is there any way to fix that?
Great review. The car great looks and I love a cupra... BUT it fell apart for me on the wiper issue + blind spot. AND the paint work I expect to last.
I Dragon once said 'I'm out'
Shame but that would stop me spending my hard earned cash....
Great vid. just bought one. expecting in July so this vid has defo helped with any byuers remorse ... refreshing straight to the point approach to the review too.. just the right amount of humour
I'm 8000 miles into my V1 in Vapour Grey and it's a truly brilliant car with software coded by chimps.
Chimps the world over are offended.
@@Electrifyingcom My plan has always been to enrage chimps worldwide so they track down the VW software team and thrash them until the UX and bugs are resolved... Primate violence is the solution, I'm sure.
I recently sat into a Cupra Born, in that particular one the rear passenger doors plastic door cards moved and creaked not sure why however what really put me off was the lack of headroom in the back, I'm 6'1 and was wedged in, legroom was ok though, the dealer also had an MG4 which I had about an inch of headspace in the back seat also no rattles. Most of my family and friends are tall so the born wouldn't work unfortunately, also you mentioned the polestar 2, that was a disaster for headroom in the back, pity since it was fun to drive.
Rattles are fixed under warranty....In EVERY car in the world. If you live near a VW garage ...
@@jellyd4889 I've had a few VW products over the years no issues, just wouldn't expect it from a new one especially a demo/show car at the dealer
Anyone who has seen both this colour and the white can you please give your opinion on which is best. I’m ready to order a V3 but keep flip flopping between the 2 colours. They use the white more in the show room which leads me to believe it’s the best looking and compliments the rest black accents better but I think the grey compliments the copper accents better
Really good review! Even handed, didn’t shy away for criticism or praise where due. Some really insightful points and not just the copy and paste review from the likes of Car Wow which talks about irrelevant and ill-judged nonsense
you should be able to adjust the wiper to swing closer to to the pillar
Very good review. Stuff like the RHD wiper flaw is really useful stuff.
Great video, well done, is there a newer model on the way?
Not yet, it's been on sale for less than a year so there won't be any substantial updates for a while.
I can deffo agree with the blind spot and wipers.. Quite annoying
In my SEAT app the selection of units miles/ kilometres is under the Account button and Settings, not where I would expect to find it....
Looks nice but I am not convinced about the quality here. How does it compare to the Volvo EX30 or the KIA e-Niro?
Great review
The wireless charging pad is only included with the Tech Pack L even on the V3 car. My V1 has it as it was optioned with that pack.
My V2 phone charging pad works fine ??? Stoprs charging every now and again but just remove phone and replace it back on the pad and it starts charging again. Not much after market styling for the Born but if I keep my car tempted to lower the car with KW suspension and nicer alloys, even older ID3 cars have nicer alloys. Soft paint money saving as a lot of cars now have softer paint which I think is due to less paint and lacquer. ppf on the front might help ?
I think its abit of a myth that you will get one fast from the factory. I ordered mine late june and delivery is March 2022. Thats for the V1 with no options. If a dealer has stock then you can get hold of one quickly but people getting one through a company car scheme will have a long wait.
Just to update this comment. It's now 14 months since I ordered the car, I've had many issues with the dealer but they assure me it will arrive on Tuesday next week.... 14 months after ordering. Original delivery date was Jan ....
I have done 15K KM in 2.5 months Now with the 58KW Version
It rides well, looks nice, but honestly the software SUX, the app is a 1 out of 10, the V3.0 software is buggy. dont have the massage seats , just the normal manual bucket seats.
Would I get it again, as a 2nd electro car : yes, still waiting for my KIA EV^ GT to arrive.
re visibility : yes.. the blind spot at the A Pilar.. is big
Mine has the charging Pad, but my Phone (S20 Note Plus ) overheats when wireless charging AND wireless android auto, and then stops charging al together. I prefer to use the USB cable.
The charge Curve of the car is not linear, but starts at 120KW ( when Battery warm and Low SOC) and then gradually drops towards 35KW.
a 10-80 full charge will take about 35-40 Minutes
I tend to charge 80% at Fast/Hyper chargers as FASTNED and IONITY as these are currently cheaper than homecharging. In Summer I will use the Homecharger from the solar
I test drove one yesterday and the brakes were awful. I don’t know if I want this or the MG 4
Got a 77kw V3 coming next week as a company car. First foray into electric cars. 77 kw just because of range anxiety, distance drives and also that my charger is the supercharger at the office , which I will now share with my boss and his Etron GT. So, even though I have pulled the trigger, I am now looking at reviews, in a sort of 'wrong way to do it'. But reviews seem to be more positive than negative , so I look forward to its arrival at the end of next week. Mine was an ex demo , so have 4 k miles on it and immediate delivery . For the BIK situation its a no brainer. From hybrid cars to electric my BIK was reduced by about 75% . Just got to get on with panic charge movement until I wonder what the fuss was about ..................
I'm thinking about getting a Born V1, from your experience did you ever feel like the car needed the upgraded suspension optional extra or did it feel okay, especially over bumps and pot holes?
@@taylorthrall7321 the car rides well on the standard suspension. It does feel a littĺe 'bobby' front to rear over some road surfaces but its probably just wheelbase and weight as the issue. 10k miles in on this car and although i have nothing to compare would potentially have another. One thing to bear in mind is the Cupra dealers are woeful with our Formentor. 3 months to book in for an engine management light warranty booking is shocking. But the Born hasnt needed to visit one as yet.
Great review. Please can we have a team test of the Born against the Renault Megane and the MG4 (and the ID3 if you think it is worth including).
Will you have something on the iX1 soon?
ive been waiting for more fun electric cars to come out
Would you spend the extra for this over mg4?
You guys in the UK should finally switch to driving on the right side and have the steering wheel on the left. Then, the Cupra will have amazing view through the windshield :)
One question, does it have memory seats? for when changing the driver, automatically position everything correctly for the driver?
Afraid not.
I’ve had my 58kWh V3 for a couple of weeks now, it’s an ex-demonstrator, so no waiting! Coming from Leaf Tekna the drive and interior are a big improvement. To get wireless phone charging you need the Tech Pack M or L. It seems to me the wiper motors are In identical positions either side of the screen, the arms and blades are identical, so it should be possible for the manufacturer to set the spline position so the drivers wiper is uppermost and re-program the motor logic to start the driver’s wiper first.
We have wireless charging which comes with the L Pack. A lot of people say it makes the phones hot, but I can't say as our phones are not compatible. I see what he says about the wipers, but have not noticed any problem. The double A pillar is bad for visibility though!
I have the v1 in vapour grey, nice car, a little twitchy on the steering in the wet. So far I've covered 2200 miles, totalling £50 in costs, why? ........ Using free chargers
The battery pack parallel cell blocks that defines the power output, and they all come from the same source. Hence the 200 hp.
Windscreen wrong lead wiper is a big deal breaker for me (I owned a car with it this way for 20 years, and every single time I used the wipers in rain, I cursed them!!!!) and no sunroof in any model trim. And could the interior be made to look anymore depressing?
Have you tried charging your phone the other way around? My wife has a born and told me her iPhone wouldn't wirelessly charge, I turned it around so the charging end was at the top and it was fine.
Yes but do you *believe* that 3.9m/kwh average, or do you do your own calculation based on KwHs charged and miles driven? The Mii is telling me 6.2m/kwh average over the 600 miles I've driven it. My calculation says 4.8 m/kwh overall, though I have had some longer trips at 5.2 m/kwh. I kinda thought the car and the App figures were optimistic .... 3.9 would be a good figure for a car of that heft. 5 is reasonable for the Mii.
I am sure that 201 HP is so popular because 201 HP translates into 150kW which is quite nice number in the electric motor industry.
More videos with Tom please
Your wish is our command @Ian. We've made him do a few more.
@@Electrifyingcom Fantastic - looking forward to watching them!
I think the Cupra Born is a fantastic looking car. It's what the ID.3 should have been. A bit expensive though. VW group seriously need to rethink their controls & infotainment though.
wish it was available in the U.S.
Is it worth £15k more than to top of the range MG4 though
Poor wipers for right-hand drive markets? I thought we stopped doing those in about 1995.
There is a huge software update version 3.2. Warning it has to go to a Cupra dealer and takes up to 6 hours.
I might be a bit late for this video but I would rather take a byd atto 3 or byd seal.
4wd gtx version please
This
Am really looking forward this Cupra born, but in 77kwh version, to have the maximum range in a smaller size than my current kia Niro EV.
The new Kia e-Niro would be a more reliable choice IMHO.
@@taomahNEGEV that's what i have right now.
@@MrCheGuev88 Why would you want to replace it when only KIA gives you a 7 year warranty?
Great review ❤
You forgot to mention the rear drum brakes, what modern Ev vehicle with this price tag has rear drum brakes?
All the VW iD cars.
I don't have a problem with them. My Leaf is constantly getting corrosion as the rear brakes are hardly used. Have a read of this: www.electrifying.com/blog/article/time-to-brake-free-electric-car-makers-experiment-with-brakeless-vehicles
@@lappy65 I meant other brands like Tesla, Hyundai, Kia, BYD, Nio etc
@@Peter-vn8ue ok, fair point, but VW just figured that drum brakes made sense as most of the braking on the rear was now going to be done by the motor as regenerative braking they don't have to worry about brake fade and it simplifies the parking brake as well as reducing brake rotor corrosion on the rear brakes. On cars that use their friction brakes a lot, discs are by far the best option all round, however I can also understand VW's justification here.
doesn't the Born have rear drum brakes?
It does. All cars that use this platform do. You don't see them of course as they are hidden by the wheel discs and they perform really well, presumably because the regen braking takes most of the strain.
Great review, thanks
Thanks for watching!
What colour is this
Vapor Grey I think
3.9m/KWh is impressive.
The stated charging performance is 5-80% in 35 minutes on a 58(62) battery. So 75% of 58 is 43.5 so in 35 minutes it needs to average 75kwh over that range. The best I’ve ever achieved was 72 on ionity once - all this has been scheduled out to Listers and VWs solicitors in detail and none of my figures have ever been challenged at all! Not anything. Not one charge, one number: nothing. It simply doesn’t perform ever at that stated level. In contrast my BMW i4 just hits the numbers ever single time
Nice.. I'll take one in white!!.💕🇬🇧🇺🇦
This would be the EV Id be buying if I was in the market right now.
It is rear wheel drive, BUT? Motor sits in the back. Really? what is at the front? Is that not the motor?
Please excuse my ignorance. My brain was disengaged as in i was talking out my back end.
I have a born v3 eboost for 18 months it is the worst new car I have ever owned when it goes wrong the dealers can not fix it . and are so busy it will take months just for them to look at it ! 15.000miles I waiting for my second set of drive shafts 😢 the biggest issue is what no one ever talks about , you can’t sell it no one wants a second hand born ! Not Evan the dealers ! I have lost £21000 on this car so I am stuck with it any one thinking of buying one don’t !
I have a Cupra Born for just over a month and I hate it. It's the prettiest car I've ever owned but it's a heap of shit to actually use. Climate settings are impossible to adjust while driving and i've not gone around a single roundabout or motorway junction without changing the settings on my Cruise control, outright dangerous car to drive. Further irritations: really bad view around the A-pillars, you can't see anything out of the rear window and the rear view camera is way to low to actually get a view on whats behind you plus it's ALWAYS dirty.
Charging is bad too, it says it will do a 100kw for this battery but it actually won't go over 45kw. yes, it's cold now (November) but my previous Kia e-Niro would do at least 60, mostly just up to it's maximum of 75, albeit after a few minutes to warm up the system. Before you choose a car, don't look at the kw number, look at the charging curve, you can find tables for every make and model. It's not bad on efficiency but it's overestimating it's range constantly and not by a little bit.
pros:
prettiest car i've ever had
good ride
very silent
good seats
good stereo
cons:
rediculous infotainment system, there is no logic to be found here
no thought ever went into useability in the interior
not much space in the interior to put stuff
bad interface design on steeringwheel
bad interface design on infotainment
rear view camera unusable
automatic lights don't come on quick enough, don't recognise fog or low sun
sunvisors are difficult to reach! (why!?)
interior lights dont't come on when you open the doors (must be a setting somewhere but unable to find it, probably touched one of those touch buttons without knowing...)
slower than expected
really bad vision all around
slow charging
doesn't adjust range to actual usage (not nearly as good as others do)
strange whining noise when wind comes from a certain angle!
one pedal driving isn't a thing in the Cupra, nowhere near enough regenerating force (bad decision on the rear wheel drive probably as you can't apply that much braking)
In short: typical VW product: all good in theory but only in testing circumstances, in real life it's not nearly as good as it's competitors
15.9kWh/100km is disappointing. I converted it for the 189 countries that are metric.
Is that a lot/km?
15.9 kWh/100km is really good imo!
Hmm.. EV Database ranks it 30th on Kwh/km out of about 280 vehicles. Don't see that result as unduly 'disappointing'.
Consumption seems reasonable to me - not outstanding but competitive as a real world figure rather than an artificial test figure
15.9 kWh for that small car, are you joking? I do 16.4 kWh with my Kia EV6 AWD since May, now at 0°C to 5° with wipers on, clima at 21°, steering wheel heating, full light and winter tires (Yes, we have snow up in our Swiss mountains) I use 2 to 4 kWh more! That my friend, I call efficient in a 333 hp (officially 325) roomful AWD crossover! Volkswagen and also Polestar are not up to date in efficiency and has the Cupra really no HP? No Frunk is with all German cars a must as it seems and pulling a trailer up to 1600 kg even Mercedes EQE cannot. Of course the Cupra is cheaper at first sight but a complete version is quite too expensive for what you get. Anyhow among the mediocre this is the best choice and looking good!😂🤓
I'm guessing it doesn't have a heatpump
Heat pump is an add on at £900
@@douglasmcarthur1643 Thanks
I always thought the Cupra and the future Tavascan look worse than the Predator without the mask…
Bizar to read your charging pad isn't a charging pad! My 6month old June Copper Edition Born's charging pad is.... A charging pad!
Rear view camera refusing to work at delivery and subsequent faff to get a garage that would do warrantee work, even directly through Cupra, has been an infuriating experience but to date that's the only real negative aspect of my Born that really got under my skin.
Nice car to drive but horrendous to live with. It has AC and DC charging faults Cupra have no idea what to do about. Too much comment on range: real issue is charging. Basically you get half what website says!
You're gorgeous ❤ like the car.
Why you never see a Cupra Born vs A Tesla Model 3 ? The cost about the same .
I’d avoid like plague. Car is ok but electric platform is very poor in my experience- doesn’t charge properly on ac or dc! Never hits specified figures in technical drop down on website and regularly half charged overnight apparently due to a battery safety issue!! Save up for an BM i4, superb