After around three years of good and loyal service, the Cupra Born electric car is being updated, with a new VZ version. On the program, increased power, slightly disappointing performance and a larger battery allowing a slight increase in autonomy for the cousin of the Volkswagen ID.3. The interior has been slightly revised.
Technical cousin of the Volkswagen ID.3, the Cupra Born has never really differentiated itself from its German counterpart, particularly in terms of performance, with very similar engines. This is rather surprising given the fact that Cupra, which is a young brand derived from Seat, plays the dynamism and sportiness card to the fullest, focusing on products that straddle the world of generalists and premium.
Cupra is today one of the most profitable brands in the Volkswagen Group. The Born is not necessarily the standard bearer of this success, this role being rather reserved for the Formentor and its thermal and hybrid engines. However, Cupra intends to capitalize on its dynamic image by offering a new iteration of its sportier electric compact sedan.
Really sporty? Rather dynamic
So here is the new Cupra Born VZ, for “Veloz”, which means “fast” in Spanish. Under its hood, it houses an electric powertrain capable of delivering 325 horsepower and 545 Nm torque. Against 204 hp and 310 Nm of torque for the old version. Is this the new AP550 engine?
However, “Veloz” is not too much, since the performance seems quite ordinary for a 325 hp electric car. The brand announces 5.7 seconds for the 0 to 100 km/h exercise (small, less powerful GTIs do just as well, or even better) and 200 km/h top speed. Compare with the 7.2 seconds and 160 km/h of the old model.
From a technical point of view, the engineers revised the suspension to make it slightly firmer. At the rear, the Cupra Born VZ is equipped with new shock absorbers and new springs combined with optimized front damping settings as well as new anti-roll bars. Enough to make the behavior of the car more dynamic, but also more comfortable by improving the filtration of roughness in the road.
All about style?
Aesthetically, the Cupra Born VZ stands out with the addition of two new 20-inch alloy wheels, as well as distinctive details such as the VZ logo and two new colors: Esterel Green (only for the VZ version) and Midnight Black.
Inside, the sporty atmosphere is palpable with the introduction of new standard Cup Bucket seats, which are quite aesthetic and which are really well integrated into the sportier atmosphere of the car. The paddles on the steering wheel make it easy to control the braking energy recovery system, and will perhaps bring back good memories to those who used the paddle to shift gears on their old thermal cars. Times change, and so do pleasures.
The Born VZ benefits from a new infotainment system with a 12.9-inch screen (+0.9 inches compared to the current Born) and includes a new backlit touch bar, which allows you to directly adjust the air conditioning and volume. This is the same system found on the restyled Volkswagen ID.3.
A rather interesting autonomy for a dynamic car
And in terms of autonomy, what does that give? Unlike the performance, it’s not bad for a vehicle advertised as sporty. The Born VZ is capable of traveling up to 570 km on a single charge according to Cupra data, those currently being approved have not been communicated. They should be a bit lower, the WLTP cycle being generally less generous than the manufacturers.
The battery has also been improved and now offers a net capacity of 79 kWh (+2 kWh). For comparison, the current Cupra Born VZ XL has a range of 549 km in the WLTP combined cycle. Which suggests approximately similar consumption, despite the increase in power.
The battery can be charged at home using an 11 kW alternating current wallbox, or at a direct current fast charging station of 170kW allowing you to go from 10 to 80% in 30 minutes. Even though the car is only three years old, it is already starting to “suffer” from its slightly aging architecture when it comes to recharging, with most competitors, particularly Asian ones, doing better at this level.
More technological than sporty
When it comes to safety and comfort, the Cupra Born VZ is equipped with a full range of driver assistance features such as Travel Assist which combines adaptive cruise control with Lane Assist. In addition, thanks to information from the cloud, this new version also benefits from improvements on poorly marked roads. All this is accompanied by the lane change assist function when driving on the highway.
The new Remote Park Assist function allows the driver to complete maneuvers using their smartphone. Similarly, the Trained Parking Assist system allows the vehicle to learn to park in usual locations by recording the vehicle’s characteristics and trajectory on a map. Note also the presence of Side Assist for enhanced protection against vehicles in the blind spot or approaching quickly.
Are you interested in this beautiful, powerful Born? It will be launched in the third quarter of 2024 and will be available to order from June in France. Prices have not been announced, but we imagine that it should start under 47,000 euros.
The current Cupra Born VZ XL is available from 39,990 euros (excluding ecological bonus of 4,000 euros), which makes it one of the electric cars with the best range/price ratio on the market. It swapped the 204 hp engine for the 230 hp one (from the old VZ version) with the recent price drop.
Want to join a community of enthusiasts? Our Discord welcomes you, it is a place of mutual help and passion around tech.