Can Cupra's all-electric Born tow? Need to take your bikes along with your Cupra EV. An Invisible Cupra Born towbar is now available.

Can Cupra's all-electric Born tow? Need to take your bikes along with your Cupra EV. An Invisible Cupra Born towbar is now available.

To be honest, the Born is fundamentally identical to the Volkswagen ID 3 - just wearing a tracksuit.  It's a five-door, five-seat electric hatchback, and is available with three different battery sizes(45kWh, 58kWh and 77kWh), powering a single electric motor that drives the rear wheels that all promise impressive pure-electric ranges. But, it’s clear Cupra has worked hard on giving its first electric car its own personality. 

Cupra has positioned the Born as the slightly sportier pick of the two. It has the same dimensions as its VW sibling, but the Born features a different front-end design and an altered look inside, with an upgrade in materials and tech. Features like copper accents, dramatic LED lighting and 20-inch aerodynamic alloy wheels add some cool to the eco-credentials of electric motoring.

It’s not just the looks that have been tweaked, either. The steering has been fettled, it’s been given a lowered ride height and, depending on the spec, it gets a boost in the performance figures to ensure some versions can beat the ID 3 in a sprint.  A 0-100km time of 7.3 seconds isn’t what you’d call hot hatch quick in 2022, but with 201bhp and 310Nm torque available instantaneously, the Born does at least feel eager and responsive. It's worth noting Cupra’s e-Boost function is available as an option on 58kWh and standard on 77kWh models - the e-Boost adds an extra 30bhp and drops the Born’s 0-100kms time to 6.6 seconds. 

The Born has the ability to fast charge at up to 100kW (125kW for the 77kWh version). That should be enough to get the mid-range 58kWh battery from 10-80% charge in around 30mins. With a 7kW home wall box, you’re looking at empty to full in around nine hours. 

The Born is a reasonably comfortable electric car and does a good job of absorbing lumps and bumps in the road. The ride height has been lowered slightly compared with the ID 3, so the Born is a little firmer.  Thanks to accurate, well-weighted steering and decent body control, it’s certainly more engaging than many competitors.

Inside, a different mix of materials from the ID3, means that the Born looks and feels classier, particularly around the centre console and armrests.
Sitting in the front of the Born is a comfortable experience, thanks in part to hugging sports seats. The front seats are also mounted quite high for a sporty car but that’s the consequence of the battery’s location underneath the floor. There is, however, plenty of adjustment for the driver's seat and the steering wheel.

You get a 12-inch touchscreen on the dash, which packs sharp looking graphics and plenty of tech including satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The boot is about the same size as a Golf’s - 385 litres, which suffices for the typical requirements of fitting in a pram, shopping or a couple of suitcases. The bad news is the Born has no tow rating, so you cannot tow a trailer.  The good news is, we do have a Cupra Born towbar that allows you to carry 80kgs on the ball.  So you'll be able to take your bikes along or use a cargo carrier. 

A number of options are available, adding features such as a Beats audio system with nine speakers, a panoramic glass roof, an augmented reality heads-up display and adjustable suspension. There are also several tech packs, bundling features including wireless phone charging and keyless entry. 

The Born gets an extensive suite of safety kit. That includes automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist monitoring, lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, a driver fatigue monitor and traffic sign recognition, which shows you the current speed limit. 

The Cupra Born takes all the good bits from the class-leading Volkswagen ID 3 and adds a slightly more polished interior and a sportier distinct look to turn heads.  Order your Born bike towbar today and enjoy those weekends away.