The road-test team at Autocar are a pretty discerning and exacting bunch at the best of times: especially when it comes to identifying what really makes a car fun to drive. So, when Autocar say that the all-electric CUPRA Born is its Best Electric Car of 2024, it’s a verdict that’s worth listening to.
During the past year, the CUPRA Born has topped two major Autocar group tests, proving its versatile multi-faceted character. In August 2023 it beat five of its rivals in Atocar’s EV handling day to be named Autocar’s ‘Best Fun EV’. Then, in March 2024, the CUPRA Born pipped 11 other models in an epic supertest of electric cars priced under £40,000 to be named Autocar’s ‘Best Affordable EV’.
“The fact that the CUPRA Born won both group tests shows its all-round appeal,” said Autocar Editor Mark Tisshaw. “It has a good balance of ride and handling for the real world. It’s the kind of car that engages you in everyday situations. The amount of power is also bang-on. Too often EVs give you too much power and are undriveable. Yet the CUPRA Born has just enough power to really enjoy it. It’s also good value. There have been improvements to the interior, and it’s very practical – with space for four adults and luggage, and a good real-world range close to around 250 miles."
Now, the CUPRA Born is an even more compelling purchase, with a simplified model line-up and 0% APR for up to three years with a £4,500 contribution towards your finance deposit on Solutions PCP*
So, let’s delve even deeper into all of the reasons why Autocar love the CUPRA Born so much.
Learn more about the CUPRA Born
The perfect blend of power and poise
As you’d expect, the CUPRA Born’s appeal starts with its driving character. Shorter, narrower and lower than many of its large all-electric SUV rivals, the CUPRA Born hatch is based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform – which has been designed around a low-slung battery pack that lowers centre of gravity and pushes the wheels out to the corners for a long wheelbase.
Is also uses a rear-mounted rear-wheel drive electric motor that delivers more compelling driving character and up to 230PS of e-Boost power, with 310Nm of instantly accessible punchy all-electric torque. As a result, the CUPRA Born can sprint from 0-62mph in as little as 6.6 seconds.
“Just like the Volkswagen Golf GTI did for the petrol-powered hot-hatch, the CUPRA Born arguably sets the template from which to take the electric hot-hatch forward,” Autocar said. “There is, in short, a deeply impressive ‘just rightness’ about this car, which only becomes clearer when you surround it with its many rivals, and then drive it back-to-back with them on an interesting road.