CUPRA Born Blue

You can have your Born with one of three battery options and, in various combinations, three power levels. Currently all versions use a single motor driving the rear wheels. The smallest 45kWh battery is paired with a 150 horsepower motor for an official range of just over 200 miles (though at the time of writing isn't available in the UK) while the 58kWh battery has the choice of 204 horsepower or 231 horsepower e-Boost variants. For the maximum 335-miles range you need the biggest 77kWh battery, which comes exclusively in e-Boost trim. We tried the 204 horsepower version first, which is basically the same as Pro Performance versions of the ID.3 and feels decently brisk thanks to a 7.3-second 0-62mph time. The e-Boost version we drove next does a better job of delivering on the Born’s sporty aspirations and is usefully quicker than its ID.3 brother, reflected in its 6.6-second 0-62mph time. Like all electric cars the power is delivered instantly and silently, though if you’re looking for Tesla-like acceleration to impress your friends the Born isn’t quite there yet and, at this level, a Ioniq 5 feels a good deal faster.