Cupra Born hatchback - Interior & comfort
Sporty design but there are some signs of cost-cutting
Sitting in the front of the Born is a comfortable experience, thanks in part to hugging sports seats. Not everyone will love the integral headrests, however, which are bulky and tilt forwards. 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.
Cupra Born dashboard
The ID.3 has been criticised for the quality of its interior and the Cupra Born appears better in the most crucial areas. It could still be better, as there are still some noticeable signs of cost-cutting, presumably done to ensure the high-tech Born remained affordable. In keeping with Cupra's design theme, there are distinctive copper accents that help the interior stand out.
There's also a more successful infotainment setup with an intuitive voice control system and reasonably easy-to-use menus. Unfortunately, this only makes the touch-sensitive sliders on the dashboard (for the climate control and volume) and steering wheel even more frustrating to use. It’s especially disappointing that they’re not illuminated at night, making them difficult to operate when it’s dark. No such complaints can be levelled at the graphics, which are crisp and vibrant, for both the central screen and the instrument display.
Leather-free upholstery called Dinamica and Seaqual Yarn are offered, manufactured from recycled clothing and single-use plastics or marine plastics respectively.
Equipment
Three trim levels called V1, V2 and V3 are initially offered. V1 has 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a 12-inch touchscreen with sat nav and wireless smartphone mirroring, plus a heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control and a reversing camera. V2 adds 19-inch wheels, tinted rear windows, heated seats and an augmented reality head-up display. Top-spec V3 gets even bigger wheels, exclusive grey upholstery and front seats with power adjustment and massage function. We found the ride to be quite jolting on the biggest 20-inch wheels of the V3, though, so our pick would be one of the lesser models.
Options
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. A 'Below Zero' winter pack brings heated front seats, heated washer jets and a low washer bottle warning light.
