Cupra Born range, battery & charging
The Cupra Born will eventually available with a choice of three battery sizes, all of which promise enough range and charging capability to keep most drivers happy
| Battery size | Range | Wallbox charge time | Rapid charge time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45kWh | 211 miles | 7hrs 30mins (0-100%, 7.4kW) | 26mins (10-80%, 100kW) |
| 58kWh | 261-264 miles | 9hrs 15mins (0-100%, 7.4kW) | 35mins (5-80%, 125kW) |
| 77kWh | 340 miles | 12hrs 15mins (0-100%, 7.4kW) | 36mins (5-80%, 135kW) |
Underneath its sharp bodywork, the Cupra Born shares its platform with many electric cars we’re already familiar with. The list includes the Volkswagen ID.3 hatchback, the ID.4 SUV and ID.5 coupe-SUV, as well as the Audi Q4 e-tron and Skoda Enyaq iV. The Spanish carmaker’s first electric model is available with a choice of three battery sizes – 45, 58 and 77kWh – with figures for all versions on par with those of the equivalent Volkswagen ID.3. Plus, every model gets rapid charging as standard.
Cupra Born range
Four versions of the Born have been announced so far, with only the entry-level model still to arrive. That particular version uses a 45kWh battery, which holds enough energy for up to 211 miles of driving. The next two versions use a 58kWh battery and are capable of covering in excess of 260 miles on a charge. However, the final variant features an even larger 77kWh unit that, according to the brand, allows for a range of 340 miles.
The version we drove in the UK featured the 58kWh battery paired with a 201bhp electric motor. It should be able to cover up to 264 miles on a charge, although our test car struggled to break a predicted 200 miles from a full battery in cold conditions, returning around 2.7 miles per kWh efficiency.
Charge time
Borns fitted with a 58kWh battery can be charged at up to 125kW, meaning topping up from 5-80% using a fast enough rapid-charging point takes 35 minutes. The top-of-the-range 77kWh model on the other hand can be recharged at up to 135kW. So, if you find a fast enough charger, you can top up the 77kWh battery from 5-80% in just 36 minutes – or to put it another way, add 62 miles of range in only seven minutes.
Using a 7kW home wallbox to fully recharge the Born will take around seven-and-a-half hours for the 45kWh battery, while the 58kWh variant can be topped up from flat in just over nine hours. Go for the largest battery and it'll take over 12 hours to fully recharge.
