Clima control: You can slide the finger to the left/right on the temperature figure on top of the screen to adjust temperature up/down - so you don’t have to find the slide bar in the dark 👍
If you're new to EV's..@3:13 The rapid charging speeds would be using the full CCS connector,(top and bottom plugs) the type 2 only plug shown will deliver only up to 11kW on a suitable charger (not domestic) with this car.
Really good review, you explain very well, how about trying to run a car for a week if possible, that would be a good review, the good and bad points, the real range of the electric car your reviewing.
Thanks for a great review Tish. I live in Canada and, for some strange reason, VW does not bring the ID.3 to North America. SEAT does not exist here at all. Still, the Electroheads team does such a great job in reviewing the evolving BEV market. I thought it was a little cheeky for them to refer to the colour of the test vehicle as "Petrol Blue". Cheers...Jim
Can't see the point of just quoting the manufacturer's range figures, they are bound to be optimistic. How about seeing what it'll do in reality? And really how many people are that bothered about a little bit of extra performance? I suggest a change of focus.
Often the reason they offer those figures is because the manufacturer doesn’t give them the car for long enough, or authorize them to drive it far enough, to test the range. The range figures are either from the manufacturer (In which case YMMV is a common turn of phrase) or the WLTP/EPA (Standardized, and optimistic particularly with the WLTP, and the reviewer usually say “I’m getting close to this figure” or not.) The other problem is that if they make an unsubstantiated negative claim there’s a decent chance the company won’t lend them another car, so criticisms have to be well-verified, or simply be opinion-based impressions. We’d all like to know the real range, but it’s not something that someone who isn’t using the car for days or weeks could really know unless a range test was being performed explicitly like they do on CarWow.
And re drum brakes. This electric car won't need the same stopping power from physical brakes that a non-EV would need, as the regen system will help stop it too. It almost has 2 braking systems. Drum brakes at the rear also help stop rust as rear brakes are less used on an EV.
I have been looking forward to this. I test drove an ID3 and liked that, but would prefer a more engaging drive, so the Born seemed to be perfect. I was disappointed then to hear that the steering isn't any better than the ID3. I may go for that then as I could definitely live with it and other than an i3 which is too small for me, there is no better option in my price range that is electric. The instrument binnacle moves with the steering wheel BTW, it is a really good feature, I like that a lot.
Steering is better. Road holding too. The amount of turns is less and more heavy/sturdy. I've driven ID last year and now have the Born. So I can state this from experience.
@@RedBatteryHead Thanks, it's back on my wish list then. You really have to drive a car to know what it's like, one road testers comfortable but responsive is anothers harsh and choppy!
Really like the car, but I have been a bit put off by a few people who have bought id3's and complain about the poor response from the touchscreen. The software isn't quite there yet it seems.
That,crap range and extra-slow charging...allegedly we’re also set to be wiped out by Vlad’s 500 meter high nuclear wave too...now, where’s that al-foil hat?
We don't get the ID.3 here in America, but a neighbor has an ID.4 and has the same complaint. Plus everything you touch feels econobox. For the price you would expect better materials
I would not be put off about the poor response on the ID.3 touchscreen.Version 3 software has taken care of this.The Cupra is all about style.19/20 inch tyres are ano no.They effect the range greatly.Reviewers do not tell you this
I have never heard an American mention one pedal driving. I get what it is, but don't see a benefit of it over a good ACC and AEB system. My last few dailies have had those along with lane keep assist. Most days I do zero pedal driving between home and the destination, only using the brake to put the car in drive and park and the gas to get up to 20 (32kph) to activate cruise.
The battery doesn't produce power, it stores energy. The electric motor produces the power & torque. VW/Cupra could have produced more power but then they'd have to upgrade drive shafts, brakes, suspension which all cost money. 204 PS is plenty for most people, 90% of the time. I would much rather have the car as it is, with a price tag circa £35k, than one with 300 PS, costing say £45k.
A vastly improved interior over the ID3. At the Fully Charged Show I was able to directly compare the interior of the ID3 to the Ora Cat and the difference was stark, ID3 was cheap and nasty, Ora Cat was not, best way of describing it was that ID3 interior was Austin Allegro (if I was being really nasty I would have said Morris Marina) whereas Ora Cat was a top of the range Golf GTi! Sadly in the interior the cheap glossy black plastic makes an appearance - I can only assume that whoever specifies that material, whether it is the car designer team or more probably the accounting team, does not actually drive a car because it is a dust and fingerprint magnet. The Cupra looks a better car than the ID3 but I am now waiting for reviews on the Ora Cat because it was mightily impressive at the Show
@@abraxastulammo9940 As far as I can tell it only becomes an issue in very hot climates (35-40 degrees) when on long steep roads. Being in the UK neither of those situations are even vaguely plausible, so the overheating is a complete irrelevance to me (and as Bjorn Nyland points out could be solved with a simple software change)
@@danielworthy6031 Try reading the posts or doing a little research rather than sounding a little silly. Ora Cat is an EV, slightly smaller than the ID3 and Born but a clear competitor and the interior is a country mile better than the ID3. Born is clearly a better car than the ID3 so it will be interesting to see direct comparisons between Born and Ora Cat, particularly is, as is likely, there is a significant price difference
I look forward to an EV with reasonable torque and range for under $20,000. Don't wanna race in it, or drive 300+ miles. I want a city daily commute car without bells and whistles. Not even and entertainment center, where my phone will do. If China can make it happen, then Chinese car it will be.
Tish, you're certainly not being "choosy" when it comes to the Cupra Born. No physical buttons on the console (and no ambient lighting under the dash) is not good imho. But the biggest faux pas they committed was having drum brakes in the back! To me, that's not just being cheap...that's also behind the times in braking technology (you mean to tell me I don't deserve to have four-wheel disc brakes as standard on my Cupra Born?). All in all, another smashing review from my favorite reviewer from across the Pond. ;) (hugs)
You clearly do not understand the braking dynamics on an electric car. There is very little braking action on the rear axle, most of the braking function is done through the regenerative function of the motor . The lack of braking on the rear could cause rust build up on disc brakes degrading performance, why most EV manufacturers opt for drums.
What are you basing the performance on the figures or your driving experience? And as for the rear drums are concerned, no discs are needed because that’s where the regen takes place at the rear! Plus height at the rear when quoting please mention you own height, it’s so frustrating when people say, well ‘there’s plenty of height for me’ otherwise a pretty standard review. Cars ok I quess.
Maybe Cupra has a more powerful variant waiting in the wings for the end of the year? Much like the GTX for the ID.3. They could call it the SC like the Ibiza Cupra SC, for SportsCoupe.
Drums are a good move …. EV’s don’t use brakes as much so rear discs rust quickly and drag more. Drums should run freely. EV’s could evolve to have all 4 drums as regen gets more efficient. No drag at all and protected from elements. 😊 x
This is the lie manufacturers tell you. If I step on a break to stop at a traffic light or anywhere for that matter both break pads front and rear are engaged. This is true for all cars EV or otherwise
@@tonnyochieng118 the point is we rarely use the brake pedal, I allow regen to slow etc. It was demonstrated by a RUclipsr how rear discs in connection with electric auto parking brake creates extra drag at the wheel. Front wheel drive cars like mine don’t put 50/50 braking to front and rear , usually 70/30 ish
@@patrickh7368 one pedal driving as you rightly point out is doable. It's just not sustainable for a significant part of driving. But even when it's done on say a given trip as long as the break pedal is engaged say three times when the car is in motion that is enough to clear any rust build up on the discs. Remember at every press of the pedal even with a ratio of 90 to 10 all pads are engaged albeit at different intensities. It's my humble opinion that manufactures say this to simply justify cost cuts.
@@tonnyochieng118 it’s all interesting stuff, I know previous cars with rear discs they look as clean as the front discs, my EV they always look dull and “old” from 2000 miles to now at 28,000 miles, I do have a down hill stretch going to work where I set regen to 0 and “use” brakes to pull up at the bottom but I expect next service recommendation of changing the rear discs will flag up…😊
@@patrickh7368 I bet your pad and disc replacement intervals will definitely be more spread out no doubt. That's the beauty of EVs, maintenance costs are lower. I drive the mg 5 and only engage the harshest regen setting on steep slopes or stops from higher speed runs. For the most part I just leave it in the medium setting. I find the ride is much smoother that as opposed to if I left it in max regen. I've never driven a car with one pedal driving function.
Good review. Technically then, this is an electric hot hatch, which seems like an odd combination. Throw in drum brakes, a ton of bits straight from the VW parts bin and it's a bit of a mash-up. Seat probably held back on the performance, so real EV-boy-racers can buy the even more powerful version later in the year. Real world range will typically be 10-15% less than WLTP too, which is normal, more still in cold weather. You san see Seat tried really hard on the styling though - EV or not, it's a good looking car.
This is just a Knee Capped version of electric hot hatch. RWD Electric Hot Hatch designed to it's full potential is a Unicorn Perfect Car. But no legacy OEM is going to do that, as it will be a killer overshadowing product. Just a reminder how crazy a fast powerful RWD Electric Hatch would be.
Because of the batteries, electric cars tend to be heavy. Why not put 16inch rims on, taller side walls lead to more comfortable ride. Common complaint with many electric cars is the hard ride. Also, low profile tyres are more prone to sidewall cuts and damage from potholes.
It would be over 40% sidewall so would wallow and have awful body roll on 16s. 225/55R18s are fractionally taller than the 215/45R20s with more grip and a softer ride. That's how I'd go. Plus it's a more common size so they are cheaper and available in more categories than just LRR.
They're not that low profile. 215/45/20 has slightly less sidewall than the 225/45/17 on my Golf, more sidewall than a GTI on 18" wheels. Sport suspension is good quality and does a good job at soaking up bumps, it's not harsh at all.
Why do reviewers act like the 20" wheels will rattle your fillings out? It's a comfortable car to drive. They'll be slightly less comfortable than the 18" wheels but the sidewall on the 215/45/20 tyres is similar to the sidewall on the 17" Golf/Leon wheels with 225/45/17 and nobody complains about feeling every bump on the road in a Golf. The Born has a larger tyre circumference which will roll over surface imperfections better. In terms of suspension comfort my Golf also has sport suspension but the Born does a nicer job at ironing out the bumps. I've driven cheaper cars (i30, Mokka X) where the suspension would legitimately rattle your fillings out and they were on 16" wheels with the Mokka X having a much larger sidewall. I actually ended up removing DCC from my order as I was surprised by how comfortable the car is.
The reason it has drum brakes at the rear, is because the regenerative braking means that the rear axle brakes do virtually no braking. The danger then is that the rear brakes will rust through lack of use, and not function properly, to prevent drum brakes are used, and this has no adverse effect on the braking effectiveness.
Sorry to sound like a broken record but what we need is a simple small cheap electric car. The reason we dont have it is there srent enough batteries to build enough cars so they just stick them in expensive cars knowing they will sell anyway. Electric is a long way off for the masses
As much as rear discs look better than drum brakes, but is there a performance justification on a vehicle with brake regen? One of the selling points of BEV is reduced maintenance for things like brakes as they see much less use.
Well, given the weight of most electric cars braking is a pretty important issue. Brake regeneration doesn't mean shit in an emergency braking situation.
Was told this car would be launched a couple of months after ID 3, here we are 2 years later, needless to say I was not gong to wait a further 2 years after their initial statement of it will be available by summer 2020. I am perfectly happy with my EV so after 2 previous Seat’s they lost this customer because they were never honest with the customers in relation to this car. Doesn’t matter how good it is, moral of the story. Be honest with your potential customers.
Range figures don’t add up… 4mpkwh is considered an a good efficient figure. So the 58kwh model equates to 232mls (and the GOM indicated that on the car’s screen - 96% 202mls) and the 77kwh 310mls range. These I think are the maximum real world range in summer, winter you can knock 20% off those figures, not those stated. However most drivers unless they are willing to hyper mile and also stick below 60mph on motorways, will not achieve those figures. Reviewers need to be more critical on car makers, rather than repeat the figures given to them. But then I suppose they’d risk not getting cars to test? Oh, and I own an EV which I love by the way. However transparency is needed. But I suppose they did the same with mpg figures too, didn’t they.
@@afcgeo882 I had a Renault Clio petrol and it’s advertised MPG were spot on to real driving. I didn’t have to try to remotely drive in ‘test conditions’ to get it the Astra and Golf I had came close but not perfect. Electric cars however are still vastly out as they use height of summer, efficient driving ranges. Nothing near realistic. The E-Golf I have now is based on 4.9/kWh which given the area I live in (fairly hilly) even in summer it’s somewhat a challenge. If you live in a relatively flat city of torn then sure. But outside of that you’re looking at 4.4 at best and 2.7 in a cold winter. And that’s significant range differences…
@@liamchadwick5013 I’ve never owned a petrol car that got even to 10% of the claimed fuel economy. Sorry, much depends on the terrain, load and driving style. For EVs, the biggest effector is the outside temperature. EVs that have good battery heaters/coolers, and heat pumps tend to get very close to their advertised range. Those that are driven gently, in mild temps do well too. Others do not. It’s still up to the manufacturers to report range and is not independently confirmed by anyone..
Why is the charging cable under the boot floor? There must be a better place that doesn't mean clearing the shopping bags, the stroller, the box with spare clothes and shoes, and two rain coats. You never mentioned the amount of storage in the front. My car has two glove boxes, a storage box on top of the dash, a small pullout tray for a small camera and large door pockets, plus a tray by the gear lever and a deep center console box with shallow tray under the lid -ideal for pencils and pens, and torches. As a daily driver the amount of clutter expands to fill the space available.
Love the review. However, it's still a VW, so expect poor customer care from a company that has demonstrated no concern whatsoever for their customers or the rest of us, with a poor reliability record. Also, I've always thought of a sporty car as being one that is quick and manoeuvrable . What I got from the video was that it has mediocre acceleration and 20 inch wheels that ensure an uncomfortable ride and little more. It does look nice though!
Sorry these people remind me of time share sellers.They sound so convincing take them all with a barrel of solt.The buzz words cheap little overcomplicated and to expensive for many.
Great clip . Just wish I didn't have to mute it and read subtitles. Maybe it's my phone or your Mike. I am sure it's not your voice but sounded terrible.
@@Wdf-76 Hi Wayne, I’m not a mechanic or an engineer, but I believe that having drums allows the regen to work more efficiently as it is a smoother braking system. 😎
@@Wdf-76 Hi Wayne, you were right and I was wrong, the drum brakes have no impact on the regen, manufacturers fit them due to cost and because of the impact of the regen, the motor going in reverse, causing resistance there’s less work for the rear braking system, sorry😎
Even with all the good points, the small things they've overlooked & the current lack of charging infrastructure would prevent me from buying this vehicle; when the infrastructure is there, to an acceptable level, & they've addressed the little missing things, & maybe increased the range, I might think about it. Also a prohibitive factor would be the frequency & cost of replacing the batteries 🤔 If the government want everybody to switch to ev's then they could help by introducing a subsidised ev leasing scheme, where everything is covered by a leasing arrangement (The hire cost, all repairs & maintenance, courtesy car while your ev is in for repair, etc etc) at an affordable monthly cost, so everybody can afford it, even if you are on benefits, similar to the motobility scheme for disabled people 🤔
exterior - 5+, interior - took already produced parts from VW, to reduce cost, and took all VW ID3 mistakes also.. unfortunately.. but exterior, and with that blue with copper.. :)
Thing is not all drivers are going to be at home every night and many may not have access to a charger all the time. I have an EV that has same range as this car when at home I don’t need to charge very often but when on my regular long trips this range opens up many options for me. The car has more range than me personally and I like the fact I am not committed to a particular stop, I can choose which stop because of that extra range. That to me is worth the money.
@@brianstevenson9967 You make a good point. Your EV usage is mainstream like your would use your ICE car. So you need stronger battery. But I think 50% city commuters who drive to office just need about 200 kms range. For longer drive you can have ICE second car.
@@SUNNYJB007 Because you added some options. Base model in large battery has 5 seats, at least in some markets. Add some options and changes to 4 seat due to max weight limit.
Too bad it fails in the rare. The parts are bin items from the ID factory. The front console is not very user friendly, the range is not what's quoted and the pregnant wheels are pointless.
Hey, VW, get your act together and sell this in the states as the ID3! There's literally NO COMPETITION in this market for the hot hatch! Not everyone wants a boring SUV! Here's the stupid thing- I live in TN where the ID3 is assembled yet I cannot purchase or lease one here. C'mon!
Interesting you didn't bother to mention that 5-80 percent fast charging takes 35 minutes and a full charge takes over an hour. And like the 7 minutes to 62 miles of range, these times are based on ideal conditions. Considering charging times are the biggest issue with EVs one might expect you to spend a bit more time educating the consumer about the car's real world capabilities.
Having lived with 2 EVs over the last 3 years, in my experience, charging times are not an issue - I plug it in to my wallbox when I put the car in the garage and it's fully topped up again and pre-warmed / cooled in the morning ready for my journey. About 80% of UK owner's charging is reported to be done overnight - so the odd occasion where you might have to spend 30 mins topping up on a rapid charger really isn't a big deal...? Besides, after the 3 hours' drive which gets you to the point of needing to recharge, a 30 minute comfort break would be welcomed, surely... 👍
Not a bad looking car, but you just know it will fall apart being from SEAT. And do not forget VW are average build, Audi near the bottom with Porsche. Only Skoda build a car properly in VAG, but then they dont look as nice for obvious reason.
You can go on all you want about design, interior, exterior etc etc, but the elephant in the room which was hardly touched upon (wonder why 🙄 ) is the same awful touch control /infotainment system which all VAG cars are plagued with and which is such a pain in the arse in so many ways, that their current lineup of cars are best avoided.
I think that since Cupra is their performance brand, I would have released this car under a SEAT label. Releasing it under Cupra sets false expectations about its performance. What people would accept from SEAT, they will reject in a Cupra.
Amazingly bad design, they should have sports seats and twice the power then it's one of best cars on the road. This would not cost any extra to produce.
I've got one. Awesome driving car. So planted on the roads.
Very nice interior and super seats.
I do prefer this version of the Cupar over the ID3 just looks nice and sporty.
They really did a great job with the looks.
Can’t wait for mine to be delivered fingers crossed it lives up to the good reviews 🤞🤞
Let us know how you get on!
Clima control: You can slide the finger to the left/right on the temperature figure on top of the screen to adjust temperature up/down - so you don’t have to find the slide bar in the dark 👍
If you're new to EV's..@3:13 The rapid charging speeds would be using the full CCS connector,(top and bottom plugs) the type 2 only plug shown will deliver only up to 11kW on a suitable charger (not domestic) with this car.
Really good review, you explain very well, how about trying to run a car for a week if possible, that would be a good review, the good and bad points, the real range of the electric car your reviewing.
Yes good video, but can you please add Metric measurements.
Thanks for a great review Tish. I live in Canada and, for some strange reason, VW does not bring the ID.3 to North America. SEAT does not exist here at all. Still, the Electroheads team does such a great job in reviewing the evolving BEV market. I thought it was a little cheeky for them to refer to the colour of the test vehicle as "Petrol Blue". Cheers...Jim
Always enjoy your vids and the born is a cool car keep up the great work.
Great review!
3:15 60 miles in 7 minutes is nice for a small EV!
Thank you for sharing! 🔌⚡🚘
I want this car sooooooo bad. It looks so good and I don't care if it's not the best in class. It's just beautiful.
There is zero chance I could afford it . I want a cheap cupra Mii/up. A naughty looking no frills entry level car.
Great review tish love the car too👏👍🏼
Can't see the point of just quoting the manufacturer's range figures, they are bound to be optimistic. How about seeing what it'll do in reality? And really how many people are that bothered about a little bit of extra performance? I suggest a change of focus.
Often the reason they offer those figures is because the manufacturer doesn’t give them the car for long enough, or authorize them to drive it far enough, to test the range. The range figures are either from the manufacturer (In which case YMMV is a common turn of phrase) or the WLTP/EPA (Standardized, and optimistic particularly with the WLTP, and the reviewer usually say “I’m getting close to this figure” or not.)
The other problem is that if they make an unsubstantiated negative claim there’s a decent chance the company won’t lend them another car, so criticisms have to be well-verified, or simply be opinion-based impressions. We’d all like to know the real range, but it’s not something that someone who isn’t using the car for days or weeks could really know unless a range test was being performed explicitly like they do on CarWow.
Winter range 150 miles at 75 mph or 207 miles at 56 mph with the medium battery.
It is basically an ID3.
Great car looks fantastic great video full of content as always
It looks good. Thanks for a great report. Love your channel.
And re drum brakes. This electric car won't need the same stopping power from physical brakes that a non-EV would need, as the regen system will help stop it too. It almost has 2 braking systems. Drum brakes at the rear also help stop rust as rear brakes are less used on an EV.
I saw the Born today must admit it’s a good looking car inside and out just now waiting to see the new Renault Megan Electric
I have been looking forward to this. I test drove an ID3 and liked that, but would prefer a more engaging drive, so the Born seemed to be perfect. I was disappointed then to hear that the steering isn't any better than the ID3. I may go for that then as I could definitely live with it and other than an i3 which is too small for me, there is no better option in my price range that is electric. The instrument binnacle moves with the steering wheel BTW, it is a really good feature, I like that a lot.
The leaf? Or Ionic 5? Or aiways u5? 😁
Steering is better. Road holding too.
The amount of turns is less and more heavy/sturdy.
I've driven ID last year and now have the Born. So I can state this from experience.
@@RedBatteryHead Thanks, it's back on my wish list then. You really have to drive a car to know what it's like, one road testers comfortable but responsive is anothers harsh and choppy!
@@TheStuartstardust I've only driven the leaf, I'm guessing that the other two are as wibbly wobbly as that is. Thanks for the 'advice'. 😀
@@timsmith5339 haha, not advise, just options. 🙃 But seem like you need something that drives like a formula e, at the cost of a golf e - good luck 😁
What's a "splitta"?
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Howevaaaa
It’s Essex for Splitter Neal
@@AutoSocialUK No shit 😉😉 Does at work together with the diffusah?
@@nealm1814 SHATAPPPP!
Really like the car, but I have been a bit put off by a few people who have bought id3's and complain about the poor response from the touchscreen. The software isn't quite there yet it seems.
That,crap range and extra-slow charging...allegedly we’re also set to be wiped out by Vlad’s 500 meter high nuclear wave too...now, where’s that al-foil hat?
We don't get the ID.3 here in America, but a neighbor has an ID.4 and has the same complaint. Plus everything you touch feels econobox. For the price you would expect better materials
The hardware with the latest software are decent.
I would not be put off about the poor response on the ID.3 touchscreen.Version 3 software has taken care of this.The Cupra is all about style.19/20 inch tyres are ano no.They effect the range greatly.Reviewers do not tell you this
I think efficient one pedal driving performance is more important than boy/girl, racer requirements.
I have never heard an American mention one pedal driving. I get what it is, but don't see a benefit of it over a good ACC and AEB system. My last few dailies have had those along with lane keep assist. Most days I do zero pedal driving between home and the destination, only using the brake to put the car in drive and park and the gas to get up to 20 (32kph) to activate cruise.
@@Noah_E 0 pedal driving ftw
The battery doesn't produce power, it stores energy. The electric motor produces the power & torque. VW/Cupra could have produced more power but then they'd have to upgrade drive shafts, brakes, suspension which all cost money. 204 PS is plenty for most people, 90% of the time. I would much rather have the car as it is, with a price tag circa £35k, than one with 300 PS, costing say £45k.
Am I the only one who finds “Petrol Blue” ironic on an EV?
You beat me to it! 👍
A vastly improved interior over the ID3. At the Fully Charged Show I was able to directly compare the interior of the ID3 to the Ora Cat and the difference was stark, ID3 was cheap and nasty, Ora Cat was not, best way of describing it was that ID3 interior was Austin Allegro (if I was being really nasty I would have said Morris Marina) whereas Ora Cat was a top of the range Golf GTi!
Sadly in the interior the cheap glossy black plastic makes an appearance - I can only assume that whoever specifies that material, whether it is the car designer team or more probably the accounting team, does not actually drive a car because it is a dust and fingerprint magnet.
The Cupra looks a better car than the ID3 but I am now waiting for reviews on the Ora Cat because it was mightily impressive at the Show
Did they fix the overheating issue of the Ora?
@@abraxastulammo9940 As far as I can tell it only becomes an issue in very hot climates (35-40 degrees) when on long steep roads. Being in the UK neither of those situations are even vaguely plausible, so the overheating is a complete irrelevance to me (and as Bjorn Nyland points out could be solved with a simple software change)
@@danielworthy6031 Try reading the posts or doing a little research rather than sounding a little silly. Ora Cat is an EV, slightly smaller than the ID3 and Born but a clear competitor and the interior is a country mile better than the ID3. Born is clearly a better car than the ID3 so it will be interesting to see direct comparisons between Born and Ora Cat, particularly is, as is likely, there is a significant price difference
I look forward to an EV with reasonable torque and range for under $20,000.
Don't wanna race in it, or drive 300+ miles. I want a city daily commute car without bells and whistles. Not even and entertainment center, where my phone will do.
If China can make it happen, then Chinese car it will be.
Less that that price, less range and literally no bells: Dacia Spring
Vw e-up perhaps?
Tish, you're certainly not being "choosy" when it comes to the Cupra Born. No physical buttons on the console (and no ambient lighting under the dash) is not good imho. But the biggest faux pas they committed was having drum brakes in the back! To me, that's not just being cheap...that's also behind the times in braking technology (you mean to tell me I don't deserve to have four-wheel disc brakes as standard on my Cupra Born?).
All in all, another smashing review from my favorite reviewer from across the Pond. ;) (hugs)
You clearly do not understand the braking dynamics on an electric car. There is very little braking action on the rear axle, most of the braking function is done through the regenerative function of the motor . The lack of braking on the rear could cause rust build up on disc brakes degrading performance, why most EV manufacturers opt for drums.
What are you basing the performance on the figures or your driving experience? And as for the rear drums are concerned, no discs are needed because that’s where the regen takes place at the rear! Plus height at the rear when quoting please mention you own height, it’s so frustrating when people say, well ‘there’s plenty of height for me’ otherwise a pretty standard review. Cars ok I quess.
Nice review. Car looks good but it does seem to be hampered by the ID3 fundamentals.
That's one good looking electric car!
Maybe Cupra has a more powerful variant waiting in the wings for the end of the year? Much like the GTX for the ID.3. They could call it the SC like the Ibiza Cupra SC, for SportsCoupe.
Drums are a good move …. EV’s don’t use brakes as much so rear discs rust quickly and drag more. Drums should run freely. EV’s could evolve to have all 4 drums as regen gets more efficient. No drag at all and protected from elements. 😊 x
This is the lie manufacturers tell you. If I step on a break to stop at a traffic light or anywhere for that matter both break pads front and rear are engaged. This is true for all cars EV or otherwise
@@tonnyochieng118 the point is we rarely use the brake pedal, I allow regen to slow etc. It was demonstrated by a RUclipsr how rear discs in connection with electric auto parking brake creates extra drag at the wheel. Front wheel drive cars like mine don’t put 50/50 braking to front and rear , usually 70/30 ish
@@patrickh7368 one pedal driving as you rightly point out is doable. It's just not sustainable for a significant part of driving. But even when it's done on say a given trip as long as the break pedal is engaged say three times when the car is in motion that is enough to clear any rust build up on the discs. Remember at every press of the pedal even with a ratio of 90 to 10 all pads are engaged albeit at different intensities.
It's my humble opinion that manufactures say this to simply justify cost cuts.
@@tonnyochieng118 it’s all interesting stuff, I know previous cars with rear discs they look as clean as the front discs, my EV they always look dull and “old” from 2000 miles to now at 28,000 miles, I do have a down hill stretch going to work where I set regen to 0 and “use” brakes to pull up at the bottom but I expect next service recommendation of changing the rear discs will flag up…😊
@@patrickh7368 I bet your pad and disc replacement intervals will definitely be more spread out no doubt. That's the beauty of EVs, maintenance costs are lower. I drive the mg 5 and only engage the harshest regen setting on steep slopes or stops from higher speed runs. For the most part I just leave it in the medium setting. I find the ride is much smoother that as opposed to if I left it in max regen. I've never driven a car with one pedal driving function.
Calls to mind the memories of sitting into a Seat Leon after a VW Golf
Pythagoras would have loved it.
Hello, the drum brakes on the rear are the correct choice for an EV, there are numerous advantages. Do some research to understand the choice.
Good review. Technically then, this is an electric hot hatch, which seems like an odd combination. Throw in drum brakes, a ton of bits straight from the VW parts bin and it's a bit of a mash-up. Seat probably held back on the performance, so real EV-boy-racers can buy the even more powerful version later in the year. Real world range will typically be 10-15% less than WLTP too, which is normal, more still in cold weather. You san see Seat tried really hard on the styling though - EV or not, it's a good looking car.
This is just a Knee Capped version of electric hot hatch. RWD Electric Hot Hatch designed to it's full potential is a Unicorn Perfect Car. But no legacy OEM is going to do that, as it will be a killer overshadowing product. Just a reminder how crazy a fast powerful RWD Electric Hatch would be.
That is about all.It still drives like an ID.3.Do not be fooled by reviewers talking the Cupra up over the ID.3.
“Lovely” AKA Lorraine Chase
Yey for the heads up display. This should be standard by now.
Hardly motoring for the masses!🤣
I already ordered this car. Unfortunately it was not possible to get it WITHOUT the copper, which I don't like! I'd prefer black matte!
al could say it is WOW!!! i love the looks of it. What r u talking about younger ? i am 52 and as stated bfore Il LOVE it.
Because of the batteries, electric cars tend to be heavy. Why not put 16inch rims on, taller side walls lead to more comfortable ride. Common complaint with many electric cars is the hard ride. Also, low profile tyres are more prone to sidewall cuts and damage from potholes.
It would be over 40% sidewall so would wallow and have awful body roll on 16s. 225/55R18s are fractionally taller than the 215/45R20s with more grip and a softer ride. That's how I'd go. Plus it's a more common size so they are cheaper and available in more categories than just LRR.
They're not that low profile. 215/45/20 has slightly less sidewall than the 225/45/17 on my Golf, more sidewall than a GTI on 18" wheels. Sport suspension is good quality and does a good job at soaking up bumps, it's not harsh at all.
Why do reviewers act like the 20" wheels will rattle your fillings out? It's a comfortable car to drive. They'll be slightly less comfortable than the 18" wheels but the sidewall on the 215/45/20 tyres is similar to the sidewall on the 17" Golf/Leon wheels with 225/45/17 and nobody complains about feeling every bump on the road in a Golf. The Born has a larger tyre circumference which will roll over surface imperfections better. In terms of suspension comfort my Golf also has sport suspension but the Born does a nicer job at ironing out the bumps. I've driven cheaper cars (i30, Mokka X) where the suspension would legitimately rattle your fillings out and they were on 16" wheels with the Mokka X having a much larger sidewall. I actually ended up removing DCC from my order as I was surprised by how comfortable the car is.
Kia have a soul!
Very nice
The reason it has drum brakes at the rear, is because the regenerative braking means that the rear axle brakes do virtually no braking. The danger then is that the rear brakes will rust through lack of use, and not function properly, to prevent drum brakes are used, and this has no adverse effect on the braking effectiveness.
That's why I am reading the comments. You wrote what I was going to try to write. Good job.
Exactly so, little used drum brakes do not rust up in the way that little used disc brakes do.
What I don't understand is why there isn't a standard SEAT Born. Basically the same car but without the silly jewellery.
Sorry to sound like a broken record but what we need is a simple small cheap electric car.
The reason we dont have it is there srent enough batteries to build enough cars so they just stick them in expensive cars knowing they will sell anyway.
Electric is a long way off for the masses
I think they're saying about 2025 for the id2 size cars, they'll probably start around £25k ish
As much as rear discs look better than drum brakes, but is there a performance justification on a vehicle with brake regen? One of the selling points of BEV is reduced maintenance for things like brakes as they see much less use.
They claim the drum brakes at the rear will last the lifetime of the car
Well, given the weight of most electric cars braking is a pretty important issue. Brake regeneration doesn't mean shit in an emergency braking situation.
Exactly. The recently launched 2023 Formula-E cars have removed traditional rear brakes altogether, as the regen is doing all the work anyway.
@@tipperarymick5337 in an emergency situation, the rear brakes are adding very little to the equation anyway
@@steveedwards5280 Perhaps, but personal experience with heavy vehicles tends to show different.
Was told this car would be launched a couple of months after ID 3, here we are 2 years later, needless to say I was not gong to wait a further 2 years after their initial statement of it will be available by summer 2020. I am perfectly happy with my EV so after 2 previous Seat’s they lost this customer because they were never honest with the customers in relation to this car. Doesn’t matter how good it is, moral of the story. Be honest with your potential customers.
Range figures don’t add up… 4mpkwh is considered an a good efficient figure. So the 58kwh model equates to 232mls (and the GOM indicated that on the car’s screen - 96% 202mls) and the 77kwh 310mls range. These I think are the maximum real world range in summer, winter you can knock 20% off those figures, not those stated. However most drivers unless they are willing to hyper mile and also stick below 60mph on motorways, will not achieve those figures.
Reviewers need to be more critical on car makers, rather than repeat the figures given to them. But then I suppose they’d risk not getting cars to test?
Oh, and I own an EV which I love by the way. However transparency is needed. But I suppose they did the same with mpg figures too, didn’t they.
But it’s the same with petrol cars, ain’t it? The figures given are the optimal ones, not realistic driving ones.
@@afcgeo882 I had a Renault Clio petrol and it’s advertised MPG were spot on to real driving. I didn’t have to try to remotely drive in ‘test conditions’ to get it the Astra and Golf I had came close but not perfect. Electric cars however are still vastly out as they use height of summer, efficient driving ranges. Nothing near realistic. The E-Golf I have now is based on 4.9/kWh which given the area I live in (fairly hilly) even in summer it’s somewhat a challenge. If you live in a relatively flat city of torn then sure. But outside of that you’re looking at 4.4 at best and 2.7 in a cold winter. And that’s significant range differences…
@@liamchadwick5013 I’ve never owned a petrol car that got even to 10% of the claimed fuel economy. Sorry, much depends on the terrain, load and driving style.
For EVs, the biggest effector is the outside temperature. EVs that have good battery heaters/coolers, and heat pumps tend to get very close to their advertised range. Those that are driven gently, in mild temps do well too. Others do not. It’s still up to the manufacturers to report range and is not independently confirmed by anyone..
Gosh Tish you have been busy !
Think I’d go for the megane E-tech over this
Why is the charging cable under the boot floor? There must be a better place that doesn't mean clearing the shopping bags, the stroller, the box with spare clothes and shoes, and two rain coats. You never mentioned the amount of storage in the front. My car has two glove boxes, a storage box on top of the dash, a small pullout tray for a small camera and large door pockets, plus a tray by the gear lever and a deep center console box with shallow tray under the lid -ideal for pencils and pens, and torches. As a daily driver the amount of clutter expands to fill the space available.
Love the review. However, it's still a VW, so expect poor customer care from a company that has demonstrated no concern whatsoever for their customers or the rest of us, with a poor reliability record. Also, I've always thought of a sporty car as being one that is quick and manoeuvrable . What I got from the video was that it has mediocre acceleration and 20 inch wheels that ensure an uncomfortable ride and little more. It does look nice though!
Also.DRUM BRAKES? My Jorvik electrric trike has discs all round, and it didn't cost £30K+
This will be great when it gets the front motor like in 2023 id3
44,000 euros almost Tesla money
Sorry these people remind me of time share sellers.They sound so convincing take them all with a barrel of solt.The buzz words cheap little overcomplicated and to expensive for many.
Great clip . Just wish I didn't have to mute it and read subtitles. Maybe it's my phone or your Mike. I am sure it's not your voice but sounded terrible.
Needs regenerative breaking controls.
The drum brakes are to assist the regen braking.
@@Wdf-76 Hi Wayne, I’m not a mechanic or an engineer, but I believe that having drums allows the regen to work more efficiently as it is a smoother braking system. 😎
@@Wdf-76 Hi Wayne, you were right and I was wrong, the drum brakes have no impact on the regen, manufacturers fit them due to cost and because of the impact of the regen, the motor going in reverse, causing resistance there’s less work for the rear braking system, sorry😎
Even with all the good points, the small things they've overlooked & the current lack of charging infrastructure would prevent me from buying this vehicle; when the infrastructure is there, to an acceptable level, & they've addressed the little missing things, & maybe increased the range, I might think about it. Also a prohibitive factor would be the frequency & cost of replacing the batteries 🤔
If the government want everybody to switch to ev's then they could help by introducing a subsidised ev leasing scheme, where everything is covered by a leasing arrangement (The hire cost, all repairs & maintenance, courtesy car while your ev is in for repair, etc etc) at an affordable monthly cost, so everybody can afford it, even if you are on benefits, similar to the motobility scheme for disabled people 🤔
How much are they?
It does look good dunnit?
Every car should be more like the Dacia Spring, not expensive shit from VW rotisserie of selling the same car in 15 different brands.
Another super review, thanks
The HMI is still awful though. Definitely prefer the Renault Mégane E-tech electric. This is just a repackaged ID.3.
exterior - 5+, interior - took already produced parts from VW, to reduce cost, and took all VW ID3 mistakes also.. unfortunately.. but exterior, and with that blue with copper.. :)
it would not take much to be an improvement on the ID3
How to make a car look big ? Got a Short Person !
Bigger interior than most cars a class above, more legroom than a CX5 or X3 for example.
Is there even a need to have 340 kms range. I mean when you can charge at home each night why pay extra for range when battery costs are so high
Thing is not all drivers are going to be at home every night and many may not have access to a charger all the time. I have an EV that has same range as this car when at home I don’t need to charge very often but when on my regular long trips this range opens up many options for me. The car has more range than me personally and I like the fact I am not committed to a particular stop, I can choose which stop because of that extra range. That to me is worth the money.
@@brianstevenson9967 You make a good point. Your EV usage is mainstream like your would use your ICE car. So you need stronger battery. But I think 50% city commuters who drive to office just need about 200 kms range. For longer drive you can have ICE second car.
I can buy it if it can tow
But don't forget if you go for a larger battery, the Cupra Born turns into a 4 seater as it needs more room so you lose the centre seat.
Incorrect.
@@iain8837 how is it incorrect when I have one that's a four seater
@@SUNNYJB007 Because you added some options. Base model in large battery has 5 seats, at least in some markets. Add some options and changes to 4 seat due to max weight limit.
Km?
Looks sharp but essentially no different from other EVs.
But very different from ICE. This is a RWD Warm Hatch. Basically never existed before outside of mid range BMW 1 series.
Cost ???????????
A kidney.
1:46 Copper not Bronze - Chemical symbol for Copper is Cu - so CUpra is copper.
I look for a nice interior in my cars and sadly this isn't nice at all, I definitely don't fancy sitting in a recycled plastic interior.
Please go read up on why rear drum brakes make sense for EVs.
The steering wheel is on the wrong side.
It's not "chaved up" it's a sexier id3.
Augumented?
Cupra is vw?
SEAT, part of VW group.
Too bad it fails in the rare. The parts are bin items from the ID factory. The front console is not very user friendly, the range is not what's quoted and the pregnant wheels are pointless.
So you didn't buy one?
Is the colour name really "petrol blue"? If so, that's a strange name to use and to be associated with EVs! 😂😂
Ha Ha... I thought exactly the same...! 🤣
Wasn't it Petrel Blue?
Hey, VW, get your act together and sell this in the states as the ID3! There's literally NO COMPETITION in this market for the hot hatch! Not everyone wants a boring SUV! Here's the stupid thing- I live in TN where the ID3 is assembled yet I cannot purchase or lease one here. C'mon!
So basically, "Should they have done more to raise the price of the Cupra Born?"
Is this a commercial
Interesting you didn't bother to mention that 5-80 percent fast charging takes 35 minutes and a full charge takes over an hour. And like the 7 minutes to 62 miles of range, these times are based on ideal conditions. Considering charging times are the biggest issue with EVs one might expect you to spend a bit more time educating the consumer about the car's real world capabilities.
Having lived with 2 EVs over the last 3 years, in my experience, charging times are not an issue - I plug it in to my wallbox when I put the car in the garage and it's fully topped up again and pre-warmed / cooled in the morning ready for my journey.
About 80% of UK owner's charging is reported to be done overnight - so the odd occasion where you might have to spend 30 mins topping up on a rapid charger really isn't a big deal...? Besides, after the 3 hours' drive which gets you to the point of needing to recharge, a 30 minute comfort break would be welcomed, surely... 👍
@@jonathantaylor1998 In the UK 40-45% cannot charge at home. I know this from a video produced by this channel.
The infotainment and other driver controls are cheap and difficult to use and probably not safe.
Wannit, wannit, wannit!
Not a bad looking car, but you just know it will fall apart being from SEAT. And do not forget VW are average build, Audi near the bottom with Porsche. Only Skoda build a car properly in VAG, but then they dont look as nice for obvious reason.
Does the persistent squeaking which spoils this video come from the car or the reviewer?
Too little for too much money.
Nice review but drum brakes better until they make a ev specific disk brake.
There are plenty of hybrids and EVs with all disk brakes. Actually, you’d be hard-pressed to find ones with drums.
Not bronze, Copper, I.e Cupra
You can go on all you want about design, interior, exterior etc etc, but the elephant in the room which was hardly touched upon (wonder why 🙄 ) is the same awful touch control /infotainment system which all VAG cars are plagued with and which is such a pain in the arse in so many ways, that their current lineup of cars are best avoided.
Rear disc brakes on an EV which uses them at 2% is worthless and costly..
I think that since Cupra is their performance brand, I would have released this car under a SEAT label.
Releasing it under Cupra sets false expectations about its performance.
What people would accept from SEAT, they will reject in a Cupra.
So many distractions from simply paying attention to the road.
The colour looks really dull and makes any styling look equally dull. Cupra BORED for me!
Amazingly bad design, they should have sports seats and twice the power then it's one of best cars on the road. This would not cost any extra to produce.