New Cupra Born vs Volkswagen ID.3
The new Cupra Born has a lot going for it, being closely related to the five-star Volkswagen ID 3. But which is the better electric car?...
The contenders
New Cupra Born 58kWh V2
List price £34,190*
Target price £34,190*
A slightly sportier take on the Volkswagen ID 3, with much the same range and performance but some notable differences inside
Volkswagen ID 3 Pro Performance Family
List price £34,995*
Target price £34,480*
Our reigning Small Electric Car of the Year has a wide range of talents, including a better-than average range, and offers plenty of choice for buyers
*not including £2,500 gov't grant
Cain and Abel. The Boleyn sisters. Liam and Noel Gallagher. There have been countless cases of sibling rivalry over the years, and this conflict is just as likely to be found in the automotive world as anywhere else – especially where the VW Group is concerned.
The latest case in point is the challenge being posed to the VW ID 3 by the closely related Cupra Born. It shares its underpinnings with the ID 3, but Cupra has had time to work on ways of distinguishing its first electric car from its stablemate and, you’d hope, iron out some of the wrinkles that exist in the ID 3.
Our two contenders still look as though they hatched from the same egg, but the Born promises to be the sportier alternative, not only in appearance but also to drive. They use the same 201bhp electric motor and 58kWh (usable capacity) battery and are very close on price in the mid-range trims we’ve got here.
So, is the ID 3 still the best small electric car you can buy, or has Cupra managed to improve on an already very well-rounded package?
Driving
Performance, ride, handling, refinement
Given that they have identical power outputs, it’s hardly surprising that our contenders are very closely matched when it comes to acceleration, with the Born sprinting from 0-60mph in 6.9sec and the slightly heavier ID 3 just a tenth of a second behind. Both have more than enough performance for a practical family hatch, responding smoothly and strongly to prods of the accelerator pedal at lower speeds and having plenty in reserve for overtaking or getting up to motorway speeds.
If that isn’t quick enough, you can get a more powerful (228bhp) e-Boost version of the Born that cuts the 0-62mph time by 0.7sec. For now at least, there isn’t a hotter version of the ID 3.
No vibrations are felt through the steering wheel, seat or pedals in either car, adding to the sense of serenity that you’ll experience in most situations as you drive along. There isn’t much noise to contend with, either, although the Born is quieter at motorway speeds.
You’ll hear a little more wind noise around the windscreen in the ID 3, accompanied by marginally more road noise, even though it rides on 18in wheels, compared with the optional 20s on our Born test car (19s are standard). We suspect the standard panoramic glass roof doesn’t help matters in the ID 3, either, turning the interior into more of an echo chamber.
On the other hand, you’re more likely to hear the Born’s firmer suspension thumping away as it tackles bumpy roads. Something else you might notice in either car at lower speeds is the sound of the optional heat pump, which hums away like a motor if you’re trying to warm up the interior of the car on cold days.
When it comes to handling, both of our contenders are good enough for most. Neither is the last word in fun, but the ID 3 offers plenty of grip and composure, without too much lean in corners. The Born makes more of a concerted effort to entertain the driver with even more grip, tighter body control and precise steering. While it’s hardly a transformation from the ID 3’s set-up, the sharper responses and added composure will no doubt appeal more to keen drivers. But an electric hot hatch it is not.
Thankfully, the Born manages to show its fun side on country roads without compromising on everyday comfort too much. If anything, its firmer suspension makes it feel more controlled at higher speeds than the ID 3, which doesn’t settle as quickly over larger bumps. However, the ID 3’s more forgiving low-speed ride and lighter pedals make it the more relaxing option, especially for those who spend more of their time in towns and cities.
Naturally, you won’t be feeling very relaxed if you have to worry about range. You have a choice of three battery sizes with the Born and ID 3, ranging from 45kWh to 77kWh. Even the smallest one can officially cover more than 200 miles on a full charge, but if you frequently do longer journeys, the 77kWh option, with its official 340-mile range, will be the better bet. Both of our 58kWh test cars promise to cover around 260 miles between charges, but it was the Born that took the lead with an estimated 191-mile real-world range, based on its energy consumption on our test route, with the ID 3 slightly behind, on 185 miles.
Behind the wheel
Driving position, visibility, build quality
The seats in both of these cars perch you a little higher than those in a Seat Leon or Volkswagen Golf. Add in the fact that their windscreens are huge and a long way ahead of you and you feel a bit like you’re sitting in an MPV. This won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it’s great for visibility. Your awareness of your surroundings is further aided by front and rear parking sensors on both cars, as well as rear-view cameras.
Both cars offer comfortable driving positions, with plenty of adjustment for the seats and steering wheels, although we’d prefer a little more side bolstering on the Volkswagen ID 3’s cushions for better support. The Cupra Born’s sports seats are slightly more generous in this area and hold you in place a little better without pinching your waist, but sadly you have to pay more to get adjustable lumbar support in the Born (as part of a pack that includes a massage function for those in the front), or move to a higher trim in the ID 3.
With just two main screens and a notable absence of buttons on the dash, you might think these interiors would be easy to get to grips with, but in reality they can be equally frustrating to use.
The 5.3in digital instrument panels are small and offer only a limited amount of information. Because both cars rely heavily on the central touchscreen to control most functions (including media settings and driving modes), even minor adjustments can prove tricky and distracting. And the touch-sensitive sliders for adjusting the air temperature and sound system’s volume aren’t backlit, so you’ll fumble around at night trying to locate them. You can use voice commands or the steering wheel controls instead, although these aren’t all that user-friendly either.
The ID 3 is trimmed in a mixture of light and dark grey tones that help to brighten up the interior, and there are some soft-touch materials on the dashboard and doors, but the hard plastics used elsewhere look and feel cheap. The Born’s more monotone interior may be darker, but the flashes of silver and bronze trim add welcome contrast, and the use of suede-like material on the seats and doors helps the Born feel more premium overall.
Infotainment
Cupra Born
One area in which the Born is more advanced than the ID 3 is its infotainment system, although that isn’t saying much. Its touchscreen is larger (12.0in), with more substantial icons that are easier to hit when you’re driving. But while its menus are less confusing than the ID 3’s, they’re still far from easy to navigate, and in our test its screen seemed slightly slower to respond to inputs. As in the ID.3, phone mirroring for Android and Apple devices is standard.
Volkswagen ID 3
All ID 3s come with a 10.0in touchscreen. Its small, poorly labelled icons are difficult to identify at a glance and minor functions are buried in sub-menus. The ID 3 scores back some points by having a separate row of touch-sensitive shortcut keys below the screen for quick access to the certain menus (such as the climate control and driver aids), but they don’t always respond well to inputs. The system is still full of bugs and frustratingly prone to crashing, too.
Space and practicality
Front space, rear space, seating flexibility, boot
There won’t be any complaints about leg or head room in either car, with both being spacious enough even for tall occupants in the rear as well as the front seats. However, the Volkswagen ID 3’s rear seat base is better sculpted and feels more supportive, while the added bonus of a centre armrest means it’s more comfortable over long distances.
The high-backed front sports seats in the Cupra Born also mean those sitting in the rear have a slightly more obscured view ahead, so it can feel a little claustrophobic. Both cars have USB-C ports front and rear to keep electronic devices going.
With a raised console between the seats, the Born has the edge when it comes to storage space, benefiting from a deep bin with a large, padded lid that doubles as an armrest. The ID 3 has height-adjustable, seat-mounted armrests for the driver and front passenger and low-set cubbies between the seats; these aren’t as capacious as the Born’s but still very useful.
Boot space is generous in both cars; you’ll fit more luggage into them than you would in a Hyundai Kona Electric or Vauxhall Mokka-e. Their load areas are practical in shape, although there are subtle differences in their floors (under which there’s space for charging cables) that allow the Born to hold one more carry-on suitcase than the ID 3 (six versus five).
Boot space
Cupra Born
Boot 385 litres suitcases 6
Volkswagen ID 3
Boot 385-1267 litres suitcases 5
Buying and owning
Costs, equipment, reliability, safety and security
With list prices of less than £35,000, both of our contenders qualify for the Government’s £2500 grant for zero-emissions cars, and you can expect to get a small discount on the Volkswagen ID 3 if you buy through our online New Car Buying service, helping to close the gap on the slightly cheaper Cupra Born for private cash buyers.
Bills for running them should be very similar, with the Born expected to work out a couple of hundred quid cheaper over three years, due to its slightly lower predicted depreciation and electricity costs.
PCP finance figures weren’t available for the Born at the time of writing, but ID 3 buyers face monthly payments of £444 on a three-year deal, assuming a £3000 deposit and a limit of 10,000 miles per year. Both cars will cost a pittance for drivers paying company car tax.
The ID 3 doesn’t even come with alloy wheels as standard, but it does have two-zone climate control and a panoramic glass roof in Family trim. The Born comes with an augmented reality head-up display that actively tracks and highlights other vehicles and displays annotated sat-nav instructions on the windscreen, directly in your line of sight.
Our contenders are too new to have appeared in the most recent What Car? Reliability Survey, but Seat (from which Cupra is derived) ranked 17th out of 30 brands and Volkswagen was down in 20th.
The Born is yet to be tested for safety by Euro NCAP, but we expect it to perform similarly to the ID 3, which achieved a five-star rating. Safety features such as lane-keeping assistance and a driver alert system are standard on both.
These cars can be charged at a rate of up to 120kW, taking just over half an hour to get from 10-80% via a suitable CCS rapid charger. Plug into a 7kW wallbox at home and a 0-100% charge takes at least nine hours.
Our verdict
If you’re looking for an electric family hatchback, the Born and ID 3 both offer plenty of space, performance, comfort and battery range. Given how similar they are, choosing a winner is a case of splitting hairs, with the Born just edging ahead by a whisker.
How? Well, it’s all down to detail. The interior looks and feels a touch more special, while being slightly more user-friendly for the driver. In addition, the Born is a little more polished to drive. Make no mistake: choosing the ID 3 isn’t going to be a decision you’ll regret. The Born simply feels like it has arrived fashionably late to the party, having spent more time perfecting its ensemble.
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1st – Cupra Born
For More fun to drive; quieter at speed; classier inside; better infotainment; just as spacious and practical as the ID 3
Against Firmer low-speed ride; more suspension noise over bumps
Recommended options Heat pump (£925)
What Car? rating 5 stars out of 5
Read our full Cupra Born review >>
Find Cupra Born deals >>
2nd – Volkswagen ID 3
For Fine ride/handling balance; better rear seat comfort for long journeys; brighter interior ambience
Against Feels cheap in places inside; poor infotainment; controls are tricky to use
Recommended options Heat pump (£1020)
What Car? rating 4 stars out of 5
Read our full Volkswagen ID 3 review >>
Find Volkswagen ID 3 deals >>
Specifications: Cupra Born 58kWh V2
Engine Electric motor
Peak power 201bhp
Peak torque 229Ib ft
Gearbox 1-spd automatic
0-60mph 6.9sec
30-70mph 6.3sec
Top speed 99mph
30-0mph 8.9m
70-0mph 49.4m
Noise at 30mph 60.4db
Noise at 70mph 66.0db
Kerb weight 1738kg
Tyre size (std) 215/50 R19
Estimated range 191 miles
Official range 263 miles
Efficiency 3.3 mile/kWh
Battery capacity (usable) 58kWh
Rapid charging type CCS
Maximum charging rate 120kW
7kW home wallbox (0-100% charging time) 9hr 15min
Rapid charging, peak rate (10-80% charging time) 37min
CO2 emissions 0g/km
Specifications: Volkswagen ID 3 Pro Performance Family
Engine Electric motor
Peak power 201bhp
Peak torque 229Ib ft
Gearbox 1-spd automatic
0-60mph 7.0sec
30-70mph 6.4sec
Top speed 99mph
30-0mph 9.1m
70-0mph 47.0m
Noise at 30mph 61.4db
Noise at 70mph 67.2db
Kerb weight 1805kg
Tyre size (std) 215/55 R18
Estimated range 185 miles
Official range 260 miles
Efficiency 3.2 mile/kWh
Battery capacity (usable) 58kWh
Rapid charging type CCS
Maximum charging rate 120kW
7kW home wallbox (0-100% charging time) 9hr 15min
Rapid charging, peak rate (10-80% charging time) 37min
CO2 emissions 0g/km
Test weather conditions Dry and cold
Cars pictured
Cupra Born 58kWh in Spanish spec with Vapor Grey paint
Volkswagen ID 3 Pro Performance Family with Stonewashed Blue metallic paint (£645) and 18in alloy wheels (£650)
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