Cupra Born review: boot space, seating & practicality

The Born is about the same size on the road as the brand’s plug-in hybrid Leon hatchback, as well as the Volkswagen Golf, but it boasts a slightly longer wheelbase than either of those cars, plus a flat floor and a bigger-feeling cabin. However, its rear-axle-mounted electric motor does reduce the amount of possible boot space on offer; some rivals are more practical.

Cupra Born interior space, storage & comfort

Cupra's more flamboyant styling means the Born is just over 6cm longer than the Volkswagen ID.3, but with no difference in wheelbase, it's no roomier inside than its sister model. Its roofline is also just over 3cm lower, too, so taller rear-seat passengers may feel slightly more cramped than in the VW – something not helped by the Born's rear seats being set a little higher, as well. Further to this – and worth noting if you regularly carry a full suite of passengers – cars fitted with the biggest 77kWh battery only get two seats in the rear; this is true of the identically-specified ID.3, though.

Up front, both the driver and front-seat passenger enjoy supportive sports bucket seats. A higher centre console means the Cupra doesn’t feel as roomy as the VW, but the trade-off is a more driver-focused feel – which ties in nicely with its sporty appearance.

Boot space

You don’t get a ‘frunk’ or any storage space under the Cupra’s bonnet, but the boot is still the same practical shape as the ID.3’s, offering 385 litres of luggage capacity with the seats up. That’s only slightly more than the MG4 EV (363 litres) and less than either the Renault Megane E-TECH (440 litres) or Kia Niro EV (475 litres) can manage.

On the plus side, the Cupra Born does come with a moveable boot floor, so you can choose to prioritise space, or have a flat load area. Having the floor in its top position leaves room to store the charging cables out of sight, which we found really handy.