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Is the refreshed 2026 Cupra Born VZ more fun than before?

CarGurus UK

19,092 views

The Cupra Born has always been a really good EV, if not quite the hot hatch some had hoped for. Has a midlife update made it any better in that regard? In this CarGurus UK video, Sam Sheehan gets behind the wheel of the flagship VZ model to find out.

In this video we cover:
What's new on the facelifted Cupra Born?
How practical is it for everyday use?
What is it like to drive?
How much does it cost to buy and run?
Should you buy a Cupra Born VZ?

Search for a Cupra Born on CarGurus: https://www.cargurus.co.uk/Cars/l-Use...
Read our full Cupra Born review: https://www.cargurus.co.uk/research/C...

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00:04 Introduction
00:50 Styling
03:32 Interior
05:11 Rear seats
06:33 Boot space
07:30 Driving
13:23 Verdict

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#CarGurusUK #CupraBorn #CupraBornVZ #ElectricCar #EV #HotHatch #CarReview

20 Comments

@roberttaylor3652 2 months ago

Enjoyable video the gent mentioned lots interesting things that people will wonder about a EV especially that it is rear wheel drive for better handling and enjoyment

@KevvyP83 5 months ago

Great review. 😊

@angellv1527 1 month ago

La mejor review del nuevo Born. Gracias

@sevensixtysteve 5 months ago

Great review Sam, loved it and the car is cool. Only thing I don’t like is the house style central screen, but very interesting to see they have thrown in the towel and gone with android. Something they should have done from the start - what a world of pain that would have avoided !

@alexhaddock4554 4 months ago

You don’t lose any regen in low regen mode, you are just doing it through the brake pedal rather than it automatically applying it to various degrees depending on level selected. On my third EV (4th if inclue the wife’s Born) and most of the time have them in the lowest available regen mode. Just personal preference of course.

@urbanstrencan 5 months ago

VW Group finally fixed the mistakes they made on first gen iD3 and this sporty version Cupra Born.
I definitely peferd the Cupra to the id3 in the original version and now it's even better. Interior is just finally to the level it should be⚡⚡👏👏
Actually can't wait to try it and see if the VZ is fun electric hothatch.

@jenny80myles 4 months ago

If you ask Cupra, they will say the badge and other highlights are in copper, not bronze. :)

@aleszverca 1 month ago

Forgot to mention the sounds

@ah93_photography 4 months ago

Can you tell me if the front and rear indicators are like the current Tavascan? You don’t see the blinkers once on any current Cupra Born video 🫣

@leem5894 4 months ago

You're wrong about the Megane e-tech, it's actaully a smaller car but has a bigger boot

@patrickcomer4748 4 months ago

Great car I’d love it but the price is a bit beyond me..

@demon23ro 5 months ago

i own one for a little over 3 years now, the 58kwh battery, and i can tell you this. The car is in service now for 2 months, on its FOURTH battery module replacement under warranty. It also had 2 AC compressors replaced, a brand new steering rack put in under warranty, puddle lights were replaced as well, the SOS module was replaced, 12v Battery as well, and some more minor stuff that i don't even recall right now. If that's an experience you want to enjoy as well , get a Cupra. They will not disappoint you. 6+ months so far out of the three years were spent in service units, and i am pretty sure i won't get it for at least one more month this time after my last conversation with my service unit. Jump on board guys. They are GREAT !!!

@ViewBothSides 5 months ago

Spoiler: using numbers on the dash in this video, real range is 435km / 270 miles on a full charge.(3:43). Electric car reviewers are totally incapable of quoting any realistic range for the car, strange no? I just filled up my diesel GLA at 500 miles, and it was showing 93 miles remaining. So 593 miles. Simple.

@markdean-h9f 5 months ago

Do not like Cupra cars, but this guy can really drive !!

@MdMahadiHasan-e9w 5 months ago

Brother, your videos are really good 🔥
But I think your thumbnails could be more attractive and professional. A better thumbnail can help increase clicks and views a lot 😊

@Middlestepofficial 4 months ago

I don't agree with the statement that the rear diffuser is just for visuals. On the 2026 Cupra Born it is mainly there to clean up airflow leaving the underside of the car, reduce turbulence behind the rear bumper, and give the car a more planted, sporty look. Cupra says the new rear bumper has a built-in diffuser that “boosts aerodynamics and sportiness".

Air under the car moves faster and more messily than air around the body. At the rear, that underbody air has to rejoin the slower air behind the car. If it exits abruptly, it separates into a turbulent wake, which increases drag. A diffuser is an upward-sloping channel at the rear that lets the underbody airflow expand and slow down more gradually, improving pressure recovery and reducing turbulence. In performance cars, this can also create useful low pressure under the car, adding rear downforce.

@byrgesen6633 4 months ago

Music video 😢

@MogwaiX 4 months ago (edited)

I like the stuff inside. However, this car is now a bit slower 0-100 than the previous model was. Also, front isn't as good looking.

Suprised. Also, I don't know wtf this reviewer is talking about: Taking regen away changes nothing on the brake feel. I think this has more to do with dude just driving a Tesla since 18.

@WestonMike 5 months ago

Why do the designers build "aggression" into their work? Why not some friendly features? If they did it may reduce idiot road rage and everyone would be happier with lowered insurance premiums.

@cap_scarlet8152 5 months ago

As an existing VZ owner, the update is fairly underwhelming. Basically a new front end, a logo that lights up on the back and a new screen. It looks like the majority of the other panels are the same and the battery is the same. But tell me this, why do the journalists never test these cars against their petrol counterparts? Surely that’s the logical thing to do? Or is it embargoed by the manufacturers?