Cupra Born 2025 review – interior and tech

The Born uses the Volkswagen MEB platform but while good work has been done to optimise the looks on the outside, it’s not been quite so successful cultivating distinction inside. Certainly not to the same extent as it has been with its most recent MEB-based EV, the Tavascan. Nevertheless, it’s spacious and put together reasonably well.

Poke around and some of the plastics feel a touch low rent, but the overall ambience is lifted by a smattering of copper trim accents and recycled fabric upholstery, even if the deep dashboard and front quarter windows have a whiff of MPV about them. The MPV vibe is especially juxtaposed in the Born VZ when equipped with the really quite sporty carbon-backed bucket seats. 

The tall body shape gives the cabin a spacious, airy feel, and rear passengers aren’t shortchanged on head or leg room. Oddly, larger battery Borns – anything over the 59kWh car – get a different rear bench with no middle seatbelt, making it a strict four seater. It doesn’t have the space-age, unconventional feel of a Tesla inside, but some will prefer the Born’s more familiar cabin architecture.

What about the tech? A VW MEB bugbear, it must be conceded that between software updates and the improved infotainment screen, it’s far more user friendly and smooth to operate than the first ID.3s. However, the climate controls are still held hostage within the infotainment screen, and the lack of dedicated rear electric window switches is still stupid.