Cupra Born 58 kWh e-Boost - B̶o̶r̶n̶ VW Identity (ENG) - Test Drive and Review

[@CraigThomasLive]

I have a V3 and I absolutely love it. I think KZbin reviewers have latched onto the touch buttons as a negative, but in reality they are perfectly fine once you have used them a few times, the app and infotainment do need some work, but again you get used to their behaviours after a short while. The car however, is superb.

[@Jonny-qn4qn]

Regarding availability of the extra power in the eboost model: you mention (11:14) that it can be activated when SoC is >80% however I checked the small print on the Cupra website which says something slightly different: “Availability of maximum power requires a specific high voltage battery temperature of between 23-50ºC and a battery charge level greater than 55% to deliver around 170kW for 58kWh (62kWh Gross) battery, and temperature of between 23-50ºC and a battery charge level greater than 85% to deliver around 170kW for 77kWh (82kWh Gross) Battery. Any deviations from the aforementioned parameters can lead to reduced power output and even to the overboost not being available at all” So not so bad for the 58kWh model, but really restrictive for the 77kWh model. And I agree this is really hidden in the small print by Cupra. Nonetheless, I think this is the best car in its class. Nicer than the ID3, and more practical back seats and boot than the Megane e-tech (though infotainment is better in that car). I haven’t driven the Kia Niro which seems good, except for the slow maximum charge rate; this is a significant drawback for anyone needing to do regular longer journeys. Link to the ‘small print’: www.cupraofficial.com/cars/cupra-range/born

[@extreme8808]

I stand by my claim when it was first presented to the general public - this is the ID.3 you'd actually want. The looks makes it more desirable, it's functionally the same underneath and the few things which are not as good in the Born are not a deal-breaker. Though it is worth noting the failure of the whole "hot hatch" gig which Cupra ran at the initial presentation. Still, I'd rather be seen in one of these than in the featureless, lacking personality and identity ID.3 😅

[@spiroskom8018]

I own a cupra born eboost (58kwh) for 3 months now...here are my thoughts Marek: a) amazing appearance...the style of this car is unique...love it more every day b) infotainment...yes marek you are right...sluggish (but) with very good graphics c) range...agree, around 300 to 350 km d) driving experience...this car is very fast from launch...i believe it achives 0-100 in around 6 sec d) ergonimically it is ideal for a town family car (it is spacious in the back) Overall i think for an ev hot hatch family car for town, serves its purpose satisfactorily!!

[@MarekDrivesENG]

I love that you like your car. It's the phrase "serves its purpose satisfactorily" that doesn't scream "great car". Do you have Polish ancestors? That would explain the cautious optimism :)

[@spiroskom8018]

@@MarekDrivesENG Greeks Marek!! Hope i won' t be dissapointed in the future!!

[@davidmarshall5596]

MAREK your reviews just get better and better 🙂 when you start touching that touch screen all hell breaks loose & i see your blood pressure rises 😅 me thinks you love it really & you just want employment with the VW group working on the entertainment systems 😂🤣excellent review 👌 all the best for this bloody Christmas malarkey 😛

[@archangelhorus]

One of your best videos. Love the reference to the THGTTG! You forgot to say that by the time that the answer (42) came out, they had forgotten the question and the had to build an even bigger computer (confused for a planet by the ape-like creatures that roamed it) to calculate the question! :)

[@MarekDrivesENG]

Still sounds like VW :)

[@andrewfinkelsteintennis1915]

122 Borns and 156 Id3s my 2022 currently advertised on autotrader in the UK. I would say buyers are in a position to strike an aggressive deal.

[@AndrewKNI]

A great review as always. Those A pillars and no buttons would rule out this car for me, if I could afford it. Merry Christmas Marek and Anna. 🎅🎅🎅

[@MarekDrivesENG]

Happy holidays!

[@djpunisha29]

Love it how the video edit FX is following the beat of the song :) looks awsome

[@MarekDrivesENG]

Thanks, I'll pass it on to the editor.

[@SwissOliver]

just thought the same. The edit is great and I love the sound

[@kevinn1158]

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy... nice. Hey Marek, I like the added musical funky transitions. They give your videos more of a polished and unique presence. I agree with you, this car has a really sharp design. It's a shame about the software. Merry Christmas to you and Anna!

[@MarekDrivesENG]

Thanks, and a merry Christmas to you too!

[@laupakhin]

Thanks for the review Marek, and so close to Christmas too! I think I prefer this to the ID3, but in my local market we're only getting the Born anyway so it doesn't matter. Like with all the MEB platform cars the infotainment system is a deal breaker. The e-Boost thing seems useless as well, so thanks for the warning. Unfortunately there's not many competitors in this segment - I can only think of the Megane, the Stellantis products and possibly the Niro and the Kona. I wish the Japanese makers would pull their finger out.

[@MarekDrivesENG]

The bZ4x/Solterra are coming, although their claimed range seems to be very modest.

[@Da_StormtroopeR]

Looking forward to the Urban Rebel, Merry Christmas Marek. 🎄

[@stefanp.9222]

If you can live with the faults inherited from the ID3, then this is the VAG electric car you should go for.

[@devil5741]

Always interesting, informative and... sophisticated 😁 Merry Christmas! Best wishes! 😊

[@MarekDrivesENG]

Merry Christmas!

[@CarViewer]

@Marek Drives in English to activate the stearing wheel heating you can tip with two fingers onto the touch field for the climate conrol below the screen and it will activate the heating. In regards to the e-boost with the 58kwh battery the boost should be available down till 55% and the 75% should only apply to the 77Kwh battery at least in Germany Maybe models for other markets have different specs when it comes to eboost?

[@MarekDrivesENG]

I found information saying 80% in both markets, but maybe there was a software update, which allows lower SoC. Still, there's the temperature to factor in. Also, I was driving the Skoda Enyaq RS the other day, and over there SoC has to be above 88% to get full power 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@TEVAssociation]

As usual we re happy to share your ev review ..too bad iD3 not imported here ..maybe still a chance for a future hot R version ? Fingers crossed !

[@MarekDrivesENG]

I hope you get the next gen if/when it arrives. This is is really a a first gen car, and it shows.

[@andersemanuel]

I fully agree on this one. I also think it's close to fraud having so many restrictions on the e-boost.

[@SwissOliver]

Nice review, thx Marek. Also your english is quite good 🙂 Which SW Version was installed in this Cupra Born? Do you remember?

[@MarekDrivesENG]

I don't recall, but the moment I picked it up from the press office the car downloaded and installed some minor update. That was in early December.

[@djpunisha29]

Editing of the video is next level, good job :)

[@papavictorromeo5079]

Looking forward to your review of the Cupra competitor: MG4

[@MarekDrivesENG]

We don't get MG in this part of Europe unfortunately.

[@kresimirkalman6113]

Great review!

[@ianstewart2723]

I love the styling of the car, I think VW should take some of the styling to the golf which is looking quite bland these day.

[@ronpower7790]

Giving that the Infotainment works like the makers planned, it's still shitty compared to where VW was in terms of usability in older cars.

[@kanenaskanenopoulos4314]

Great production on this video, really liked the morphing effect at 2:15. Still wishing VW made an electric car as close to the good old Golf as possible. I mean I'd gladly take RWD, but cheap materials and the infotainment/capacitive buttons situation is unacceptable.

[@MarekDrivesENG]

I understand why they wanted a dedicated EV platform, but as fas as I'm concerned the Mk7 eGolf had a lot of potential, and with a denser battery pack it would still be a better EV, than any of their ID models today.

[@artokiiskinen1058]

nice review! thank you

[@MarekDrivesENG]

Thanks for watching!

[@glohora]

Hello! Do you know if the new Cupra Boost has overcome the problems you mentioned? Thank you for your review!

[@MarekDrivesENG]

Not that I know of. It's not a bug, it's a feature :)

[@StephenButlerOne]

The majority of the bugs with the software have been worked out with the facelift 2025 year model that started production in may of 2024. It also comes with a larger 12.9" screen, much faster processors, so there is no log, back lit Aircon strip, bigger battery (just), drive select is now on a stalk instead of the dash, plus probably a couple of things I can't remember. a lot of reviewers have been clocking this at around 5.8s. Basically all the Borns get the same updates that the new 330bhp Born VZ gets. Hope this helps

[@DaveDVideoMaker]

I hope MG will come to your country very soon, and sell the MG4 there.

[@davidpickard9393]

Who would have thought that VW group would mislead and let down customers (AGAIN)

[@MarekDrivesENG]

This time it's in fine print.

[@bokichko]

this, ID3 or Megane EV? I'm leaning towards the Renault what other EV is in the price range that might be competitive?

[@MarekDrivesENG]

I cannot recommend any VW product with their current infotainment.

[@clipsonplextorfield3230]

@@MarekDrivesENG so no Cupra and no skoda?

[@medi768]

Marek, isn't there any Hydrogen car in Europe to test?

[@MarekDrivesENG]

There's the Toyota Mirai, but there are ver few (if any) publicly available hydrogen filling stations. Last I remember they had to fill it in Berlin. Using a diesel truck to shuttle it back and forth between test drives :)

[@AHarker100]

I've looked at a few but felt let down by the interior, maybe I'm just getting old (>42).

[@MarekDrivesENG]

Still younger than me then :)

[@AHarker100]

@Marek Drives in English I'm 59. Loving my CX-60...including all of its quirks. Definitely going for all electric next time. Hopefully Mazda will have a better selection by then.

[@MarekDrivesENG]

OK, you win.

[@omarf2406]

I like your reviews. However, if you're going to do reviews in English, then at least set the language of the infotainment system to English as well.

[@nathanwolf5547]

It’s certainly not worth the extra over the MG 4

[@DaveDVideoMaker]

I agree, but sadly, MG doesn’t sell vehicles in Poland at the moment, so they don’t get the MG4 there.

[@AliHijazi]

Electric cars are really boring, and problematic, what if this car has an internal combustion engine with sequential gearbox and AWD Can you hear the exhaust?

[@djpunisha29]

lovely drift @ 0:13 :)

[@enricio]

At 11.00 min. I thought: you explain so nicely how complex VW Group indicates how abilities work, or don't work. Could one say it's a form of arrogance to the costumer to be vague? 🤔. I'm Dutch, nothing much. 🥺🥱