Image Credit: Cupra.
Yes, it is true - I've been spotted shouting at random dashboards like a madman in a hailstorm far too many times. Why would I do that? Because some genius decided that physical buttons were "old-school" and replaced them with touch-sensitive nonsense that works only when it wants to - which is almost never. I've got a wee bit of sunshine for you. The updated Cupra Born has arrived, and it actually has buttons you can press with your actual fingers.
Our Spanish friends at Cupra have given their electric hatchback a proper makeover. It's always been the cooler, more rebellious cousin to the Volkswagen ID.3 - the one that wears leather jackets and stays out past its bedtime. Now, it looks even sharper. The front end has been reshaped into a predatory shark-nose. It's got new triangular Matrix LED headlights that look like they're squinting at you, wondering if you've actually got the guts to floor it.
Image Credit: Cupra.
Around the back, they've added a full-width light bar with an illuminated Cupra logo. It's a bit flashy (neon belt at a funeral comes to mind), but it works. They've also slapped on new 19 and 20-inch wheels wrapped in beefier tires. These 9.25-inch wide slabs of rubber are there to improve grip, which is grand news for the handling. The ride was already a bit firm but the extra cornering confidence is a fair trade-off in my book.
Inside is where the real magic happens. Gone are those infuriating sliders on the steering wheel that changed the radio station every time you turned a corner. We now have real, honest-to-goodness buttons. Sadly, the temperature controls are still those fiddly touch-sliders on the 12.9-inch screen. Why? Cupra fixed the front door but left the windows made of wet cardboard here. You can't win them all...
Image Credit: Cupra.
The driver's display went from 5.3 inches to a much more usable 10.25 inches - you can actually see your speed now without squinting. The cabin materials also got an upgrade - Spaniards are using recycled "marine plastics" now. You can feel better about the polar bears while sitting on soft-touch surfaces that no longer resemble a cheap lunch tray. Cupra even added air vents for the back-seat passengers - a luxury that Born previously went without.
Let's talk electric bits. The base model, the Born Plus, gets a 58 kWh battery. Curiously, the power is down slightly to 187 horses, but don't start crying just yet. The range has actually improved, jumping from 264 miles to a tiny bit more usable 280 miles. It's a sensible trade. It also gains a one-pedal driving mode - perfect for those of us who find using two feet far too much hard work.
Image Credit: Cupra.
If you're feeling a bit more adventurous, the Endurance model has a hefty 79 kWh battery. This gives you 372 miles of range - up from 366. It packs 228 horsepower and charges faster at 185 kW. But the real star of the show is the VZ hot hatch. That beast pumps out 322 horsepower while keeping that 372-mile range. It's the one I'd pick because having more power than your neighbors is the whole point of living, right?
The new Cupra Born will be hitting dealerships in Europe this summer. It's a cracking little car that's finally learned how to behave like a proper vehicle inside. But it shouldn't get too comfortable in the limelight. Its smaller brother, the Raval, is set to launch later this year. For now, though, the Born is back - better. And it finally lets you press a button without losing your mind.
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