Used Cupra Born 2022-present reliability
Category: Electric car
The Cupra Born borrows the VW ID 3's best bits and adds a slightly more upmarket interior and better handling.
What should I look for in a used Cupra Born hatchback?
Remember to do the usual visual checks of things like the wheels and tyres, as well as take it for a test drive if you can. Make sure to check the car's electrics too, with no lag with the infotainment screen.
When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.
What are the most common problems with a used Cupra Born hatchback?
As of writing, the Born is yet to be involved in any major recalls.
Click here for more information. Contact your local Cupra dealer if you believe your vehicle is involved in a recall.
Is a used Cupra Born hatchback reliable?
The Born seems to be a reliable car. In our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, the Born finished in 10th place out of 20 cars in the electric car class. Its reliability score of 92.5% puts it above the ID 3 and Tesla Model 3 but below the Mini Electric and Nissan Leaf.
Electrical glitches were the most common complaint of Cupra Born owners, who told us 18% of their cars had a fault. The problem areas were the air-con, non-engine electrics and sat-nav/infotainment system. All cars remained drivable, and four out of five were fixed in less than a week, with Cupra stumping up for all associated bills.
As a car brand, Cupra finished 13th out of 30 manufacturers with a score of 93.4%. That placed it above rivals including Audi, Hyundai, Skoda and Volkswagen, but below the likes of BMW, Honda, Kia and Tesla.
Used Cupra Born reliability: the owners' view
Owners we've heard from have praised the general, mechanical reliability of the Cupra Born, but the model hasn't proven without fault. The infotainment system has been the main cause of frustration, being laggy and glitchy in some cases, as well as poorly laid out.
The Born is viewed by owners as a fundamentally sound electric vehicle, but its reliability is undermined by pervasive software issues. The main source of frustration for owners is the infotainment system, which is described as buggy, slow, and prone to freezing, crashing, or unexpected reboots. Similar glitches affect the My Cupra app and other electronic driver aids, such as the front collision warning.
While the core electric components, motor, and battery are generally reliable, owners have reported some recurring hardware faults, including the "common" failure of the High Voltage (HV) Heating Matrix (for A/C and heating), and problems with the 12V battery draining.
Feedback on dealer service is limited, but generally positive for the quick rectification of initial faults under warranty, particularly the HV Heating Matrix issue. However, readers note the complexity of getting the car's initial app connection to work and the dependency on dealer-installed software updates to resolve the persistent digital problems.
