- The updated EV has four window switches and real buttons on the steering wheel.
- The Cupra Born facelift gets a high-performance VZ version from day one.
- It is based on the Volkswagen ID.3, which will also get a facelift soon.
SEAT Volkswagen Group spun off Cupra into a separate brand in 2018, but its sales have already outpaced those of its parent company by a significant margin. In 2025, Cupra sales rise 32.5 percent year-on-year to a record 328,800 units. The new brand completed 71,400 vehicles ahead of the historic Martorell-based automaker. For 2026, the Cupra Born hatchback receives a mid-cycle facelift.
Essentially a Volkswagen ID.3 with a different design, the electric supermini gets a new look at the headlights and taillights, now featuring triangular elements. Cupra also revised the bumper to give the Born a more aggressive appearance. Shown here is the range-topping VZ, immediately available in the Spanish version of the ID.3 GTX.
The interior remains largely the same but includes some important changes. Thankfully, the capacitive touch controls on the steering wheel are gone, replaced by traditional buttons. Elsewhere, there are now four window switches instead of just two; a big mistake from the Volkswagen Group after previously taking cost-cutting measures too far.
Photo by: Cupra
While these changes are universally appreciated, the cabin is far from perfect. The Born 2026 retains the touch-sensitive slider-style climate controls found on many Volkswagen Group products. The 12.9-inch touchscreen now runs Android and is paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a welcome improvement over the previous 5.3-inch driver display.
We’re told the cabin feels classier thanks to upgraded materials on the door cards and illuminated handles for all four doors. The Cupra now offers a 10-speaker Sennheiser sound system, updated rear air vents and a new head-up display with augmented reality technology.
In terms of hardware, the range-topping VZ has 322 horsepower and a 79 kWh battery, providing a range of about 373 miles (600 kilometers). The lower-powered Endurance model makes 228 hp but still uses the same battery for the same range. The entry-level Plus trim with 188 hp uses a smaller, 58 kWh battery, capable of a range of about 280 miles (450 km) on a single charge.
Photo by: Cupra
One-pedal driving debuts on the Born, and upgrading the Endurance or VZ also adds a launch control function. The updated 19-inch and 20-inch alloy wheels now come with 235 mm cross-section tires instead of the previous 215 mm, for better grip. Available from launch, the VZ is the fastest in the lineup, producing an instant 402 lb-ft (545 Nm) of torque for 0-62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration in 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 124 mph (200 km/h).
The German-made Born will be produced at the Volkswagen Group plant in Zwickau from the second quarter of 2026, with deliveries starting this summer. Cupra planned to enter the United States in 2030, but “evolving market dynamics” have pushed the brand’s U.S. debut to the end of the next decade.
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Source: Cupra
Motorcycle Pickup1: The Volkswagen Group seems to be keeping its promise to bring back the old-fashioned buttons. Having a separate climate control would be even better, although engineering it for a facelifted model would probably be too expensive. With reports of major cost cuts, the counters may not want VW to invest heavily in what is essentially a mid-cycle update rather than a next-generation car.
Nevertheless, it gives us hope that the German automotive conglomerate has heard the criticism regarding excessive interior trimming in a bid to save every euro cent. The upcoming Volkswagen ID. The Polo will feature a row of physical buttons on the center console, and the ID.3 facelift should reflect the changes introduced on the 2026 Cupra Born.
Nature is healing.
