Cupra Born Review 2026: Timanfaya Grey First Look
Quick facts: From £34,495 · Up to 388 mile range · Up to 326PS · 0 to 62mph in 5.6 seconds · 10 to 80% charge in 26 minutes
There are cars you look at, and there are cars you look twice at. I had one of those moments this week at Cupra Peterborough, standing in front of the newly facelifted Cupra Born in a paint colour that genuinely stopped me in my tracks, Timanfaya Grey.
Named after the volcanic landscape of Lanzarote, it is a fittingly dramatic name for a genuinely dramatic looking car. This is not a grey in the safe fleet spec sense, it is a deep, brooding, almost molten shade that shifts character depending on the light. Pair it with the copper accents Cupra has become known for, and you have a car that looks like it means business before you have even opened the door.
Cupra Born Design: A New Face for Cupra's Original Electric Hero
The Born was Cupra's first fully electric model, and this update brings it in line with the brand's newer siblings, the Tavascan and Raval. Up front, there is a new triangular light signature that is unmistakably Cupra, sharper, more aggressive, more look at me than the outgoing car. Round the back, an illuminated Cupra logo and a redesigned bumper with an integrated diffuser give it a genuine sense of purpose, rather than just an EV trying to look sporty for the sake of it.
It is a car that finally looks as feisty as its badge suggests.
Cupra Born Interior and Tech: A Genuine Leap Forward
Step inside and the transformation continues. The old 5.3 inch driver display is gone, replaced by a much more useful 10.25 inch digital cockpit, sitting alongside a 12.9 inch central infotainment screen framed by Cupra's now signature illuminated light bar. The whole system runs on a new Android powered operating system, and it feels genuinely quicker and more intuitive than the setup it replaces.
The car I looked at today was also fitted with the head up display, and it is the sort of feature that, once you have driven with it, you wonder how you ever lived without. Speed, navigation prompts and driver assist information projected right into your eyeline means far less time glancing down at screens and more time watching the road, which matters just as much for business drivers clocking up motorway miles as it does for weekend blasts.
Cupra has also, finally, brought back proper physical buttons on the steering wheel. It is a small thing, but after a few years of frustrating touch sensitive panels across the industry, it is a genuinely welcome return to common sense.
Elsewhere, there is a new Sennheiser sound system in the VZ model, sustainably sourced interior materials with a distinctive embossed dash finish, and a cabin that feels noticeably more premium than the car it replaces.
Cupra Born Range, Battery and Performance
This is not just a styling refresh either.
Underneath, the facelifted Born gets revised motor and battery options, including a fresh entry level setup and improved efficiency across the range, with Cupra quoting up to 388 miles of range on the longer legged versions. The flagship powertrain produces up to 326PS, enough for 0 to 62mph in 5.6 seconds. Charging is rapid too, with a 10 to 80% top up possible in around 26 minutes on a 183kW DC charger. There is now Vehicle to Load capability too, so you can run external devices, laptops, e bikes, camping kit, straight off the car's battery, and a digital key function so you can lock, unlock and start the car from your phone.
Driving dynamics have not been forgotten either. DCC Sport adaptive dampers, previously reserved for the range topping VZ, are now available more widely, along with revised steering and wider tyres. This is still very much a car built for people who want their EV to have some attitude.
Cupra Born Trims and Pricing
Trim
Price from
Highlights
V1
£34,495
19 inch alloys, keyless entry, heated front seats, 10.25 inch digital cockpit
V2
£36,545
Electrically adjustable memory bucket seats, top view camera, head up display, dark tinted rear windows
VZ
£45,995
20 inch alloys, Matrix LED headlights, CUP bucket seats, Sennheiser AMBEO sound system
The Verdict
The Cupra Born was always the electric hatchback with the most personality in its class. This update sharpens that further, a bolder face, a genuinely upgraded interior, smarter tech, and paintwork like Timanfaya Grey that makes it look every bit as special as it now feels to sit in.
If you are after an EV that does not apologise for wanting to be noticed, it is well worth a look. Pop into Cupra Peterborough and see the Timanfaya Grey car in the metal, pictures really do not do that paint justice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Cupra Born cost in 2026? The facelifted Cupra Born starts from £34,495 for the V1 trim, rising to £45,995 for the range topping VZ.
What is the range of the new Cupra Born? Cupra quotes up to 388 miles of range on the longer legged versions of the updated Born, depending on trim and battery choice.
How fast is the Cupra Born VZ? The flagship powertrain produces up to 326PS and takes 5.6 seconds to reach 62mph from a standstill.
What colour is Timanfaya Grey? Timanfaya Grey is a deep, molten grey shade named after the volcanic landscape of Lanzarote. It shifts character depending on the light and is paired with Cupra's signature copper accents.
