Cupra has also overhauled the chassis to give the Born VZ a further edge, adding new dampers and springs at the rear and adapting the front suspension for improved handling and body control.
Cupra says the steering has also been made more sporty, and the brakes are stiffer too.
The changes to the chassis are successful, and the VZ handles with a sporty directness and great stability. It’s a very rewarding car to drive at speed and inspires confidence to a degree not offered by the more powerful 4 XPower.
The chassis is good. There’s a lot of grip at the front and the car’s front-end inspires a lot of confidence to really attack corners, while the rear remains stable.
Plus, while the changes affect the Born’s ride, it’s not overly firm. It handles divots and creases of UK roads well and remains composed while doing so.
This is good news, as the VZ’s larger battery means it weighs almost 200kg more than the entry-level Born. It’s nearly as comfortable to live with day-to-day as that car, too.
While you can certainly feel the increase in weight, it’s managed well by excellent grip levels and that additional performance, and thankfully it does little to affect the Born’s agility.
The steering has been given a new map to “translate faster to the driver what the front wheels are doing” as “another big focus of development”, our presenter said.
It reminded us of a Volkswagen Golf GTI: rewarding and composed without being razor-sharp. That comparison extends to the steering, too, which is communicative enough while remaining light.
