Facelift Brings Fresh Look And More Buttons

The Volkswagen Group’s SEAT spun off Cupra into a separate brand in 2018, yet it’s already outselling its parent company by a significant margin. In 2025, Cupra sales rose 32.5 percent year-over-year to a record 328,800 units. The new brand finished 71,400 vehicles ahead of the historic Martorell-based automaker. For 2026, the rear-wheel-drive Born hatchback receives a mid-cycle facelift.

Essentially a Volkswagen ID.3 with a different design, the electric supermini gets a new look for the headlights and taillights, now featuring triangular elements. Cupra also revised the bumpers to give the Born a more aggressive appearance. Featured here is the range-topping VZ, available right away as a Spanish take on the ID.3 GTX.

The interior largely carries over but includes some notable changes. The touch-capacitive controls on the steering wheel are thankfully gone, making way for traditional buttons. Elsewhere, there are now four window switches instead of just two; a mea culpa from the Volkswagen Group after previously taking cost-cutting measures too far.

While these changes should be universally appreciated, the cabin is still far from perfect. The 2026 Born retains the touch-sensitive slider-style climate controls found in too many Volkswagen Group products. The 12.9-inch touchscreen now runs on Android and is paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a welcome upgrade over the previous 5.3-inch driver’s display.

We’re told the cabin feels more upmarket thanks to improved materials on the door cards and illuminated handles for all four doors. Cupra now offers a 10-speaker Sennheiser sound system, updated rear air vents, and its latest head-up display with augmented reality technology.

In terms of hardware, the range-topping VZ packs 322 horsepower and a 79-kWh battery, good for an estimated 373 miles (600 kilometers) of range. The lesser-powered Endurance model produces 228 hp but keeps the same battery for an identical range. An entry-level Plus trim with 188 hp uses a smaller 58-kWh battery, delivering about 280 miles (450 km) on a single charge.

One-pedal driving debuts on the Born, and stepping up to the Endurance or VZ also adds a launch-control function. Updated 19-inch and 20-inch wheels now come with 235-mm-section tires instead of the previous 215 mm, for better grip. Available from launch, the VZ is the quickest of the lineup, delivering an instant 402 lb-ft (545 Nm) for a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) sprint in 5.6 seconds and a top speed of 124 mph (200 km/h).

The German-built Born will be produced at the Volkswagen Group’s plant in Zwickau starting in the second quarter of 2026, with deliveries beginning this summer. Cupra had planned to enter the United States by 2030, but “evolving market dynamics” have pushed the brand’s US debut to later in the next decade.

Motor1’s Take: The Volkswagen Group appears to be sticking to its promise to bring back old-school buttons. Having separate climate controls would’ve been even better, although engineering them for a facelifted model would likely be too costly. With reports of massive cost cuts looming, the bean counters probably weren’t keen for VW to heavily invest 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 about stripping down interiors too much in a bid to save every eurocent possible. The upcoming ID. Polo will feature a physical row of buttons on the center console, and the facelifted ID.3 should mirror the changes introduced on the Born.

Nature is healing.