CUPRA Born and Formentor Win Big At What Car? Awards 2023
The dynamic duo were both praised for their easy handling, comfortable passenger experience and performance.
The results are in for the prestigious What Car? Awards 2023, and Spanish car brand CUPRA have scooped up two awards for their Born and Formentor models.
CUPRA Born – What Car? Best Small Electric Car
A coveted award in what is generally a competitive category, the CUPRA Born came out on top thanks to its smooth handling, high-quality interior and driving experience.
As the brand’s first-ever 100% electric model, the Born has already made a name for itself, offering up to 343 miles maximum range, zero-emissions and a nippy engine that takes you from 0-62mph in just 6.6 seconds.
Highlights include a dynamic design with ceremony lights to welcome you when unlocking, a leather-bound sports steering wheel and comfortable front bucket seats providing full lumbar support.
Striking 20” ‘Blizzard’ machined aerowheels add to the attractive and distinctive look of CUPRA Born, creating a vehicle that lives to be seen.
Other exterior features such as C-Pillar mouldings, full LED headlights and side skirts add to the sporty appeal of the Born as a car built for the demands of modern motoring.
On the inside, you can expect no less with a range of features carefully designed to bring sophisticated, dynamic design and seamless connectivity.
These include a 12” touchscreen taking care of all your infotainment needs, a central control for keeping basic essentials at arm’s length and DINAMICA rear seats to provide spacious comfort to rear passengers.
As for technology, the CUPRA Born excels once again giving you access to all the functions you need for a smoother, easier drive. Features such as Intelligent Park Assist, Pre-Crash Assist and Exit Warning show the only thing CUPRA Born takes a risk with is with its bold design.
Making journeys safer, the CUPRA Born was awarded a 5-Star Euro NCAP safety rating, making it one of the safest options on the market. Scoring high in all categories from adult and child occupant testing to vulnerable road users, CUPRA Born is for everyone.
When it came down to decision time, judges loved the smooth driving experience and handling it had to offer.
Steve Huntingford, Editor at What Car?, said:
“Choosing a CUPRA typically means a big focus on driver appeal, and the Born absolutely delivers, because it feels more eager to turn into bends than rivals.
Despite this, though, the ride is far from harsh and road noise is kept to a minimum, while the interior is smartly finished and impressively spacious.
So, the Born proves that turning your back on petrol doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice fun, but it's also a fantastic all-rounder.”
CUPRA Formentor – What Car? Best Coupe SUV
CUPRA Formentor also had a good run at the awards, being given the celebrated title of Best Coupe SUV, praised for its highly efficient hybrid option and passenger experience.
CUPRA Formentor is an undeniably sleek, stylish vehicle ready for any journey, with an efficient MPG range of up to 235.4mpg, and a powerful engine taking you from 0-62mph in just 4.9 seconds.
Placing performance at the centre, CUPRA Formentor offers a range of impressive powertrains to choose from, including a 2.0-litre (310PS) petrol engine with 4Drive technology and a 7-speed manual gearbox.
The e-HYBRID option offers a more efficient, economical drive with up to 245PS and a fully electric range of up to 34 miles with zero-emissions. Intuitive drive modes Comfort, Sport or Eco allow you to tailor your driving experience depending on your preferences – whether it’s prioritising reduced emissions or a fun, sporty drive.
Not neglecting style and practicality, CUPRA Formentor offers full LED headlights giving you brighter visibility. The exclusively refined 19” machined alloy wheels with Performance Brakes and front Brembo calipers also come as standard on VZ3 and VZ Edition models.
The exterior presents an accentuated bonnet with a chromed front grille, clean fluid lines, and a bold rear spoiler giving the Formentor a distinctive, eye-catching look. On the inside, the Formentor uses refined styling to create a comfortable, practical space in which to relax and enjoy the journey.
Genuine leather or textile upholstery options allow you to give your Formentor the look you want, with the signature CUPRA copper stitching and other touches delivering a premium feel.
As for technology, the Formentor is sure to entertain with ambient lighting to fit your mood, an immersive 12” touchscreen with integrated navigation helping you control the journey and a 10.2” Digital Cockpit display keeping you informed.
Other handy features include remote power allowing you to control, track and access your Formentor via the smartphone app on your phone, and online infotainment with real-time traffic updates for added convenience.
Also achieving a 5-Star Euro NCAP safety rating, the CUPRA Formentor scores highly in all areas, thanks to a suite of driver assistance and safety technologies making drives safer and smoother.
These include Autonomous Emergency Braking, Side and Exit Asist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Traffic Jam Assist and more.
Celebrating the Formentor’s success, Huntingford added:
“Not everyone with sporty sensibilities can avoid journeys that demand four doors, adult-friendly back seats and a big boot. <?em>
That’s where the combination of style, performance and practicality that coupe SUVs offer comes in – and the CUPRA Formentor is our favourite, because it delivers a better combination of pace and handling than rivals while also treating your passengers to a more comfortable ride.”
Like what you see? Explore CUPRA Born and Formentor offers now and see which one is for you.