Cupra's Electric Hatch Subtly Enhances Its Appearance While You Focus on Raval | Carscoops

      While the Raval will take center stage in Cupra’s 2026 news, recent spy images reveal that the brand is subtly refreshing the Born with a mid-cycle update.

      Updated Cupra Born prototypes have been seen testing with light camouflage.

      Visual alterations seem to focus on updated lights and bumpers.

      The facelifted model is set to launch in 2026 alongside the smaller Raval EV.

      Cupra may be preparing to shine in 2026 with the all-new Raval subcompact EV, but it hasn’t overlooked the vehicle that established its electric presence.

      Recent spy images of a lightly camouflaged Cupra Born prototype indicate that the brand is diligently working on a mid-life refresh of its well-liked electric hatchback, even if the changes are not particularly groundbreaking.

      We last caught sight of the updated Born testing around six months ago, and judging by these latest pictures, Cupra’s direction is clearly evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

      This is likely a positive aspect, as the Born remains one of the more attractive small EVs on the market, and in our view, it offers a more dynamic appearance compared to the VW ID.3 hatch that it’s based on.

      As before, camouflage is primarily around the front and rear, suggesting redesigned bumpers and revised lighting graphics. Up front, the lower grille looks taller and more sculpted, accompanied by vertical outer vents that could enhance visual width and aggression.

      This is a subtle adjustment, but it brings the Born in line with Cupra’s latest design style seen on models like the Tavascan and Terramar, as well as the Raval.

      At the rear, the update appears just as understated. The rear bumper seems to feature a redesigned diffuser with a more pronounced lip at the corners, giving the Born a slightly lower and tougher appearance. Again, it's not a drastic change, but enough to set the facelifted model apart from earlier versions if one knows where to look.

      The doors, roofline, and overall proportions look unchanged, which is expected given how much the Born shares with its Volkswagen ID.3 counterpart. In fact, the two vehicles are so closely linked that even the doors are interchangeable, making major body modifications impossible without approval from the VW Group.

      Inside, we don’t anticipate many surprises. Cupra addressed the Born’s most significant interior drawback in 2024 by installing VW’s significantly improved 12.9-inch touchscreen, and the cabin quality is visibly superior to the ID.3, so any additional upgrades will likely be limited to trim and software enhancements.

      Mechanically, the Born lineup should remain consistent. The current rear-wheel-drive variants producing 201 hp (204 PS / 150 kW) and 228 hp (231 PS / 170 kW) are expected to continue, along with the robust 322 hp (327 PS / 240 kW) VZ hot hatch introduced last year.

      While major power increases are not anticipated, Cupra may aim to extend the range from the 59, 77, and 79 kWh battery options.

      With the Born already capable of achieving up to 369 miles (594 km) on a single charge, this refresh appears to focus less on reinvention and more on keeping Cupra’s electric hatch competitive for 2026, coinciding with the arrival of the smaller, front-wheel-drive Raval.