en:EV Hub:Is EV right for me GB/EN

Is EV right for me?

Getting started

Where to start when first looking at an electric vehicle (EV)

Is an EV suitable for me?

Most likely yes. The main factors to consider are where you can charge and the nature of your journeys. For many, making the transition to an EV is completely achievable.

In fact 94% of CUPRA EV owners are happy that they switched to an EV - and zero said that they would go back to a petrol or diesel car. Read our EV Perceptions Whitepaper for more interesting facts.

What do I need to look for?

Selecting an electric vehicle is fundamentally similar to choosing any other car. Consider practicality, reliability, budget, and running costs, as well as specifics like features, colour, and power. Charging is the one major difference, more below on what to look for.

Expensive to replace the battery?

Over time, like most lithium-ion batteries used in everyday items such as smartphones, the capacity of EV batteries will reduce with usage and charging.

All new CUPRA electric vehicles come with our standard 5 year/90,000 mile warranty as well as an 8 year/100,000 mile warranty for the high voltage battery (degradation), whichever comes first.

What is the range of an electric vehicle?

Range is the term given to the number of miles an EV can complete

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What is the range of an electric vehicle?

Depending on the battery size and trim chosen, with the CUPRA Born the maximum range is up to 265 miles with the 59kWh battery and up to 348 miles with the 77kWh battery (official test WLTP figures) on a full charge^. For most drivers this is more than sufficient for daily use and therefore charge mainly at home or place of work. For longer journeys a charge at a public charger will be required.

What can affect the range?

There are many factors that can affect range including the temperature, driving style, road layout and in car technology used. For day-to-day use it is also recommended to charge to 80% to prolong battery life.

What do I need to consider about charging?

Think about how far you typically travel in a day, week, or month, and whether you can charge at home or at work. 

Compare this with the range of the EV you're interested in and you can work out how often you'll need to charge and where you can charge.

The cost of going electric

Can I save money by going electric?

Is electric more expensive?

It’s a common myth that electric vehicles are more expensive to purchase and more expensive to maintain. We’ve compared a 3-year running cost of a CUPRA Leon to a CUPRA Born with similar specification, with surprising results.

How much could I save?

Based on our estimates it could be over £169 cheaper per month. This is based on 10,000 miles per year with 10% of the miles using public charging, and the rest at home using a special EV tariff.

Estimated cost to charge

Using an EV tariff at home is the cheapest option and costs just 7p/kw⁵. If a battery's capacity was 50kWh the cost to charge would theoretcally be £3.50 (7p multiplied by 50kWh).

The CUPRA Born comes in two battery sizes, 55kWh and 77kWh.

COMPARE PETROL AND ELECTRIC COSTS

Below is a comparison of estimated costs¹ on 3-years ownership and an annual mileage of 10,000 miles. 10% of EV charging has been assumed to be public.

2024 Leon Hatch V2 1.5 eTSI DSG-auto 150PS

2024 Born V2 59 kWh e-Boost 230PS Auto

OTR/MDP²

£35,945

£37,895

Monthly price³

£397.89

£307.80

Customer deposit³

£7,500.20

£7,500.20

Length of PCP³

36 months

36 months

Service plan cost⁴
(covering up to 3 years)

£99.99

£49.99

Petrol/electricity cost⁵
(3 years)

£3,869.01

£1,077.04

Overall monthly cost⁶

£518.70

£349.11

³ CUPRA Leon Solutions Personal Contract Plan representative example:
Contract Duration 36 Months, 36 Monthly Payments of £397.89, CUPRA Contribution £2,000.00, Customer Deposit £7,500.00, Total Deposit £9,500.00, Retail Cash Price £35,945, Optional Final Payment £16,875.90, Option to Purchase Fee (payable at the end of the agreement) £10.00, Total Amount Payable £40,312.05, Total Amount of Credit £26,445.00, Rate of Interest 6.88% Fixed, Representative APR 6.9% APR, Annual Mileage 10,000, Excess Mileage 6p per mile.

 

CUPRA Born Solutions Personal Contract Plan representative example:
Contract Duration 36 Months, 35 Monthly Payments of £307.80, CUPRA Contribution £4,500.00, Customer Deposit £7,500.20, Total Deposit £12,00.20, Retail Cash Price £37,895.00, Optional Final Payment £15,121.80, Option to Purchase Fee (payable at the end of the agreement) £0.00, Total Amount Payable £37,895, Total Amount of Credit £25,895.00, Rate of Interest 0.00% Fixed, Representative APR 0% APR, Annual Mileage 10,000, Excess Mileage 9.89p per mile.

Monthly price and customer deposit correct as of 29 August 2024. 

With a Solutions Personal Contract Plan (PCP) you simply select your model, mileage and deposit. Monthly payments can then be spread across 18 to 49 months. At the end of your agreement, you can choose to exchange it for a brand new model, pay the optional final payment and own the car, or hand it back (subject to terms and conditions). Other finance products are available. Provided by SEAT Financial Services.

¹ Costs are estimates for the standard specification of the CUPRA Leon Hatch V2 1.5 eTSI DSG-auto 150PS (with combined consumption of 49.9mpg* – official WLTP test) and CUPRA Born V2 59 kWh e-Boost 230PS Auto (as little as 15.6 kWh/100km^ – official WLTP test figure) based on test values (including WLTP combined consumption and range) and average values (including fuel and electricity costs). Assumes charging a 59kWH battery with a 7.2kW home-charger with OVO Energy's Charge Anytime tariff, in combination with an Ohme smart wallbox at an external ambient temperature of [10˚C] from [20-80%] and 100% of the battery's rated charge capacity (real world battery performance will decline over time).  For information and comparability only. Results should not be relied upon. Real world results will be different and will depend on multiple factors including actual specification (including options and accessories fitted and differences between UK and standard specification), individual driving style, use of heating/AC, variations in road and weather conditions, vehicle load, starting charge, actual charging/fuel costs etc. Figures are subject to change due to ongoing approvals and changes in model specification. Please consult your retailer for further information. Vehicle data correct as of 29 August 2024.

² If you are configuring a CUPRA Born or CUPRA Tavascan, then prices shown are the MDP (Manufacturer's Direct Price). This is the price set by CUPRA which you pay for the vehicle. CUPRA Born and CUPRA Tavascan vehicles are sold by CUPRA UK, a trading division of Volkswagen Group United Kingdom Limited (please note that you will need to visit an authorised CUPRA Agent to order, purchase and take delivery of your CUPRA Born or CUPRA Tavasvan vehicle). The Manufacturer's Direct Price includes delivery to an authorised CUPRA Agent, number plates, new vehicle registration free, the first year's Vehicle Excise Duty and VAT (calculated at 20%). You can find out more about the CUPRA model for selling CUPRA Born and CUPRA Tavascan vehicles by clicking here.

If you are configuring any other CUPRA vehicle (excluding the CUPRA Born and CUPRA Tavascan), then the prices shown are CUPRA's recommended on the road prices (Recommended On The Road Price or ROTR). Actual prices are set by CUPRA authorised retailers in their sole discretion – always obtain these prices from your chosen CUPRA retailer. The Recommended On The Road Price includes the standard UK delivery charge, number plates, new vehicle registration fee, the first year's Vehicle Excise Duty and VAT (calculated at 20%).

CUPRA UK may change recommended prices at any time (this includes where there are government changes in regulation and/or legislation).

⁴ Servicing cost for the CUPRA Leon is based on a CUPRA Care 1 plan at the promotional rate of £99.99. Servicing cost for the CUPRA Born is based on a CUPRA e-Care 2 plan at the promotional rate of £49.99. Prices correct as of 29 August 2024. Servicing must be carried out in line with the requirements of the service schedule at a CUPRA Authorised Repairer. Additional work, including wear and tear, is excluded. Service Plan validity is dependent on required payments received. Offer may be varied or withdrawn at any time. Terms and conditions apply. Administered by Volkswagen Financial Services. Freepost SEAT Financial Services.

⁵ Fuel and electricity costs based on 10,000 miles per annum. Actual fuel costs and electric range figures will vary depending on location and supplier.

Total petrol cost for the CUPRA Leon using unleaded petrol cost of 141.56p per litre, from https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/fuel-watch/.

Total electricity cost based on 10% rapid public charging at £0.80 per kWh and 50% home charging on OVO Energy Charge Anytime rate of 7p per kWh. Public charging price taken from https://www.zap-map.com/ev-stats/charging-price-index. Octopus charging tariff price from https://www.ovoenergy.com/electric-cars/charge-anytime.

Figures taken on 29 August 2024.

⁶ Overall monthly cost is a monthly figure, based on driving 10,000 miles per year and includes illustrative vehicle finance costs (excluding deposit), fuel/energy costs, Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax), and servicing costs for 3 years.

* Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO2 figures with other vehicles tested to the same technical procedures. Figures may not reflect real life driving results.

^ Test data obtained under standardised conditions after the battery had been fully charged (to 100%). For comparison purposes. Figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the starting charge of the battery, accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles, speed, vehicle and battery age and vehicle load.