ELECTRIC VEHICLES

A good first question and the answer is probably yes! Before fully embracing the shift to an EV, it's essential to weigh certain considerations. Contemplate the logistics of charging and the nature of your routine journeys. However, rest assured, for many, transitioning to an electric vehicle is entirely feasible.

As we progress towards an electrified future, both CUPRA cars and the UK charging infrastructure are advancing swiftly, ensuring a seamless transition into the world of electrification.

View our 'Understanding Electric Vehicles' area of our website to learn more about electric vehicles.

Selecting an electric vehicle is essentially similar to picking any other car. You must consider practicality, reliability, your budget and running costs as well as specifics like features, colour and power.

Charging is obviously the one huge contrast. Consider how far you typically travel in a day/week/month, and after that whether you can charge at home or at work. Will you depend on the public charging. There is no right or wrong to this - you simply have to see if an electric vehicle will fit your way of life.

You can find details of the maximum electric range (according to official WLTP test criteria) in the individual vehicle descriptions on the model pages. These figures are obtained under standardised testing conditions, after fully charging the battery to 100%.

It’s important to note that, as with any car, the official WLTP test figures may not reflect real-world driving results. What range you actually achieve on the road will depend on several factors including accessories fitted after registration, variations in weather, driving styles, speed, vehicle and battery age and condition, vehicle load, and the initial battery charge.

However, there are some things you can do to help maximise your range, such as pre-heating your electric vehicle while charging on a cold day, coasting or using regenerative braking, and removing unnecessary heavy items.

At present, as electric vehicles utilise newer innovations compared to traditionally fuelled vehicles, their list prices may be higher. However, you must consider the total cost of ownership (TCO) which incorporates the cost of fuel (or charging), servicing, taxes and incentives, as well as the resale value once you decide to replace or sell the car.

Yes, certainly - it is truly significant to do this and we would propose speaking with your Retailer to discover what you require to know. In the beginning it may feel a little different to a petrol or diesel vehicle - more quiet, smoother, quicker to accelerate. Some controls also may be unfamiliar, however you will before long become acclimated to it.

We offer various finance options so there is likely to be one that works for you. It's an excellent method to spread out the cost and on some you can include a service and maintenance plan.

Fundamentally there are three methods for charging your electric vehicle:

- Through a 3-pin household wall socket, which is slow but widely accessible;

- Through a wallbox which can be installed at your home if you have suitable off-street parking accessible and is substantially faster and more practical than a 3-pin plug;

- Through public or on-road charging points, which can be the quickest way to charge, particularly where rapid or ultra-rapid options are available. Accessibility of public charging is increasing all the time.

If you're charging from a home wallbox, we recommend installing an Ohme intelligent charger and switching to OVO Energy Charge Anytime to save money on your home charging expenses.

When on the road the options can vary more. To avoid overpaying when you need to charge up for a long drive, take a look at our CUPRA Charging Service plans which streamline your charging provider accounts and can decrease the cost of public charging. Also be sure to plan ahead using EV route maps, like Zap Map.

Yes - please refer to the previous response for charging options.

The easiest and quickest way to charge at home is through a wallbox. We have a partnership with the award-winning home charger supplier, Ohme. Not only do they make the installation and setup as simple as possible, they also offer low-cost charging options through integration with smart EV energy tariffs (eg. OVO Energy Charge Anytime). You will need to have off-street parking available and permission from the landlord if you rent your property as well as an initial assessment arranged by Ohme to check if you are a standard or non-standard installation.

As a CUPRA customer, you may be eligible for a free home charger as part your vehicle purchase (terms and conditions apply). If not, costs start at a preferential rate for CUPRA customers of £925, including standard installation for the most popular tethered Ohme Home Pro, plus you’ll get all the advice you need.

You can also switch your energy to a special EV tariff such as OVO Energy's Charge Anytime, which offers a cheaper rate of charging compared to the usual unit rate of electricity.

Even if a home charger is installed, there may be times when you need to charge on-the-go and so it’s good to know public charging has advanced significantly over recent years, and continues to improve.

Rapid chargers (with direct current or DC and speeds from 23 kW) and Ultra rapid (from 100 kW) are generally found on major routes and are essentially the petrol stations of the electric world. All electric cars have a maximum charging speed, and all rapid chargers have a maximum output (both are measured in kilowatts (kW)), so try to find a charger which maximises your car’s charging capacity.

If you have a 60 kWh battery, it could take as little as 30 minutes to charge from empty to full at a 150 kW rapid charger (providing the charger is performing at that rate). At a 22 kW chargepoint, it could take around 3 hours.

These are indicative minimum charge times for comparison only. They may not reflect real world experience. And don’t forget that ‘filling’ to 80% is not only quicker (the last 20% is designed to fill much more slowly) but is also better for your battery. You can set 80% as the maximum charging level via the car or the app. In practical terms, charging in public is very straightforward, and you can simplify the process by route planning and using apps like Zap-Map.

Like any CUPRA vehicle, it's intended to be dependable and trustworthy. Obviously we would always recommend you visit a CUPRA Retailer, which has trained high voltage technicians to keep your vehicle in great working order.

Yes - newer CUPRA vehicles come with CUPRA CONNECT providing 'connected' technology, minor updates and improvements that can be done remotely or 'over the air' (OTA) - much like you may do with software updates on your telephone.

Ensure you have activated CUPRA CONNECT to receive these updates as well as other benefits associated with this service, including the ability to control your heating and charging of your CUPRA electric vehicle from your smartphone.

We would always recommend visiting a CUPRA Retailer, where we have specially trained high voltage technicians to keep your car in great working condition for all servicing and maintenance needs. 

Our electric vehicles have fewer moving parts compared to petrol or diesel cars, so servicing often costs less.

CUPRA e-Care, our service plan especially designed for electric vehicles, can also help you budget more effectively by spreading the cost of maintenance over a set period.

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. 

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. If you purchase an Approved Used CUPRA electric vehicle, we will carry out a multi-point check and provide a battery health certificate. The Approved Used CUPRA electric vehicle will benefit from the remaining balance of the original warranty, subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions set out in the warranty.

The technology and batteries in electric vehicles are always improving, but there are some great used EVs available too. Opting for a CUPRA Approved Used electric vehicle means the same reassurance as with our approved petrol or diesel cars, plus a battery health check. Have a look at our used stock for vehicles currently available.

Our electric vehicles incorporate the latest safety innovations to protect drivers. Should an accident occur, have the battery checked and repaired by a CUPRA technician trained specifically on our EVs.

We manage recalls and service campaigns for our electric models the same as our combustion engine vehicles. We will notify you if any actions are needed on your vehicle and work to schedule the required service.

Contact your local Retailer if you have any specific concerns or queries.

Currently, the government has a number of incentives in place which mean you’ll pay much less Benefit in Kind (BiK) on an EV compared to a petrol or diesel car. You can find our latest rates on the model web pages or pricelists.

There are several incentives currently available for electric vehicle drivers relating to vehicle excise duty (VED), benefits-in-kind tax (BiK) for home charging installations, parking, and travel. At present, electric vehicles are pay nil road tax but this exemption is scheduled to change from April 2025 (you'll still need to tax the vehicle).

If you rent or own a flat, you could get a grant to install an electric vehicle charging point. Before deciding to purchase an electric vehicle, it's worth finding out what incentives are available for your chosen model as these can vary depending on how you fund the car and where you live and drive.

Insuring an electric vehicle works in the same way as insuring a petrol or diesel car. Your individual premium is determined by factors relating to your personal details and vehicle. However, it is important to check that the insurance policy covers all aspects specific to owning an electric vehicle.

CUPRA Car Insurance provides comprehensive coverage that includes electric vehicle elements such as:

- Battery damage following an insured incident

- Accidental damage, fire or theft protection for charging cables and home chargers

- Accidents caused by charging cables when attached to the electric vehicle

You can find out more about CUPRA Car Insurance on our website. Policies are subject to eligibility criteria and are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited.

Just like all our vehicles, all new electric CUPRA models come with 3 years’ breakdown cover, provided by CUPRA Roadside Assistance in partnership with the AA. And like our specialist technicians, our roadside team have access to the latest knowledge and training on electric vehicle technology to give you peace of mind when you need it.

Electric vehicles offer clear environmental benefits over traditional petrol and diesel cars. By using electricity rather than fossil fuels, EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions, improving local air quality.

The CUPRA Born has a focus on sustainability, including a net carbon neutral ambition, use of recycled materials inside the cabin, and partnership with Trees for Cities to plant trees.

Bi-directional charging permits using an electric vehicle's battery as an energy source. Examples include "Vehicle to Load", which allows utilising the car's battery to charge devices like e-scooters or e-bikes. Another is "Vehicle to Home", which makes it possible to send stored power back from the vehicle into a home, taking advantage of dynamic electricity rates to draw from the battery during peak periods. “Vehicle to Grid” enables transferring electricity back from an electric vehicle into the wider power network.

While the technology for bi-directional charging has been incorporated into some CUPRA electric vehicles, the interfaces and wallboxes required to enable this functionality have not been made available at this time. Currently, our focus is on maximising energy usage through intelligent charging techniques, while also keeping costs low.

Yes! CUPRA vehicles are available on the Motability scheme. Vehicles available on the scheme vary from time to time and the corresponding advance payments may be subject to change.