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Cupra Born vs Kia Soul EV
Selected trim64kWh · 2020-24Change trim281 mi · 67.5 kWh · £37,295
At a glance
In this comparison, Cupra Born leads on value for money, motorway range and family practicality, while the Kia Soul EV stays competitive across the board.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Cupra Born if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.6p per mile on off-peak electricity
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Cupra Born wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValueCupra
Cupra
5.6
Kia
4.3
Motorway RangeCupra
Cupra
6.3
Kia
3.9
FamilyCupra
Cupra
8.1
Kia
2.4
ChargingCupra
Cupra
6.7
Kia
0.9
Cost Per MileCupra
Cupra
9.6
Kia
5.9
City Driving
Cupra
7.7
Kia
7.5
Too close to call
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Cupra Born
V1 58kWh
- £1,300 cheaper
- 70 litres more boot space
- 0.4 m tighter turning circle
- 1 more year of battery warranty
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Cupra BornV1 58kWh | Kia Soul EV64kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £35,995 (better) | £37,295 |
| Official range | 301 miles (better) | 281 miles |
| Boot space | 385 L (better) | 315 L |
| 10-80% rapid charge | Not available | 47 min |
| 0-62 mph | 8 sec | 7.9 sec (better) |
Size Comparison
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Cupra Born
Kia Soul EV
Length
Cupra Born4,324mm
Kia Soul EV4,195mm-129mm
Width
Cupra Born1,809mm
Kia Soul EV1,800mm-9mm
Height
Cupra Born1,540mm-60mm
Kia Soul EV1,600mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Cupra BornV1 58kWh | Kia Soul EV64kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,324 mm | 4,195 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,809 mm | 1,800 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,070 mm | 2,040 mm (better) |
| Height | 1,540 mm | 1,600 mm |
| Turning circle | 10.2 m (better) | 10.6 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 591 mm spare | 600 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Cupra BornV1 58kWh | Kia Soul EV64kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | Not available | 2 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 385 L (better) | 315 L |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1267 L | 1339 L (better) |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Cupra Born
- 301 mile WLTP range, longer than 95% of hatchback EVs we track.
- Peak DC charging of 105 kW, faster than 85% of hatchback EVs in our catalogue.
- At 4,324 mm, longer than 85% of hatchback EVs we track.
Kia Soul EV
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Cupra Born V1 58kWh |  Kia Soul EV 64kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.32m | 4.20m-129mm |
| Width | 1.81m | 1.80m-9mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.07m | 2.04m-30mm |
| Height | 1.54m | 1.60m+60mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.77m | 2.60m-166mm |
| Ground Clearance | Not available | 160mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 385L (better) | 315L |
| Boot (seats down) | 1267L | 1339L (better) |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 10.2m (better) | 10.6m |
| Kerb Weight | 1,899kg | 1,758kg (better) |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 58kWh | 67.5kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 301 mi (better) | 281 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 105kW (better) | 100kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £35,995 (better) | £37,295 |
| Price after EV grant | £34,495 (-£1,500) | £37,295 (not eligible) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Hatchback | SUV |
| Available | 2026+ | 2020–2024 |
* Cupra Born: Heat pump: an option, not standard.
* Cupra Born: Manufacturer lists no trailer towing capacity.
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Cupra BornV1 58kWh | Kia Soul EV64kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 301 miles (better) | 281 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 250 miles (better) | 234 miles |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | Not available | 47 min |
| Max rapid charge rate | 105 kW (better) | 100 kW |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW (better) | 7.2 kW |
| Usable battery capacity | 58 kWh | 64 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 400V | 400V |
| Heat pump | Not standard | Standard (better) |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Cupra BornV1 58kWh | Kia Soul EV64kWh |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 8 sec | 7.9 sec (better) |
| Power | 140 kW | 150 kW (better) |
| Torque | 310 Nm | 395 Nm (better) |
| Drivetrain | RWD | FWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests. One car has more review coverage than the other - we show that rather than guessing.
Cupra Born
V1 58kWh
Kia Soul EV
64kWh
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Cupra Born
All 3 videos
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
New and used prices
Current pricing and recent used-market behaviour.
| Measure | Cupra BornV1 58kWh | Kia Soul EV64kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Used market price from | £14,295 | £11,889 |
| Average used price | £14,295 | £13,247 |
| Recent used-price trend | Broadly flat | Up 12.3% over ~6 months |
Used prices are indicative figures gathered from independent UK dealer listings and change frequently.
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - Cupra Born V1 58kWh
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant89%
Child Occupant87%
Vulnerable Road Users76%
Safety Assist76%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
| Measure | Cupra BornV1 58kWh | Kia Soul EV64kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years (better) | 7 years |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,934 km (better) | 160,000 km |
What owners say
Aggregated from UK owner forums and communities - the things you only learn after living with the car.
Shared watch-outs for both cars
Owners of every car here flag real-world range, dealer & service support. Worth checking on a test drive whichever you choose.
Cupra Born
V1 58kWh
Owners love
- Owners rate the handling, rear-wheel-drive steering feel and comfortable, supportive seats
- Good real-world efficiency, with owners reporting around 4 miles per kWh and 220-320 miles depending on battery
- The 326PS VZ fixed the early cars' lack of punch, with much stronger mid-range acceleration
Watch out for
- Wide A-pillars create a large blind spot at junctions and roundabouts
- The brake pedal feels long and vague at low speed, and regeneration cannot be adjusted much
- The Born is heavy, so the VZ feels less quick than its power suggests and is expensive new
Owner tips
- Check whether a car has the optional heat pump if you do a lot of winter driving
- The 2022-2024 77 kWh car has four seats; later 79 kWh cars seat five
Kia Soul EV
64kWh
Owners love
- Owners regularly report 250 miles or more in mild weather, with very good efficiency.
- Strong, smooth acceleration and a comfortable, roomy cabin for the car's size.
- Well-equipped, with a head-up display and adaptive cruise control on most cars.
Watch out for
- Some owners report 12V battery drain and repeat flat batteries that dealers struggled to fix.
- Scheduled charging in the car and the Kia app can be unreliable or reset itself.
- Road noise is noticeable, and there are no front parking sensors.
Owner tips
- Check the 12V battery and ask whether the car has had electrical faults.
- Look for a car with the recall work done, including the power control unit coolant check on mid-2020 builds.
Buying options
Get a quote
Cupra Born
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Kia Soul EV
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
Cupra Born
No active listings.
Kia Soul EV
- £14,3952020Drive GreenView
- £11,7952020Drive GreenView
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kia Soul EV worth the extra £1,300 over the Cupra Born?
The Kia Soul EV costs £1,300 more than the Cupra Born. On the headline specs that premium buys little measurable advantage - the two are closely matched on range, charging and space. The Cupra Born is not just cheaper - it also offers 70 litres more boot space. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the Cupra Born comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Cupra Born or the Kia Soul EV?
The Cupra Born is £1,300 cheaper to buy. The Cupra Born is cheaper to charge, roughly £128 a year versus £160 for the Kia Soul EV, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Cupra Born comes out roughly £1,460 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Cupra Born and Kia Soul EV like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 250 miles for the Cupra Born and 234 miles for the Kia Soul EV - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Cupra Born goes roughly 16 miles further between charging stops.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Cupra Born or the Kia Soul EV?
The two are within 9 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 600 mm of total clearance for the Kia Soul EV and about 591 mm of total clearance for the Cupra Born. The Cupra Born also turns in a 0.4 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the Cupra Born or the Kia Soul EV?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 84% battery health for the Cupra Born and 84% for the Kia Soul EV. That is close enough that capacity loss should not decide between them. Both use NMC-type cells, so for daily use keep the charge limit near 80% to slow degradation. The Cupra Born has the longer battery warranty at 8 years, versus 7 for the Kia Soul EV.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More Cupra Born comparisons
More Kia Soul EV comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the Cupra Born and Kia Soul EV rank among the best family EVsWhere the Cupra Born and Kia Soul EV rank among EVs under £40,000Where the Cupra Born and Kia Soul EV rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Cupra Born and Kia Soul EV rank among the best city EVsWhere the Cupra Born and Kia Soul EV rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the Cupra Born and Kia Soul EV rank among EVs with the biggest boots
If neither is quite right
Explore other verified electric cars that may better suit the priorities this pair does not meet.
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
GuideBuying a Used CUPRA Born (2022 on): Which Battery, the Battery Recall, Range & What to Check
A used CUPRA Born buyer’s guide: 58, 59, 77 or 79 kWh and e-Boost explained, the four-seat 77 kWh car, the 2026 battery recall, warranty left, real-world range, what to pay and a printable checklist.
GuideBuying a Used Kia Soul EV (2014-2024): 27 vs 64 kWh, Battery Health, Recalls & What to Pay
A used Kia Soul EV buyer’s guide: the 2014-2019 car vs the 64 kWh e-Soul, battery wear on early cars, the 7-year warranty, the recalls, real-world range, what to pay and a printable checklist.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .