New SEAT el-Born electric car: prices, specs and release date
February 02, 2021 by
SEAT has revealed details about its first purpose-built electric car. Called the el-Born, this small EV hatchback will go on sale before 2022. Read on for full details.
- New SEAT el-Born EV
- Similar to the VW ID.3
- Angular, sporty design
- Minimalist interior
- 260-mile range
- 47-minute charge time
- 204hp electric motor
- 0-60mph in 7.5 seconds
- Expected to cost from £33,000
- Likely on sale before 2022
The SEAT el-Born is a small electric car that’ll come with a 204hp electric motor and around 260 miles of range from its 62kWh battery. It’s expected to go on sale in late 2021 as an alternative to the Volkswagen ID.3 and will set you back from around £33,000.
New SEAT el-Born design
The SEAT el-Born has a more angular look than most hatchbacks – electric or otherwise. At the front, you’ll notice a set of pointed triangular headlights a grille-less bumper and plenty of contrasting black trim.
Unlike the Volkswagen ID.3, there’s no full-width running light at the front, and the el-Born does away with the VW’s strange black shelf-like trim in front of the windscreen.
From the side, the SEAT el-Born has a curved roofline, strong crease on the doors and a tall black side skirt – all features that stop this comparatively dinky hatchback from looking too tall and square.
At the rear, the el-Born borrows the new SEAT Leon’s brake light design but adds its own diffuser-style rear bumper trim with a central triangular foglight. You’ll also spot a slotted rear spoiler poking out from above the rear windscreen.
New SEAT el-Born interior
Squint a little, and you could easily mistake the new SEAT el-Born’s cabin for a Volkswagen ID.3’s. They both come with a similar central infotainment screen, a second display for the driver, the bare minimum of physical buttons and the option of some pretty bold colour schemes (brown and white for the VW, and silver and burgundy for the SEAT.)
The new SEAT el-Born is a five-seat electric car, and the batteries have been placed under the floor so as not to take up too much space in the boot. It’s likely the el-Born will match the ID.3’s 385-litre luggage capacity, which is almost exactly the same size as a VW Golf’s 381-litre boot.
New SEAT el-Born batteries and range
The new SEAT el-Born’s 62kWh battery pack can hold enough charge for you to drive up to 260 miles on a charge and you’ll be able to recharge them from empty to 80% full in 47 minutes using a 100kW public fast charger. These figures closely match a mid-range Volkswagen ID.3 fitted with a 62kWh battery pack.
Speaking of the ID.3, that car is also available with a smaller 48kWh battery and a larger 77kWh pack that can manage around 200 miles and 340 miles on a single charge respectively. It’s likely the SEAT el-Born will eventually be available with similar battery packs, too.
New SEAT el-Born electric motor and performance
The new SEAT el-Born comes with a 204hp electric motor – just like the fastest versions of the Volkswagen ID.3. This means it’ll accelerate from 0-60mpg in around 7.5 seconds. Sure, that’s not hot-hatch quick, but the way electric cars deliver their power instantly means the el-Born should feel seriously nippy in town.
New SEAT el-Born price and release date
SEAT hasn’t confirmed when the new el-Born will go on sale, but it’s likely you’ll be able to get your hands on one before the end of 2021.
SEAT’s been equally tight-lipped about the prices, too, but it’s a safe bet that the 204hp el-Born with a 62kWh battery will cost from around the same as an equally powerful VW ID.3. That car will set you back from around £33,000 (including the £3,000 government plug-in-car grant.)
Can’t wait for the new SEAT el-Born? Check out the best electric cars on sale or compare the latest Volkswagen ID.3 deals. Not sure which car is right for you? Click the button below for help choosing which car to buy.
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