If you are looking at any of the 77kWh versions there is not that much difference at the moment on PCH I'd say 10% maybe 12%, and the Born is a much nicer car, you'll really want the V3 though.

What contract length and mileage etc. are you looking at?

 

Im only looking at the base spec models, the Born is 59kw and the ID3 52kw. 3+35 / 10k p/a. Difference is around £55 a month between the two, so not to be sniffed at.

 

I’ve owned both. Could be just luck but I didn’t have a single sausage wrong with the id3 but I’ve had a few things go wrong with the cupra, all picked up on warranty though. The id3 is put together better, it didn’t rattle but the cupra does a tiny bit. Wouldn’t go back though, the cupra looks better, handles better (though the id3 ride is better) and the seats are fantastic . I’d guess resale is better on the cupra, it was a couple of years ago but I’m trying not to look at the moment as I don’t want to know how much I’ve lost 😂.

 

Thanks for the info, I agree on the interior, also the exterior. The ID3 isn’t a bad looker mind you, the inside is a little plain though.

 

Just bear in mind the cupra has 170kw for a short period when the battery is warm and charge is greater than 55%. Through the winter months you will barely see the little blue bar completely full and you have 150kw.

when it’s there it does give you a pleasing extra shove when the id3 is running out of puff around 50mph but it’s not night and day different to an id3 pro performance 150kw.

The eboost did have slightly bigger brakes and a slightly shorter stopping distance, might be worth checking if this is still the case on the newer versions if it matters to you. The brakes on my cupra definitely have a better feel than my id3 pp did, doesn’t suffer that vagueness transferring from regen to hydraulic braking.

 

The 52kWh hour ID3 only gets a 125kW motor, not the 150kW (or 170kW) motor available in the 59kWh ID3s. So even less power (although admittedly a slightly smaller battery so less weight).

 

Had both, iD.3 Base spec 58kWh with the smaller motor, then moved to the Born V1.

Liked the iD.3, love the Born.

iD.3 interior was... Sparse... Boring. It had steel wheels as standard, but I liked the exterior styling. I also liked the iD light (no longer included)

Born interior is a nicer place to be, some might not like the exterior styling, but I do. It's better equipped and I like the extra power and firmer suspension.

Is the Born worth £55/month more? Down to personal preference on the styling, and depends on how much you value the extra kit it comes with, but the extra power and battery would be worth some of that extra, if not it all.

 

Thanks for the info, I’m with you on the looks and inside. And as you spend all your time in the vehicle that’s important. As it’s a second car though, I’m trying to stop the cost carrying away with itself.

 

I had an ID.3 and a Born. The ID.3 was trouble free but a bit bland, the Born was more interesting but a lemon!

I lost loads of money on the Born getting shot of it. Apart from it shaking itself to bit on the motorway and the boot filling up with water and the infotainment constantly crashing. It was just annoying to live with. The wipers are the wrong way around so splash water in your line of sight (common to both cars), you have to select your profile every single time you get in the car even if there is only one setup (Born only). You can’t operate the key fob without looking at it because it doesn’t have actual buttons (both cars). It’s easy to accidentally operate steering wheel controls because they are touch sensitive haptic feedback jobs (both cars). Absolutely everything either on a touch screen or haptic feedback (both cars).

The drive assist functions on both cars were terrible. Way too over sensitive but particularly bad on the Born (I think because it had front parking sensors and the ID.3 didn’t). It was so bad I was nervous driving it on country lanes because it would do emergency stops for foliage!

Traded the Born in for an entry level MG4 out of desperation and much prefer it to both. So much so I regretted not getting a higher spec one and upgraded to an XPower this week. It’s not perfect either but worth looking at if you can get past the brand snobbery. There are deals for them around £25k at the moment. All the kit of a top spec Born or ID.3, 430 bhp, 0 - 60 in 3.8 seconds. I know which i’d get, because I have 😁

Probably not one to get if you do lots of motorway miles though (XPower only) as they are renowned for a vibration issue at motorway speeds.

 

I took a look at an MG4 trophy last weekend actually, loved the blue colour that was available. It was quite surprising to be honest, I’ve read a few reports of the steering vibration, is that just on the x power or over all ranges? The prices of them is very tempting!

 

I’m looking a cheapish used EV in the next few months. My I-Pace lease ends in May and I just don’t do the miles any more.

I have yet to test drive any but have checked out the ID.3, MG4, Megane and Born (among others) at my nearest used car supermarket place.

The MG4 felt cheap as did the ID.3 and while both were perfectly fine, the offset steering wheel not being in line with the pedals killed the MG4 stone dead for me. The Born felt better but was still not as nice as a Megane E-Tech. The E-Tech had physical buttons and just felt so much nicer to be in than all the others.

Will test drive them all over the coming months. But maybe consider the Megane OP?

 

The Megane is a really good car. The fact the software is by Google and it has actually buttons sets it apart and I’d say as a used buy it’s probably the best of the bunch.

The killer feature is a button that turns off all the saved safety systems you don’t like in one go.

You don’t see many good new deals on them though due to epic depreciation 🙁

I agree the OP should have a look at one as it really is very good.

 

I’m on my second ID3 (someone has to buy them) and I have test driven the Born twice over the last few years. I much prefer the ID3, but we are all different. I find the Born suspension too firm, or some might say that’s what a drivers car feels like. At my age, I prefer the softer ride in the ID3. They have their problems, all of them, but mine have been ok. As for the MG4, I have test driven it twice. It’s ok to drive but it feels like they made it from used baked bean cans.
Good luck with choosing.

 

That’s great to hear, your MG comment made Me chuckle. I won’t write them off but I think you could well get what you pay for on all of these cars.

 

The looks are personal preference. Otherwise there is no significant difference. They should cost about the same. I would recommend Cupra in normal circumstances if you prefer it, but if the particular cars you are choosing from are 20% different in price for the same age/mileage then the ID3 is obviously much better value. Perhaps the specs of those cars aren't equivalent.

 

Yes they are not equivalent, the Cupra is a nicer place to be inside, exterior looks are subjective. The ID3 battery / power is slightly lesser than the Cupra also but I think thats not a biggie for me, would be an easier choice if the gap between the two in terms of cost was much closer. I do prefer the Cupra Born but the ID3 makes more sense for my wallet!

 

Again, personal taste
But I think the born looks cheap inside with all the gold accents.
But I do prefer the exterior to the id3.
It's definitely not worth paying more for imo.
I reckon it's easily 2-3k more expensive spec for spec, which makes zero sense.

 

just let people like things 😂

 

If you ain’t seeing the build quality shortcuts in an MG4, you ain’t lookin hard enough.

One of the best ways to check build quality is to go check some 2-3 year old used ones. You start to see where the shortcuts were made and the differences in build quality.

It’s all superficial and when I went used car shopping recently the MG4 was fine, but absolutely nothing great at all. The ID.3 was a touch more solid (less rattles) but again nothing special.

It’s like arguing which mediocre give up on life car is the least mediocre

Joking aside, the MG4 is a decent cheaper alternative to the VAGs. If you don’t mind giving money to the CCP.

 

If you ain’t seeing the build quality shortcuts in an MG4, you ain’t lookin hard enough.

100%

 

People often conflate build quality with material quality. The cupra has nicer materials but poorer build quality than the id3. The id3 looks subjectively cheaper but it’s built from rocks, it’s very well put together, very solid. I didn't spend long with the mg4 but I don’t recall it being solid like the id3 or having the nice material finish of the Cupra. The main issue for me was the ergonomics of the mg4, I couldn’t get comfortable and the weird little table that has the drive selector on it was close to where my knee wanted to be. It was definately good value but no better value than a mint nearly new cupra with extended warranty. My Cupra lost 13k in the first year so was a bargain as second owner 😂

At the end of the day it’s all subjective stuff but the mg4 didn’t make me feel anything and the Cupra makes me happy in a way the id3 didn’t either. Make a shortlist of reasonable choices and then choose the one your gut wants.

 

That’s really useful insights, thanks for this. I think I’m holding out for a decent deal on the Born.

 

Full disclosure: I just bought a pre-reg Born VZ
So far, other than the increase in hard plastics from my Mk 7.5 Golf GTE, it feels pretty well screwed together. The new 5.0 software is also very good and I would recommend getting these models if your budget will stretch to it.
You can see they've been cost cutting here and there, which worried me a little, but what gave me a warm feeling was when Munro Live recently uploaded their teardown of the APP550 motor powering the VZ and other VAG cars. They were very impressed with the quality of the components and design. When the bits you don't see are that well designed, I can live with lesser plastics in the cabin.
I've not driven an MG4, but sitting in a Trophy model at the showroom it felt decent enough.