Leasing an Electric Cupra Born? Should you go new or used with your lease?

Should you go new or used with your lease when Leasing an Electric Cupra Born?

Since Labour became our new Government there has been relative silence on the future of electric vehicles. In the build-up to the election, there were suggestions that we would see an adjustment to the Pathway for zero emission vehicles which, under the Sunak Conservative Government, confirmed that by 2035 100% of the new vehicles sold in the UK would have to be zero-emission .

As you will note on the Gov website, there is a clear reference which confirms that the guidance provided on greener tech is not related to Labour. The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate is therefore our key reference point, with a phased introduction of zero-emission vehicles expected to help move the UK towards more sustainable motoring.

Indeed, by 2030 there will be a sizeable figure of 80% when it comes to zero-emission and manufacturers wishing to sell their new vehicles. Failure to adhere to this will lead to fines for all those vehicles which are considered as non-compliant under the regulations. With news and media outlets like  GB News     referencing the ZEV Mandate as a key driver behind the EV uptake, if Labour was to amend these guidelines (either way) this is likely to have a significant impact on the volume of BEVs sold in our country.

The demand for EVs in the UK will come via both the new and used car market. Up until 2023, the vast majority of our focus was on the new car market, which through company car and salary sacrifice schemes, had ignited the transition since 2020.

However, with many vehicles coming off contract hire and contract purchase contracts, it was realised last year that our used-EV market was perhaps not as prepared for the movement as we thought. Significant depreciation, lack of education and cost of finance seemed to be a potential block to any type of used EV market igniting.

Used EV leasing is growing as the SMMT report below

But, as the SMMT recognised in August 2024  the EVs are now driving used car sales, with a market share of 2.4% for Q2 2024. As noted, there are now more sales as buyers become more confident and aware of the benefits of electrification. You only have to go onto Auto Trader today to compare the 21,500+ used EVs now on sale for UK consumers and businesses. Examples include the £400,000 Rolls-Royce Spectre and the £2,500 Nissan Leaf !

The quandary for some customers, personal or business, is whether to go for a new or used electric car, no different to how we approach our combustion propositions. At e-car lease the foremost product we offer is new car leasing.

This means that the vehicles our customers receive will be brand-new or pre-registered; in both cases they will have no more than delivery mileage and no other customer will have driven or used them. The pros to going for a new lease is that this is a new car (bespoke to you), this will have the manufacturer warranty (can range between 3 - 7 years), this will be the latest in battery and technology plus the vehicle will have no wear or tear.

With many businesses benefitting from such sizeable tax benefits, there is often a limited need to go for the used proposition, especially when the company is trying to retain employees. However, for the consumers and retail demographic, there is no such taxation benefit and with many customers noting the higher list prices / acquisition costs preventing a move to electric, there is often a greater incentive to consider alternative options.

For the latest used leasing scheme we now have, there is an opportunity for a UK business or individual to look at a whole host of used EVs. The pros are that these are stock (for 14 day delivery), more cost-effective (due to depreciation), have maintenance included and do not need a deposit.

With so many EVs now in production, the line-up of available used-cars is set to be diverse with options like the Tesla Model 3, Audi e-Tron, Jaguar I-Pace, Porsche Taycan and Renault Zoe. Since these are ex-lease vehicles, they are often no more than 2 or 3 years old and will be supplied in a saleable condition.

Indeed, any imperfections are clearly noted on the website to ensure that you are clearly aware of any defects or damage to the car you are looking to procure from us. As contracts range from 12 months - 36 months, there is no obligation for any long-term commitment, especially if you want to try the car for a shorter period.

For many first-time EV customers, this is a great way to ascertain if battery technology is suitable. And because maintenance is always included with used EV leasing, the cost of any routine servicing, replacement tyres, MOTs and 24/7 breakdown assistance is included for the duration of the contract. This means that you only need to insure your car and arrange a charge point (if you are getting one for your home).

The good news is that the 2022/2023 version of the Cupra Born will be available on a used-EV lease scheme. While new customers can head to our website for the new VZ model , customers wanting a used Cupra Born can email us at [email protected] for more info.

But how does the used Cupra Born perform

This has a usable battery of 58 kWh which offers 150 kW (201hp), top speeds of 99 mph and 0-62 times of 7.3 seconds. Real-world ranges suggest a combined 180 miles in colder weather with warmer temperatures to allow for 250 miles (on a full charge).

The 11kW AC allows for 0-100% charging times of 6 hour and 15 minutes with the 124kW DC enabling 10-80% in 31 minutes. The hot hatch has no Bidirectional charging. It has a 150 mpg equivalent, 385L cargo volume and offers no towing capacities. There is no heat pump on this EV.