UPDATE, December 22: Cupra Born driven in Australia!
The Cupra Born is now in Australia, and we’ve driven it. Get Daniel Gardner’s full review at the link below.
With a long range, unique styling, generous standard equipment and European appeal, the new Cupra Born is quite possibly the easiest electric vehicle to recommend in the current zero-emissions market.
Story continues…
December 16: Cupra Born Australian pricing announced
The 2023 Cupra Born five-door small hatchback will touch down with an asking price of less than $60,000, with order books open from December 19.
Starting from $59,990 before on-road costs, the Born adds another option to Australia’s most affordable zero-emissions vehicles.
How much is the 2023 Cupra Born EV?
| Model | RRP | Drive-away |
|---|---|---|
| Cupra Born | $59,990 before on-road costs | ACT: $61,990, NSW: $62,490, QLD: $63,490, VIC: $64,490, WA: $64,490, SA: $66,490 |
While it is priced higher than the more affordable MG ZS EV, BYD Atto 3, Hyundai Kona Electric and Nissan Leaf, the Born represents the cheapest electric car from a European brand.
While the Born is Cupra’s first EV, it also marks the start of Volkswagen Group’s range of more accessible EVs in Australia, leading the way for the Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4, as well as the Skoda Enyaq, all of which roll on the same MEB modular platform.
Cupra has also offered drive-away pricing for the Born, with total costs ranging from $61,990 for customers in the ACT to $66,490 for customers in WA, although recently introduced incentives may offer further reductions depending on the state.
Comparisons
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2023 Cupra Born powertrain and features
A single variant will be offered from launch equipped with a 82kWh battery, rear-wheel drive and 170kW/310Nm, however, Cupra is offering customers a number of option packs to create a more individual Born.
| 19-inch alloy wheels (black and copper) | Auto-dimming rear-view mirror |
| 12-inch infotainment system | Drive mode selector |
| Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | Tyre pressure monitoring |
| DAB+ digital radio | Front bucket seats |
| 5.3-inch digital instrument cluster | Recycled fibre upholstery |
| Four USB-C ports (2x front, 2x rear) | Dual-zone climate control |
| Wireless phone charger | Adaptive steering |
| Colour-adjustable ambient lighting | Sports suspension |
| Leather-wrapped heated steering wheel | Automatic parking |
| LED head and tail-lights | Rain-sensing wipers |
| Rear spoiler | 360-degree camera system |
| Heated power-folding side mirrors | Carpet floor mats |
| Keyless entry and push-button start |
The $2600 Performance Pack upgrades the standard 19-inch alloy wheels to 20-inch rims wearing Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres, and a Dynamic Chassis Control ESC mode, although ticking the box reduces the number of seats from five to four, while the wider tyres drop claimed driving range from 511 kilometres to 475km.
Opting for the Interior Pack adds another $2900 to the bottom line and a list of luxury touches to the cabin, including sports front seats with heating, 12-way electric adjustment and massage function and Aurora blue Dinamica upholstery. The package also includes a premium Beats sound system with nine speakers, while heated windscreen washer jets prevent freezing in cold conditions.
Like the Performance Pack, the Interior option reduces the seat-count to four. Aside from $475 Aurora blue metallic paint, all other Born equipment is included in the price.
Its main central touchscreen measures 12.0-inches and is complemented by a 5.3-inch driver’s instrument cluster, and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay is standard, although not wirelessly.
Other tech highlights include LED headlights, cordless device charging, two USB-C sockets for the front occupants and two for the rear, and ambient cabin lighting.
Comfort and convenience features include; keyless locking/unlocking and start, a heated leather steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, tinted rear windows, and a 385-litre boot.
There’s also a decent amount of safety and driver assistance features offered in the deal, with a 360-degree camera, tyre pressure monitoring, seven airbags, automatic headlights and wipers, lane-departure and parking assistance, adaptive cruise control, driver fatigue monitoring, and autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist recognition.
Cupra claims the Born offers ‘hot hatch’ appeal and, with a zero-to-100km/h acceleration of 7.0 seconds, the Born has comparable performance to the entry-level Tesla Model Y or mid-range Audi A3, for example.
Cupra Australia director Ben Wilks explained that its first electric vehicle would be one of the most significant in the brand’s evolution.
“To combine a long 500km-plus EV [driving] range with instant electric performance and controllable dynamics through the sharp steering and rear-wheel-drive chassis, places the Cupra Born in an exclusive part of the market,” he said.
“From range and pricing to space and driver satisfaction, the Born will be the most important vehicle that Cupra launches as it defines class leadership”.
Warranty and servicing
As per the wider Cupra range, the Born will be covered by the brand’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Cupra Australia has yet to announce details for battery coverage and servicing information for its electric vehicles. The high-voltage components in its plug-in hybrid range are covered for eight years or 160,000 kilometres, whichever occurs first.
Keyword: 2023 Cupra Born pricing and features: Electric hatchback due next year