The first mainstream electric car from the Volkswagen Group in Australia will be priced below $60,000 before on-road costs when it touches down locally in March 2023.
The Cupra Born will kick off at $59,990 before on-road costs, equivalent to a drive-away price (before incentives) of around $63,000 depending on state.
That pricing puts it into direct competition with the best-selling Tesla Model 3 sedan ($65,500 before on-roads), plus the Nissan Leaf e+ ($61,490 before on-roads), Hyundai Kona Electric Extended Range ($60,500 before on-roads), and Kia Niro Electric S ($65,300).
Orders aren’t open yet, but pre-orders ($1000 upfront, $750 of which is a refundable deposit and $250 of which is a non-refundable reservation fee) will open before Christmas barring any technical hold-ups.
Under the skin, the Born rides on the same MEB underpinnings as the Volkswagen ID.3 hatchback already on offer in Europe, and due in Australia post-facelift in 2024.
It’s the first step in a Volkswagen Group Australia rollout that will eventually see everything from small EV hatches like the Born and ID.3, SUVs such as the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 (late 2023) and Skoda Enyaq (likely 2024), and the Kombi-inspired Volkswagen ID. Buzz (2024).
Supply is expected to be strong, although Cupra Australia brand director Ben Wilks told CarExpert there may be more people who want cars, than there are cars on offer.
“We’re competing with all world markets and with markets that still have even more advanced legislation about electrification, and in favour of electrification or negative towards petrol vehicles,” Mr Wilks said.
“We’re locked in with the cars we’re going to get, and if I look at the demand so far, the demand is probably going to exceed that,” he said. “We just need to manage that sensitively for each of our customers, and provide our order bank really clearly to the factory so they see just how much impact we’re having here in Australia.”
Speaking with Australian media earlier in 2022, global Cupra boss Wayne Griffiths said: “The supply for the planned demand is secured, and our planned demand is quite ambitious.”
Pricing
- 2023 Cupra Born: $59,990 before on-road costs
- ACT: $61,990 drive-away
- NSW: $62,490 drive-away
- QLD: $63,490 drive-away
- VIC: $64,990 drive-away
- SA: $64,490 drive-away
- WA: $66,490 drive-away
Drive-away prices exclude any state-based rebates, but include variances in registration and CTP costs.
Drivetrain
Australians will only be offered the e-Boost model with a 77kWh (usable) lithium-ion battery pack, and a rear-mounted electric motor (rear-wheel drive) making 170kW of power and 310Nm of torque.
Smaller battery packs are available overseas, but won’t be making the journey to Australia at launch.
The 100km/h sprint takes a claimed 7.0 seconds.
Efficiency
The 77kWh lithium-ion battery is good for a claimed 511km of range on the WLTP test, although that drops to 475km with the Performance Pack (and its larger, stickier tyres) fitted.
It’ll charge at up to 11kW on an AC charger, and 170kW hooked up to a DC fast charger.
Dimensions
Boot space is a claimed 385L with the rear seats in place.
The Born measures 4322mm long, 1809mm wide and 1540mm tall, with a 2766mm wheelbase.
It rides on a McPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension, and all Australian cars get the sportier suspension option optional overseas as standard.
Servicing and Warranty
The Born will be backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty when it touches down.
Cupra currently offers three years of free servicing on the Leon, Formentor and Ateca but hasn’t confirmed service pricing for the Born.
Safety
The Born has a five-star Euro NCAP rating based on testing carried out in 2022.
It hasn’t yet been translated to an ANCAP rating, although the five-star rating should carry over.
It earned scores of 93 per cent for adult occupant protection, 89 per cent for child occupant protection, 73 per cent for vulnerable road user protection, and 80 per cent for safety assist.
Standard equipment includes:
- Seven airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist detection
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane-keep assist
- Parking assist
- Blind-spot assist
- Rear cross-traffic assist
- Driver attention monitoring
- Rain-sensing wipers
Performance Pack 
Interior Pack
Standard Equipment
Exterior
- 19-inch black and copper Typhoon alloy wheels
- Tyre pressure monitoring
- Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors
- LED headlights, tail lights, fog lights
- Automatic headlights with auto high-beam
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Tinted rear windows
- Rear roof spoiler
Interior
- 5.3-inch digital instrument binnacle
- 12-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay, Android Auto (wired)
- Wireless phone charging
- DAB+ digital radio
- 4 x USB ports
- Surround-view camera
- Leather, heated steering wheel
- Front bucket seats
- Floor mats
- Keyless entry and start
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Dual-zone climate control
- Aluminium pedals
Chassis
- Sports suspension
- Driving profile selection
- Progressive (variable-ratio) steering
A pair of options packages are offered, starting with the Interior Package ($2900). It brings:
- Aurora Blue, suede-trimmed, front bucket seats
- Heated front seats
- 12-way power adjustable front seats with massaging
- Two-seat rear bench (three-seat bench standard)
- Heated washing jets
- Beats premium sound system (nine-speaker, 395W)
The Performance Package ($2600) brings:
- 20-inch firestorm alloy wheels in black and silver
- 235mm Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres (wide tyre package)
- Two-seat rear bench (three-seat bench standard)
- Adaptive damping
Colours
- Glacial White
- Geyser Silver
- Quasar Grey
- Rayleigh Red
- Vapor Grey
MORE: Everything Cupra Born
