The Volkswagen Group finally has a competitor Tesla Model 3 in Australia and it won’t come from Volkswagen, Skoda or even Audi.
Cuprathe newest member of the Volkswagen Group family Down Under, will lead the way with the arrival of the new generation Born EV hatchbacks.
We won’t see Volkswagen ID range or Skoda Enyaq SUV for at least 12 months, giving Cupra a significant head start over its cousins in the Australian electric space.
Upon landing in earnest in March 2023, Born will face a growing group of opponents including Leaf Nissan, Hyundai Kona Electric, Electric vehicle Kia Niroand the best-selling Tesla Model 3.
With a price tag of just around $60,000 before on-road costs and a range of more than 500km, it certainly has the tools to make it stand out…on paper.
We’ll have to wait a little longer for an intensive drive on Australia’s roads, but we had a very brief experience at the Haunted Hills in Victoria to whet our appetites in the meantime. wait. Here’s what we’ve learned.
How much does Cupra Born cost?
The 2023 Cupra is born will start at $59,990 before on-road expensesThat equates to a driving price (before the offer) of about $63,000 depending on the state.
That valuation puts it in direct competition with Tesla Model 3 ($65,500), plus Nissan Leaf e+ ($61,490), Hyundai Kona electric extended range ($60,500), and Kia Niro EV WILL ($65,300). All prices do not include road charges.
Orders haven’t been opened 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 on December 20 prevent any technical delays.
Price of Cupra Born 2023:
- Cupra Born 77kWh eBoost: $59,990
Price to drive away:
- 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
The drive-away price does not include any state-based discounts, but does include the difference in subscription and CTP costs.
What’s inside Cupra Born like?
Born is exactly the same on the inside as you’d expect of a modern Volkswagen Group product. It’s also surprisingly spacious given its small exterior.
Both the driver and front passenger sit in sports seats with monolithic backrests. They have a slightly distinctive look and feel, and offer plenty of adjustability for taller riders, while the flat bottom wheel feels like a quality piece.
The Alcantara-style trim on cars with the Interior Package (complete with angled perforations) enhances the atmosphere, although the base car we sat in didn’t really look like a car either. especially.
Opposite the driver is a small, simple digital instrument cluster, while the instrument panel stands out with its independent touchscreen.
It’s running a version of the software we’ve seen elsewhere in the Cupra range, which has some downsides affecting the latest Volkswagens (e.g. touch sliders) but delivers Fast response, full feature list and simple enough interface.
Rear-seat space is surprisingly good, as the Born is a hatchback for the city. Headroom is ample in the rear, and the legroom behind the backs of the thick front seats is roomy enough to accommodate children or smaller adults without strain.
The rear bench in many trams feels compromised, but the battery on the floor doesn’t force the rear passenger to sit with their knees wrapped around their ears. You even get USB points there.
It’s not a family car, but it’s a pity to choose the option packages that turn this five-seater into a four-seater.
Claimed Bootspace 385L with the rear seats in place.
What’s under the bonnet?
Australians will only be offered the e-Boost model with 77kWh (usable) lithium-ion battery pack and rear-mounted electric motor 170kW power and 310Nm of torque. That’s right, rear-wheel drive small cars are back.
Smaller battery packs are available overseas, but won’t make the journey to Australia at launch.
Lithium-ion batteries in line with requirements 511km range on the WLTP test, though that goes down 475km with the Performance Pack (and bigger, stickier tires) fitted.
It will charge up to 11kW on an AC charger and 170kW connected to a DC fast charger. Meanwhile, the acceleration from 0-100 km/h prevails 7.0 seconds.
How does Cupra Born drive?
Cupra is touting the Born as the ‘hot hatch’ of the electric vehicle world, with 310Nm of torque to the touch and rear-wheel drive.
Our quick drive at Haunted Hills showed it to be smooth, quiet and fairly quick, though it’s difficult to pin down further.
The track was tight and twisty, with significant elevation changes and slippery due to torrential rain on a summer day in Melbourne.
With direct, light steering and a solid body-control-like feel, Born in disguise 1927kg (tare) good mass when changing direction rapidly. Blame the long-range 77kWh battery pack for that heavy bridge ticket.
In the default ‘D for drive’ mode, there is very little regenerative braking. Lift the accelerator and the Born won’t throw you forward in the seat like some rivals do, so it’s good that the dead pedal feels natural compared to the wooden setup in some electric cars.
Shifting the gear selector to ‘B’ increases regenerative braking, but even then it doesn’t feel too aggressive (at least on the track).
Bury your right foot and Born accelerates hard enough for you to feel fast without actually breaking your neck.
It’s completely quiet, which makes the way it accumulates speed over the short straight at Haunted Hills a bit disorienting compared to the internal combustion hatch.
The promise of instant torque, rear-wheel drive and racetrack sounds appealing – like the Born could be a quieter version of the previous-generation BMW M140i. Reality is not quite so wild.
You can break Born’s traction with a heavy right foot on slippery curbs in Haunted Hills, and with ESP in Sport it will step out before killing the fun.
However, it’s unlikely that the average owner will deliberately jostle their electric hatchback through the slick curbs of the track to explore its rear-wheel drive characteristics.
That’s not really the point, anyway. Born means it feels like a tighter, sportier car to the competent but simple VolkswagenID.3and our brief first trip proved it qualified for that mission.
What do you get?
exterior
- 19-inch black/bronze Typhoon alloy wheels
- Tire pressure monitoring
- Outside rearview mirror with heating, electric folding
- LED headlights, tail lights, fog lights
- Automatic high beam with automatic high beam
- Rain sensor wiper
- Stained rear window
- Rear roof spoiler
inland
- 5.3 inch digital tool box
- 12-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay, Android Auto (wired)
- Wireless phone charger
- DAB + digital radio
- 4 USB ports
- Surround view camera
- Leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel
- Front bucket seat
- Floor mats
- Keyless entry and start
- Automatic anti-glare rearview mirror
- Dual-zone climate control
- aluminum pedal
chassis
Option
Interior Package: ($2900)
- Aurora blue, suede upholstery, front bucket seats
- Front heated seats
- 12-way power front seats with massage
- 2-seat rear bench (standard 3-seat bench)
- Heated wash faucet
- Beats premium sound system (9 speakers, 395W)
Performance Package: ($2600)
- 20-inch Firestorm alloy wheels in black/silver
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires 235mm (wide package)
- 2-seat rear bench (standard 3-seat bench)
- adaptive damping
Is Cupra Born safe?
The Born has a five-star Euro NCAP rating based on testing conducted in 2022. It has not yet been converted to an ANCAP rating, although the five-star rating will continue.
The system scores 93% for adult passenger protection, 89% for child passenger protection, 73% for vulnerable pedestrian protection, and 80% for safety assistance. .
Standard equipment includes:
- 7 airbags
- AEB with Pedestrian, Bicyclist detection
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane keeping assist
- parking assistance
- Blind spot support
- Rear cross-section support
- Monitor the driver’s attention
- Rain sensor wiper
How much does Cupra Born cost to run?
The Born will be supported by a 5 year unlimited km warranty when it hits down next year.
Cupra currently offers three years of free service on Leon, Formentor and Ateca, but has not confirmed pricing for Born.
CarExpert assumes Cupra is born
It took a while, but the Volkswagen Group has almost lost track when it comes to mainstream electric cars in Australia.
While it’s hard to give a full opinion on the Born after five laps around a tight and slippery track, it’s without a doubt considered a compelling addition to the custom team. Australia’s growing electricity choice.
The price seems to be in line with the amount of range on offer, and the exterior conceals a cabin with more usable space than you might expect of a small urban hatchback.
If Cupra manages to secure a steady supply – and signs indicate it has, although some customers will have to wait – there’s no reason Born can’t make an impact across the board. local sales ratings.
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THAN: Everything Cupra born
