Cupra Born and MG4 electric hatchbacks compared
Sales of electric vehicles are surging, but the market to date has been completely dominated by the Model 3 and Model Y. These newcomers are poised to change that.
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The Australian electric car market was initially dominated by SUVs and sedans, but a flood of well priced hatchbacks has changed the landscape this year.
Two of the best are the Cupra Born and the MG4.
Both are rear-wheel drive and sharp to steer, with driving ranges of more than 500km. If you have about $60,000 to spend, these are two of the best options on sale.
CUPRA BORN
Cupra isn’t a household name in Australia, but underneath the Born you’ll find the same set-up as the Volkswagen ID. 3, which has been on sale in Europe for years.
Prices start at about $62,500 drive-away, about $4000 more than the MG4 Long Range.
It’s a handsome little hatch that stands out in the traffic with a short bonnet, dynamic LED lighting, 19-inch alloy wheels and unique copper highlights.
Our car was fitted with a $2900 optional Interior Pack that added plush power-adjustable faux-suede bucket seats with heating and massaging functions, along with a nine-speaker Bose stereo.
There’s a catch, though. If you choose this pack, the rear seat accommodates just two people.
The standard seats are made from recycled plastic and are manually adjustable.
There is a large 12.3-inch central display angled towards the driver for easier viewing on the go. It is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but there’s no in-built satnav. A small 5.2-inch driver display gives you all the information you need.
Ambient lighting adds some pop to the cabin, as do suede-like finishes on the centre console and doors. A wireless device charger and four USB-C charging ports cover both rows.
You can see where Cupra has tried to save money, though.
There are lots of hard plastics on the doors below eye level and the cabin quality and attention to detail drops a rung in the back seats.
There are no rear aircon vents and only two window switches for the driver to control all four windows.
There are no physical buttons to adjust the airconditioning so you have to dive into a menu in the central screen to alter the settings.
Cupra pitches the Born as an electric hot hatch but it doesn’t have the bark or bite of petrol powered heroes such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Its 170kW/310Nm rear mounted electric motor drives it to 100km/h in seven seconds, half a second slower than the MG4. Its performance is also dulled by the fact it weighs just shy of 2000kg, 200kg more than the MG4.
The drive experience isn’t just about raw numbers, though.
The Born is a hoot to drive, with meaty, direct steering, rear-wheel-drive shove, a low centre of gravity and multiple driving modes that alter throttle response and the bite of the regenerative braking.
It’s agile through corners and the firm suspension helps keep it in check when asked to change direction quickly.
The pedal feel isn’t as reassuring as it should be, though.
Adaptive suspension and bigger performance tyres can be optioned for $2900.
The 511km driving range is excellent and the Born is slightly faster to charge than the MG.
MG4
MG has come from nowhere to establish itself as a top 10 brand in Australia and the 4 is its best car yet.
The little hatchback starts at about $41,000 drive-away, but the Long Range version costs $58,000.
The extra money buys a bigger 77kWh battery, a driving range of up to 530km and more grunt from its rear-mounted electric motor.
MG backs the 4 with a seven-year/unlimited km warranty, which trumps the Born’s five-year guarantee.
Servicing only needs to be done every 24 months or 40,000km compared to the Born’s 12 month/15,000km intervals. It’s also marginally cheaper to service, costing $1499 for six years of visits. The Born’s prepaid service pack costs $1590 for five years.
It’s not as attractive to look at as the Born, with a wedge-shaped design lacking the European’s smooth lines and on-road presence.
Inside, it’s a similar story. The cabin design lacks the visual appeal of the Born. although it is well equipped.
The seats, wrapped in faux leather and cloth, aren’t as comfortable as the Cupra. Only the driver’s seat has power adjustment but both are heated. There is a 10.25-inch central touchscreen and a seven-inch driver display. Smartphone mirroring is standard as is satnav and a six-speaker stereo. The steering wheel feels abnormally big and the font on the touchscreen is on the smaller side, which makes it harder to read than most.
Hard plastics dominate the cabin and, as with the Born, most aircon controls are accessed through the touchscreen
Both cars have a five-star crash result and a complete array of active safety tech but the MG4 fared worse for adult and child occupant protection in independent crash testing.
On the road the 4 shows just how far MG has come in a short time.
It’s a cracker to drive, with sharp but light steering and impressive balance and composure on tight and twisting country roads.
There is urgent shove off the mark from the 180kW and 350Nm rear motor and it has better stopping power than the Born, which uses old-school drum brakes on the rear.
It’s lighter and has softer suspension, which makes it more pleasant to drive around town, where it irons out bumps and road imperfections better than the Born.
If you want more, the circa-$65,000 MG4 Xpower uses two electric motors to make 320kW and 600Nm while reaching 100km/h in a rapid 3.8 seconds.
VERDICT
It’s a tight race, as both are excellent small electric hatchbacks. The Born oozes character few can match but the MG4’s cheaper price, sharp driving and longer warranty give it a narrow victory.
VITALS
CUPRA BORN
PRICE About $62,500 drive-away
MOTOR Single rear electric motor, 170kW and 310Nm
WARRANTY/SERVICING Five years/unlimited km, $1590 for five years
SAFETY Seven airbags, auto emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, 360-degree camera and radar cruise control
RANGE 511km
SPARE Tyre repair kit
LUGGAGE 385 litres
MG4 77 LONG RANGE
PRICE About $58,000 drive-away
MOTOR Single rear electric motor, 180kW and 350Nm
WARRANTY/SERVICING Seven years/unlimited km, $1499 for six years
SAFETY Six airbags, auto emergency baking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert and radar cruise control
RANGE 530km
SPARE Tyre repair kit
LUGGAGE 350 litres
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