2023 Cupra Born electric car review

This all-new car brand is preparing to launch a zero-emissions car in Australia that does what none before it has been able to do.

Appropriately enough for a brand named Cupra, the first sub-$100,000 electric car from the Volkswagen family represents something of a coup.

While stablemates VW, Audi and Skoda plan to sell reasonably affordable electric cars in the near future, the Spanish spin-off will beat them to market with the Cupra Born.

Electric cars are a central part of the launch strategy for the newest badge in the VW group, which will have access to battery-powered cars in Australia well before sister brands Volkswagen and Skoda.

Cupra is set to launch a sub-$60,000 EV with more than 500km of range.

Arriving in March, the Cupra Born could also be the first electric car on sale with range and price tag figures starting with the number five.

Priced from $59,990 plus on-road costs (about $63,000 drive-away), the Cupra Born’s 511 kilometres of claimed range give it a competitive advantage.

Tesla charges $65,500 plus on-roads for a Model 3 with 491km of claimed range, while the larger Hyundai Ioniq 5 costs $72,000 plus on-roads with 507km of range.

Named after a trendy suburb in Barcelona, the Born is based on VW’s ID. 3 electric hatchback.

As with any electric car that isn’t a modified version of a petrol machine, the Cupra Born is built around its battery. Local examples have 77kWh of lithium-ion storage that can accept 170kW from public fast chargers. Boosting battery capacity from 20 to 80 per cent of the car’s range takes about 20 minutes at outlets capable of matching the car’s charging performance.

It bests rivals on price and driving range.

Aussie drivers are sceptical of electric cars with limited range, so we won’t get cheaper versions of the car that have a smaller 58kWh battery with 420 kilometres of range.

Cupra’s focus on style and performance in Australia positions the brand between Volkswagen and Audi, so you shouldn’t expect the car to be a stripped-back bargain. Our preview drive took place in a model with high-backed sports seats trimmed in navy blue faux-suede material with gold highlights to match copper-coloured exterior elements.

The cabin layout is simple but has plenty of hi-tech features.

Standard kit includes an iPhone-sized digital speedo mounted directly in front of the driver, plus a 12-inch central infotainment display with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring. Dual-zone climate control and a 360-degree camera are part of the deal, as are smart keys and wireless phone charging.

It even has an app that allows remote control of battery charging and airconditioning.

Customers can add a $2900 interior package that delivers front seats with heating and massage functions, along with faux-suede trim and a nine-speaker Beats stereo. A $2600 performance package with multi-mode electronically adjustable suspension swaps standard 19-inch wheels for low-profile 20-inch rims with wider Michelin performance rubber that reduce the car’s range to 475 kilometres (from 511km).

The Born is the same size as the VW Golf hatchback.

Cupra pitches the Golf-sized five-door as a “hot hatch”. Silent propulsion, modest power and torque outputs (170kW/310Nm) and near-two-tonne weight suggest the brand might be optimistic in that assertion.

A claimed 7.0 second sprint to 100km/h isn’t particularly exciting these days, and a kerb weight that is nearer to Toyota’s Kluger than its Corolla should not translate to scalpel-sharp handling. But it defies expectations – and physics – with a low centre of gravity, quick steering and the instant throttle response unique to electric cars.

It’s not your traditional hot hatch, but it delivers driving thrills.

Rapid responses from light steering make for easy changes of direction accompanied by minimal body roll. Consistent and easily modulated brakes are a credit to Cupra, as is the measured response from its throttle pedal. Our preview drive took place on a racetrack with no bumps, so it was not possible to assess the car’s ride quality.

The rear-drive layout delivers a better turning circle than front-drive rivals, as well as superior traction. The steering wheel in cheaper alternatives will squirm in your hands as the front tyres scrabble for purchase, but that’s not a problem in the Born. It delivers easy and efficient progress, feeling accurate and predictable even in slippery conditions.

But fans of traditional hot hatches might feel short-changed by a lack of drama or athleticism. It’s not that kind of car.

CUPRA BORN VITALS

PRICE About $63,000 drive-away

MOTOR Electric, 170kW and 310Nm

WARRANTY/SERVICE 5 years, unlimited km

SAFETY Seven airbags, auto emergency braking, radar cruise, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert.

RANGE 511km

BOOT 385 litres

SPARE Repair kit

Originally published as 2023 Cupra Born electric car review