Cupra Born Australian pricing confirmed

December 16, 2022December 16, 2022 EV Central team 3227 Views Cupra

Spanish newcomer Cupra will price the Born compact battery electric hatchback in Australia from $59,990 plus on-road costs.

Orders can be placed from December 20 and deliveries are expected to start in March 2023.

The Born will be available in one highly specified equipment level in Australia and with the most powerful e-motor (170kW/310Nm) and battery pack (77kWh net) on offer from the factory.

The Volkswagen Group brand, which launched in Australia in July, is boasting the Born is the first EV to be sold here with a price under $60,000 and a range between recharges beyond 500km.

There are some caveats on that though: Driveaway pricing in every state is above $60,000, climbing as high as $66,490 in Western Australia.

Only in NSW does the $3000 EV rebate and lack of stamp duty drop the Born’s price back under $60,000 on the road.

And if you option the Born’s $2600 Performance Pack and the bigger 20-inch wheels and tyres (up from standard 19s) that come with it, claimed range between recharges drops from 511km to 475km (ADR).

Apart from the Performance Package the only other Born options are the $2900 Interior Package and the Aurora Blue premium metallic paint for $475.

BEVs the compact Born is priced close to include the Polestar 2 (starting at $63,900), Tesla Model 3 ($65,500), Hyundai Ioniq 5 ($69,900) and Kia Niro ($64,450).

The conceptually similar Volkswagen ID.3 is expected to be priced under the Born when it arrives here in updated form in 2024 as part of a VW brand EV onslaught.

As per Cupra’s agency model, the Born will be sold online and via nine agents nationwide.

It says it already has around 5000 registrations of interest for the Born, but expects demand will outstrip supply with only 500-1000 destined for our shores in 2023.

Limitations on battery supply will be the primary determining factor for how many Borns make it to Australia in 2023.

Cupra is pitching the Born as a hot hatch thanks to its rear-wheel drive, sports suspension and e-boost e-motor that kicks in an extra 20kW (to deliver that 170kW total), although a seven second 0-100km/h claim is more tepid than hot.

The Born – named after a suburb of Barcelona – comes with 11kW AC charging capability and 170kW DC fast charging.

We’ll deliver our impressions from a brief first local drive of an Aussie-spec Born when the embargo lifts next week.

If you can’t wait that long read John Carey’s European first drive impressions here.

Equipment highlights for the Born include a 12-inch infotainment interface and a 5.3-inch driver’s display, smartphone mirroring, adaptive cruise control, wireless phone charging, ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control and single-piece front seats.

Active and passive safety features include autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane assist, park assist, side assist, rear-cross traffic alert, exit warning, driver fatigue warning and pre-crash assist.

Performance Package spec includes adaptive dampers, sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4 rubber and a four-seat cabin (down from the standard five).

The Interior Package also cuts the seat count to four and adds (among other things) power adjust, heating and massage functions for the front seats and a nine-speaker Beats audio system.