2023 Cupra Born EV review: Australian first drive

The Born is a significant car for the ambitious Spanish upstart, Cupra. A milestone. Groundbreaking, even.

It’s the Volkswagen Group-owned brand's first electric car, offering five-seat packaging and up to 511 kilometres of driving range, along with genuine enthusiast driving dynamics – and a bigger boot than Cupra’s bigger combustion-powered Leon.

Priced at a keen $59,990 (before on-roads and/or state EV incentives), with a steady supply of Australia-bound vehicles from the factory, the recipe for success is there, and we’re expecting good things.

Does the Cupra Born deliver? Let’s find out.

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JUMP AHEAD

• How much is it, and what do you get?
• How do rivals compare on value?
• Interior comfort, space and storage
• What is it like to drive?
• How efficient is it?
• How safe is it?
• Warranty and running costs
• VERDICT
• Specifications

How much is it, and what do you get?

The Cupra Born is offered as a single variant in Australia, asking $59,990 (before on-road costs).

State Governments are, slowly but surely, introducing their own EV incentives, with drive-away pricing – depending on state and eligibility – in some cases offered for as low as $57,490 (Queensland). Be sure to check what electric vehicle incentives may be available to you.

For your dollars, you net a powertrain comprising a 82kWh gross (77kWh net) battery providing up to 511kms of range on the WLTP test cycle, powering a 170kW/310Nm rear-mounted motor that drives the rear wheels.

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That’s very nearly Golf GTI power (the comparisons are unavoidable), which is pegged at 180kW/370Nm. But, before you get too excited, the battery-packed Born tips the scales at a portly 1811kg, versus the Golf’s 1570kg. It completes the 0-100km/h dash in around 7.0 seconds, Cupra claims.

The Born’s 400V architecture allows for DC fast charging up to 170kW, replenishing from 10-80 percent in under 40 minutes. AC charging rates max out at 11kW, and should take about 7.5 to eight hours to complete a full charge.

Two options packs exist for the Cupra Born, with buyers able to opt for a $2600 Performance Pack as well as an optional $2900 interior pack.

The Performance Pack adds 20-inch wheels, 235/40/20 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres, ESC-Off mode, and Dynamic Chassis Control.

The Interior Pack (pictured below) comprises Dinamica upholstery made of upcycled marine plastics as well as 12-way power adjustment, massage and heating functions to the front seats, plus a nine-speaker 395W Beats stereo.

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Taking up either, or both, of the Cupra Born option packs reduces total seating from five seats to four, with the second row shrinking from three seats to two.

The Performance Pack’s stickier and larger Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres also reduce the ultimate driving range claim to a still-admirable 495kms.

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How do rivals compare on value?

The popular Tesla Model 3 comfortably dominates this price point in the EV space, asking a slightly dearer $60,900 in entry RWD configuration, and delivering a slightly lower 559km WLTP range.

Hyundai’s Kona Electric is another popular option for mainstream buyers, delivering 484km of WLTP driving range, beginning at $60,500 for the Kona Electric Elite.

The Kia Niro EV S asks $65,300 and boasts 451km of WLTP range, while the Polestar 2 offers 470km for $63,900.

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Interior comfort, space and storage

Even in standard form, the Cupra Born exudes a distinct style imbued with quality materials and an aire of solidity to its build.

Steering wheel haptic controls, the infotainment housing, switchgear arrangement and few bits and bobs are identifiably Volkswagen Group, but Cupra excels in confidently communicating its own distinct design and identity.

Feel the wonderfully textured standard cloth trim of the lovely sports seats, admire the detailed surfacing across the sharp dashboard, and it’s clear: this is not your grandma’s Volkswagen.

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Cupra’s materials are noticeably more premium, and the detailed textures and surfacing bestow a level of consideration to the cabin that is deeply satisfying to behold.

The 12-inch touch-sensitive infotainment screen is impressive to view, but the user interface is initially dizzying with all motor functions, from active safety to climate control, handled through an array of taps, swipes and menus.

The haptic climate and volume sliders beneath the infotainment screen are also cause for initial frustrations, and lack the tactile feedback to be eyes-free operable while driving. We imagine that you would get used to them over time, however.

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Scope of adjustment in seating and wheel position is broad, with deceptive amounts of headroom for taller folk both in front and back seats. Australian-spec vehicles are presented with Drive Mode toggles on the steering wheel.

The mini digital instrument cluster feels both futuristic and pared back at the same time, displaying only essential drive information with most auxiliary functions handled via the central touchscreen.

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The Drive Selector toggle, mounted high and to the right of the digital cluster, is a novel revamp of the central selector prevalent throughout the Volkswagen Group. There’s a wireless charging pad in the front central arm rest, and a USB-C port hidden within the central bin.

Back seats are slightly elevated, but the space offered is generous and, despite the large bucket reclining front seats, retains an airy feeling throughout the glasshouse, with decent legroom for most except for the tallest of adults. There’s a wireless charging pad in the front central arm rest, and a USB-C port hidden within the central bin.

The back seats themselves split/fold 60:40, with a central ski port, to boot. In the back, there are also two more USB-C ports for the rear passengers.

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Cupra Born boot space

The Born's boot measures 385 litres, up slightly on the larger Leon hatchback’s 380-litre compartment.

Specifying either, or both of, the Performance and Interior Packs reduces the second row seats from three to two, reducing total seats from five to four.

The Interior Pack's upcycled Dinamica upholstery, however is lovely to the touch and features intricate detailing, along with power-adjustable, heated and massaging front seats.

The nine-speaker Beats stereo works to great effect and is a noticeable improvement over that standard system - which itself delivers decent clarity and power.

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What is it like to drive?

The Born gains pace effortlessly and smoothly, and makes ease of overtaking opportunities thanks to its small footprint and linear electric delivery.

Expectations of a Golf-sized package packing instant electric delivery and rear-drive theatrics must be tempered by the knowledge that Cupra’s Born weighs over 300kg more than the ubiquitous Volkswagen hatch, and tips the scales at almost 1.9 tonnes with a driver on board.

Allow any hot hatch expectations to cool, and the Cupra coalesces as a confident inner-city pedaller that blends Volkswagen’s age-old hallmarks of instant ease of use and a broad, effortless competence, with Cupra’s new found style and flair. It may not be fast, but the powertrain cohesion feels wonderfully refined.

Despite its weight, at road speeds, it gains pace effortlessly and smoothly, and makes ease of overtaking opportunities thanks to its small footprint and linear electric delivery.

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Regenerative braking can be adjusted between D and B drive modes, selectable on the cluster-mounted Drive toggle, with regenerative loads varying further between Drive Modes. Pedal feel is pleasantly nuanced for an EV, with an organic crossover between regenerative and mechanical brakes.

The front end feels laser-guided, ultra-quick to respond off centre thanks to the super fast steering ratio.

There’s an underlying firmness to the dampers, but it fits Cupra’s sporty image and is perfectly liveable in the everyday. Due to its weight, it can fall into dips with a bit of a thud, but its overall body control feels typically German despite the Born's Spanish flavour.

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Around town, it truly is no more difficult than driving any small-segment VW.

But Cupra talks big about being a brand for those that care about ‘the drive’, however, and as the launch route trades metropolitan roads for faster flowing mountain passes - the Born reveals even more of its broad breadth of talent.

At speed, the Born reveals itself as, what might be, the most engaging driver’s EV that isn’t a Porsche Taycan.

Even the standard car, on 19-inch Continental EcoContact 6 tyres, is rather playful and possesses a wonderful low friction balance to its chassis. Yes, it weights over 1800kg, but most of that mass is tangibly centralised, which makes the base Born wonderfully chuckable!

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At speed, the Born reveals itself as, what might be, the most engaging driver’s EV that isn’t a Porsche Taycan.

It feels explicitly rear-driven and, in Comfort Mode, with its comparatively modest power outputs, you can engage with more throttle commitment, more of the time.

The brake pedal comes into its own at speed, even with B mode regenerative braking engaged. This is the first EV I’ve driven that I’ve been able to so instantly and intuitively left-foot brake in with proper confidence - which is unheard of.

One-pedal driving seemingly isn’t possible, which may irk some, but this is an EV that’s trying to meet combustion enthusiasts halfway. And many, including Porsche, argue that the long-range benefits of aggressive brake regeneration is actually inefficient.

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The Cupra Mode shortcut button on the steering wheel is a quick catch-all setting, to tip the Born into its most dynamic settings.

Of course, there is an Individual Mode, too, that gives you full control over the 15-way damper adjustments, and more.

Even with ESC On, once you get used to the weight, you can frequently overpower the systems on corner entry producing consistent moments of neutrality. On consecutive fast flowing left-right-left bends, it’s a deeply satisfying experience.

Find the ESC setting in the infotainment, and switch it to Sport, only encourages more movement, but the overall calibration feels deft at subtly arresting you before you get too out of shape.

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With the exception of the Taycan, the Born feels like it was built by people that care about the driving experience, more than anything else that comes to mind

Turn it with too much pace, and the Born will safely ease into understeer, but you can produce some satisfying yaw moments by throwing its weight back at it on a tight off camber downhill corner.

Opting for the Performance Pack unlocks an unleashed ESC Off mode, which wasn’t engaged on the launch for safety reasons. Its Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres, and Dynamic Chassis Control (adaptive damping). Overall, the Performance packed Born feels much more tied-down, confident, and is a noticeably quicker, point-to-point, car. But it does lose the playful charm of the standard Born. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres, however, reduce ultimate driving range to 495kms.

The Cupra Born feels like it was built by people that care about the driving experience, more than anything else that comes to mind - except for a Porsche Taycan, but that’s another thing entirely.

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How efficient is it?

Switching between various vehicles, with different tyres, across two days, prevented us from gaining any consistent pieces of efficiency data.

Anecdotally, however, many vehicles driven on launch displayed 20-23kWh/100km.

We will report back when we have a Cupra Born in hand for more thorough testing.

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How safe is it?

The Cupra Born was assessed and awarded Five Stars by ANCAP in 2022. This rating applies to all variants.

The Born boasts seven airbags, comprising: dual frontal, side chest-protecting and side head-protecting (curtain) airbags, plus a centre airbag.

It also features Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with car-to-car, pedestrian and junction cross-traffic assist, plus Lane Keep Assist and Lane Departure Warning, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, blind-sport assist, rear cross-traffic assist and driver attention monitoring are all fitted as standard.

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Warranty and running costs

Australian Cupra Borns are covered by five-year/unlimited-km vehicle warranty.

Cupra offers standardised three and five year prepaid servicing packages for all of its models.

The Born’s three year package asks $990, while the five year plan is priced at $1590.

Service intervals run annually or every 15,000kms, whichever comes first.

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VERDICT

As a newcomer model, from a newcomer brand, to the hotly contested circa-$60k Australian EV segment, the Cupra Born displays massive talent and is a worthy consideration for young city-based buyers.

It offers practical packaging in a city-friendly footprint, with genuinely engaging dynamics at fast and low speeds, and enough driving range to explore it, and still make it home. A feat, still, to be achieved by a contemporary combustion performance car, but a near watershed moment for an EV at this price point.

It blends hot style and warm performance, delivering enough range to intimately explore both.

The Born is a genuinely beguiling proposition. A fun-focused urban EV with enough range to get up early on a Sunday morning, go for a spirited morning drive, and get home with enough juice left in the battery for the afternoon grocery shop.

If it were my money, I’d even opt against the Performance Pack. Just give me a standard Born with the Interior Pack. It’ll ride better everyday, and I’d probably just put Pilot Sports on when I (inevitably) wear the factory eco hoops out, anyway.

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