There’s an exciting addition to the electric vehicle market in Australia: the Cupra Born, a sleek hatchback with an estimated range of up to 511km on a single charge.
Although the car technically has been available to order locally since late last year, Cupra, a Barcelona-based Volkswagen subsidiary, recently held an official launch event in Canberra for its first fully electric vehicle. Named after the Barcelonian neighbourhood El Born, the Cupra Born is aimed at people who enjoy the experience of driving and want an EV to be more than a point-A-to-point-B experience.
In other words, this is a car made for both style and performance. On paper, and after seeing it in person, there’s a lot to like.
Features and specifications
It’s apt that Cupra chose Canberra to launch its debut EV. Aside from being the nation’s capital and where major legislation passes, it’s also Australia’s leading city in terms of electric vehicle adoption. As a result of several factors, including generous incentives, the Australian Capital Territory leads EV sales by a fair margin. Just this year alone, nearly one in five vehicles sold in the ACT were electric.
Built with an 82kWh lithium-ion battery, the Cupra Born’s reported 511km range firmly places it as one of the strongest value propositions in the Australian EV market in terms of range. For comparison, the $44,990 MG Motor ZS EV Excite caps out at 320km, while the long-range 540km Polestar 2 option costs upwards of $80k. Of course, if you opt for some of the Cupra’s optional features, like a nine-speaker Beats sound system or the Aurora Blue finish, the price increases.
In addition to the essentials seen in the below table, there are several design aspects that add a level of premium sheen to the EV. Adaptive cruise control and park assist both come included, as does a fully digital cockpit and intelligent climate control that automatically adjusts according to the number of passengers on board.
Another neat feature is the car’s seats, which are made from upcycled marine plastics. Made in collaboration with the Seaqual Initiative, it’s a nice sustainability touch.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Power | 170kW 310Nm max torque 0-100km/h in 7 seconds |
| Battery | Lithium-Ion 82kWh (net) 77kWh (usable) |
| Charging | AC: Type 2 (11kW max charging rate) DC: CCS Type 2 (170kW max rate) |
| Powertrain | Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) |
| Displays | 12-inch infotainment system 5.3-inch digital cockpit |
| Entertainment | Wired Apple and Android Auto connectivity 5-speaker audio system (optional 9-speaker Beats sound system) |
| Price (RRP) | From $59,990 before on-road costs |
| More info | Cupra website |
Cupra Born Australia price and availability
Depending on where in Australia you are, the Cupra Born electric vehicle costs vary from state to state. The car starts at a competitive $59,990 before on-road costs come into play. For ACT buyers, your drive-away cost comes to $61,990, with other states incurring higher prices. Here are all the drive-away prices before incentives such as the Electric Vehicle Discount factor in:
- ACT: $61,990
- New South Wales: $62,490
- Queensland: $63,490
- Victoria: $64,990
- South Australia: $64,490
- Western Australia: $66,490
Don’t expect to walk into a dealer and exit with a brand-new car, though. If the Born catches your eye, you need to order it online and then pick it up from one of nine Cupra garages in Australia. If you were to order now, the wait would likely be several months.
We spent some time with the Cupra Born, going on a short drive around Canberra to get a feel for the electric hot hatch. Even from a brief experience, the Spanish-designed car left us wanting more thanks to its sleek design and responsive drive. Stay tuned for more thoughts on the EV soon.
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Chris Button and Valens Quinn travelled to Canberra as a guest of Cupra to attend the launch event.
The post Classy Cupra Born hatchback EV launches in Australia appeared first on GadgetGuy.
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