The 2023 Cupra Born is a compelling EV however its value is maybe somewhat too excessive in Australia
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by Brad Anderson
3 hours in the past
Till 5 years in the past, Cupra was the efficiency sub-brand of Seat. It was greatest generally known as constructing a few of the market’s punchiest scorching hatches and roughly a decade in the past, claimed the title as constructing the quickest front-wheel drive scorching hatch to ever lap the Nurburgring. Issues have modified rather a lot for Cupra because the 2010s.
In 2018, the VW Group made the formidable transfer to spin off the Cupra identify into its personal model. On the time, this appeared like an ill-fated transfer that was doomed for failure nevertheless it has confirmed to be a masterstroke. In truth, the Cupra model has been so properly obtained by the market that final 12 months it bought 152,900 automobiles and loved gross sales will increase of 92.7% over 2021. By comparability, Seat’s gross sales plummeted by 40.5% to 232,700 models final 12 months. Cupra is now the fastest-growing carmaker in Europe and shifting ahead, Seat will shift focus away from producing vehicles to creating completely different mobility options.
Maybe one of many key explanation why Cupra is doing so properly is its designs and its youthful exuberance. That is no extra obvious than with the all-electric Cupra Born, primarily based across the ho-hum VW ID.3 however made to look a lot extra dramatic and already proving to be in style amongst customers in search of a stable electrical hatchback. We not too long ago spent per week with one to see what it’s all about.
What do you get to your cash?
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The Cupra Born launched in Australia final 12 months carrying a sticker value of AU$59,990 ($37,874) earlier than on-road prices. For a hatchback, which will appear to be fairly some huge cash and it’s. However, it’s not extreme. Australia’s electrical car market stays comparatively small and there are only a few alternate options costing lower than AU$60,000 that don’t come from both BYD or MG.
One of many Cupra Born’s nearest rivals is the Tesla Mannequin 3. Facelifted 2024 Mannequin 3s have but to the touch down on Aussie shores however will accomplish that shortly, beginning at a really aggressive $61,900 ($39,080). Sure, the Tesla is a sedan whereas the Born is a hatchback however there will certainly be some cross-shopping between the pair.
Learn: Cupra Born EV Spied, Seems to be Like It’s Getting An Early Facelift
All Cupra Born fashions bought regionally come outfitted with a 77 kWh battery pack driving a single electrical motor on the rear axle with 170 kW (228 hp) and 310 Nm (229 lb-ft) of torque. These are bought figures and put the Born inside hanging distance of the VW Golf GTI with its 180 kW (241 hp) and 370 Nm (273 lb-ft) however after all, the Golf is front-wheel drive.
Cupra asserts that the Born is nice for 511 km (317 miles) on a cost. It additionally helps DC fast-charging of as much as 170 kW and the model says it’ll common 17 kWh/100 km throughout on a regular basis driving. As we found, it’s fairly straightforward to beat that determine.
Sharp appears
Upon laying eyes on the Cupra Born for the primary time, I used to be shocked that it’s bigger than photographs would have you ever imagine. At 4,324 mm (170.2 inches) lengthy, 1,809 mm (71.2 inches) broad, 1,540 mm (60.6 inches) tall, and rocking a 2,766 mm (108.9-inch) wheelbase, it’s barely longer, wider, and taller than an Mk8 VW Golf. I used to be additionally stunned by simply how a lot glass the Born has, primarily because of the presence of angular glass panels positioned forward of the wing mirrors.
Total, the Cupra Born is kind of a formidable automobile to take a look at, notably when painted crimson and full with bronze highlights like our press automobile had. It appears imply and purposeful, offering it with a character not present in another EVs available on the market. That is notably evident once you have a look at it from the entrance the place the massive black grille grabs your consideration, as do the sharp headlights, the dynamic traces on the hood, and the massive Cupra badge, additionally with a bronze end.
A cabin with type and tech
The inside is rather less overt however it’s equally as enjoyable. The sporty steering wheel appears completely fabulous and feels very good within the arms with snug notches within the 9 and three place in addition to two bodily buttons for the Drive and Cupra mode selectors. The contact panels used on the remainder of the steering wheel which are completed in piano black will not be so good and are straightforward to by accident hit.
Positioned instantly behind the steering wheel is a small 5.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Whereas this show isn’t positioned on the dashboard like most different vehicles on sale, it shows all of the very important driving info you would need, like velocity, navigation, vary, and present effectivity figures.
The carmaker’s playful touches proceed all through the remainder of the cabin the place there may be an abundance of bronze components and a stunning combination of supplies. These vary from a silver plastic trim working throughout the dashboard to soft-touch leather-based on the dashboard and a suede-like materials on elements of the doorways. The seats of the Born have been created utilizing Seaqual Yarn, a recycled polymer fiber from plastic waste extracted from the Mediterranean Sea that may be very mushy and a pleasant various to typical fabric or leather-based.
Learn: Why Cupra Turned To Race Automotive Drivers To Develop The All-Electrical Born
Sitting atop the dashboard is a big 12.0-inch infotainment show the place a lot of the car’s controls are housed. The UI takes a little bit of getting used to because of the number of completely different menus and show settings however after a few days with the Born, we obtained used to it. The system additionally helps wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Situated beneath this display screen is a small contact panel for controlling the temperature and the quantity. Whereas there’s no studying curve, it may be irritating to make use of, notably on the transfer. We’d have most well-liked bodily buttons or knobs however so is the way in which these days.
The Born additionally has an annoying behavior of enjoying a chime each time you contact one of many buttons on the steering wheel. This features a chime every time you press quantity up or quantity down.
Cupra has geared up the Born with a lot of the security methods you’ll anticipate. These embrace autonomous emergency braking, a 360-degree digicam, adaptive cruise management, and rear cross-traffic alert. Nevertheless, the VW Group’s Journey Help system, a semi-autonomous freeway driving assistant with lane-centering, isn’t current, which is a disgrace.
Easy crusing
We didn’t actually know what to anticipate when driving the Cupra Born. Would it not really feel like a rear-wheel drive scorching hatch or like a run-of-the-mill hatchback with some spritely efficiency? The reply is someplace within the center. It feels very like a heat hatch, albeit one that’s electrical.
Cupra says the Born can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7 seconds and we recorded instances to match these claims. The Born pulls notably properly off the road, able to hitting 50 km/h (31 mph) in simply 2.8 seconds and whereas the velocity does begin to taper off after that, it continues to drag strongly.
There’s little sense of the Born being rear-wheel drive so potential clients trying to ship it sideways round corners will probably be disenchanted. Tipping the scales at 1,960 kg (4,321 lbs), it merely doesn’t have the grunt wanted to mild up the rear wheels. Nevertheless, the implementation of rear-wheel drive does contribute to a entrance finish that feels notably mild and responsive, that means the Born is a great deal of enjoyable on nook entry. It additionally hides its weight very properly because of the grippy Michelin Pilot Sport EV tires measuring 235/40 in any respect 4 corners.
The Born’s steering does lack a few of the really feel present in different VW Group scorching hatches however so far as EVs go, it performs properly on this regard as it’s properly weighted and supplies good suggestions. The brakes are additionally good and whereas we all know some EV customers have been rubbed the improper approach by the presence of drum brakes on the rear, they don’t have any antagonistic affect on the driving expertise.
Learn: Cupra Raval Lands In Munich As An Edgier Take On The Volkswagen ID. 2
The Born doesn’t have a one-pedal driving mode like many different EVs and regenerative braking is triggered by toggling the shifter to B. The extent of regeneration varies barely between driving modes nevertheless it can’t be adjusted independently. That’s a disgrace however Cupra’s engineers have executed a tremendous job of guaranteeing the transition between the regen and the mechanical brakes is imperceptible by means of the pedal.
Effectivity is stable. As talked about, Cupra quotes 17 kWh/100 km however we have been capable of comfortably obtain 15 kWh/100 km when driving in a relaxed and managed method. Have somewhat an excessive amount of enjoyable and that determine climbs to round 21 kWh/100 km.
If solely it was somewhat cheaper…
Total, the Cupra Born is an excellent EV. It’s loads of enjoyable to drive, is spacious, appears good, and provides respectable effectivity. Nevertheless, it’s robust to suggest it over the likes of the Tesla Mannequin 3, the upcoming BYD Seal priced from AU$49,888 ($31,732), and the forthcoming Volvo EX30 set to begin at AU$59,990 ($38,157).
