2024 Cupra Born with Performance Package review

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2024 Cupra Born

Up until very recently, the choice in electric vehicles was scant: they appeared across a small number of segments and were more costly – at least outright – than their petrol counterparts. 

Fast-forward to the present day, and the electric vehicle market has grown rapidly, causing manufacturers to get more competitive with design and pricing. 

Few electric cars in Australia demonstrate this market progression more than the Cupra Born, the Mediterranean cousin of the Volkswagen Golf. The Born is the Spanish marque's first fully-electric car, starts at under $60,000, and offers just a little bit more je ne sais quoi – or rather, un no sé qué if we’re sticking to Spanish – than its rivals.

On paper then, so far, so impressive. In practice? Let's find out. 

How much is a Cupra Born?

The Cupra Born is priced from $59,990 before on-road costs are applied but is currently available until the end of the year with a $64,490 drive-away price nationwide. Cupra is the Spanish subsidiary of Volkswagen, so this sporty electric hatchback is the first electric vehicle from the group to be priced under $100,000.

Standard equipment in the Cupra Born includes LED headlights and tail-lights, a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 5.3-inch instrument display, a wireless phone charger, Seaqual fabric sports seats with manual adjustment, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, keyless entry and start, dual-zone air-conditioning, and a suite of advanced safety aids including a 360-degree camera. 

My test model comes with the $2600 Performance Package included, which adds adaptive suspension, 20-inch wheels and wider 235mm Michelin Pilot Sport EV performance tyres. 

The Performance Package does reduce the driving range from 511km to 475km, which is lower than Tesla's 513km driving range. It also removes the middle seat in the back row, which means only a maximum of four occupants can travel at any one time.

Another optional package (though not fitted here) is the $900 Interior Package, which adds Blue Dinamica heated massage seats and a Beats sound system. 

My test model comes in metallic Glacial White at no extra cost. Other colour options include Rayleigh Red, Quasar Grey, Geyser Silver and Vapor Grey, all of which come without an extra cost attached. Premium Aurora Blue is an additional $475.

The Born shares the same MEB architecture as the Audi Q4 e-tron and Volkswagen ID.4, both of which are slated to arrive on Australian soil later this year, with other Volkswagen Group models set to follow.

Although it may not be viewed with the same sporting pedigree, the MG 4 Long Range offers similar rear-wheel drive dynamics, and a claimed driving range of up to 530km with a starting price of $50,990 plus on-road costs. Adrenaline junkie may prefer the MG 4 XPower, with a 320kW all-wheel drive powertrain and a claimed 3.8 second 0-100km/h acceleration time for a haip-pocket friendly $55,990 plus on-road costs.

The updated Polestar 2 range starts from $62,400 plus on-road costs for 2025 models, with 546km of range and added standard safety equipment.

It would be remiss of me not to consider the market-dominating model that is likely on an EV cross-shopping list, the Tesla Model 3. Tesla accounted for 52.9 per cent of electric cars sold in Australia in 2023, though this was down on its 2022 share as EVs from other brands entered the market. 

Though not a hatchback, the Tesla Model 3 is a passenger car that does offer a variant – two variants, in fact – around the same $60,000 price tag as the Cupra Born. The base-model Tesla Model 3, the Rear-Wheel Drive sedan, starts at $54,900 and makes up two-thirds of Model 3 sales. The mid-spec Long Range starts at $64,900 and is all-wheel drive.

How big is a Cupra Born?

The Cupra Born is 4324mm long, 1809mm wide, and 1540mm high. For context, that makes it taller than both a Polestar 2 and Tesla Model 3, but these models are longer and wider. 

The interior of the car has a decidedly sporty look to it. Some slightly more unusual design choices work in my opinion: a perforated diamond design on the base of the seats, a similar diamond design subtly etched into the dash (and on the car's exterior), and Cupra's distinguishable bronze trim – which you get on the exterior too.

Most of the interior is covered in black and silver plastic, which is offset nicely by a more premium-looking suede. The varied textures add a little lightness to the otherwise quite dark cabin. An optional sunroof like the one offered in the Cupra Leon would be a welcome addition. 

The seats are covered in a grippy suede-look fabric (made of recycled polyester) and have electric adjustment.

There is an on and off button, but this is virtually redundant: once you're ready to drive, the weight sensor in the driver's seat alone activates and the car switches on. The same goes for when you've finished your journey: once I've switched the start button off, everything is still lit up and my music still playing. It's only once you step out of the car that everything shuts down.

I know this isn't unusual for modern cars, but I found this disconcerting and had to stand and watch the wing mirrors close before I could be sure the car was off every single time.  The gear shifter is on the right-hand side of the steering wheel next to the digital instrument cluster – something that takes a day or two to get used to, if you're used to it being in the central storage unit. 

The leather-trimmed steering wheel has touchpad buttons, which did cause some frustration. My hand would graze the volume controls way too frequently, and suddenly whatever I was listening to was either silenced completely or way too loud.

Almost all of the car's functions are housed within the 12-inch touchscreen. Not unusual, but tricky to access while driving. Some functions like the climate controls for both passenger and driver appear permanently on the screen, but still aren't quick to navigate when you're in the driver's seat and on the move.

There is also a volume adjustment slider below the touchscreen, but as this doesn't have a backlight, it mostly blends into the screen. Fortunately, Cupra has a pretty decent voice-control system that you can rely on instead to adjust controls. 

The central storage compartment consists of a spot to house loose bits and two generously sized cupholders. There is also a wireless phone charging port, two USB-C ports, which are necessary if you want to access Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and a deep console bin. A lid, outlined in bronze, can be used if you want to keep that central unit looking neat. 

In the back, you'll notice a generous amount of space for a hatchback, and tall back-seat passengers reported that they had plenty of leg and head room.

Both optional extra packages, the Performance Pack that's included in my test model, and the Interior Pack that others may opt for, remove the option of a usable middle seat in the back row. This means you're limited to a maximum of four passengers rather than five at any one time, but it does also mean that any back seat passengers get the luxury of that additional space.

The middle seat also pulls down to reveal an armrest with two cupholders. Aside from the extra space and cupholders, there aren't really any other indulgences in this second row. Passengers have two USB-C ports, two map pockets, and small door pockets, but there aren't any air vents. For anyone with younger children, there are two top-tether child-seat anchors and two ISOFIX points. 

Meanwhile, the boot space is ample at 385 litres. There is no space-saver spare wheel, though this is standard practice for electric models. However, there is a puncture repair kit, a charging cable, and a 12-volt socket. 

For context, 385L is bigger than an Audi A3 and a Volkswagen Golf GTI, but not as much as the Polestar 2 or Tesla Model 3. 

A flat loading floor makes loading hefty items in and out of the car easier, which I appreciated every time I was lifting my son's pram in and out of the car. The rear seats fold 60:40 should you need extra storage space too.

Does the Cupra Born have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?

The Cupra Born comes with a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Twelve inches may not compete with the 15-inch Tesla screen, but is still pretty big compared to what you'd get in other Volkswagen and Audi models. The resolution of the screen is good too. Unfortunately, the Cupra’s infotainment system seems to have quite rudimentary functions.

Unless you're connected to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which require a wired connection, then there is no satellite navigation, which I consider to be a basic function within any car. This is available in European models but hasn't made it to Australia yet. Cupra representatives have said that this might be added to later models.  

The Cupra Born also goes without connected services that allow you to remotely access or check your car from a paired smartphone, or to access SOS call functions in the event of an accident. 

For a $60,000 car, I would expect a more comprehensive technology offering, and this falls short of what other brands can offer. 

I've already mentioned that functions such as climate control and seat heating are accessible via the touchscreen. I found the touchscreen occasionally laggy and unresponsive, which was particularly difficult when driving. I mostly relied on voice control to adjust car conditions instead. 

There is a 360-degree camera, which I'm happy to see, but the lens is a little bit grainy and the markings feel off-centre, so I never felt completely comfortable relying on it. 

The digital instrument cluster is fairly basic, displaying only a speedometer and trip information, but I actually don't mind this – a simple digital instrument display feels much less distracting when driving.

Is the Cupra Born a safe car?

The Cupra Born has an ANCAP safety rating of five stars, which doesn't expire until December 2028. 

The model comes with dual frontal, side chest-protecting, centre, and curtain airbags as standard. 

Adult occupant protection received a score of 93 per cent, child occupant protection received 89 per cent, vulnerable road user protection at 73 per cent, and safety assist at 80 per cent. 

What safety technology does the Cupra Born have?

There is a full suite of safety technology in the Born, including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist and lane-departure warning, park assist, driver fatigue monitoring, and blind-spot monitoring with rear-cross traffic alert and exit warning. 

There is also a 360-degree camera, which is wide-angled so that in scenarios such as reverse or parallel parking, it appears the cars around you are a lot closer than they are. Don't get me wrong, I won't ever moan about having a 360-degree camera as it is an aid, but I would have liked to have seen better from this one. 

How much does the Cupra Born cost to run?

The Cupra Born is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty, with an eight-year/160,000km warranty on the battery pack. Services are every 12 months or 15,000km.

Cupra doesn't share individual service prices but instead publishes service packs. A three-year service pack will cost you $990 and a five-year service pack costs $1590. 

It will cost you $1612 yearly to insure a Cupra Born, based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances. For context, I was quoted a very similar figure for the petrol-based Cupra Leon and the Volkswagen Golf GTI. Meanwhile, a Tesla Model 3 will set you back $2240. 

What is the range of a Cupra Born?

The standard Cupra Born has a driving range of 511km, though the addition of the Performance Package does reduce this down to 475km. Tesla offers a driving range of 513km in the equivalent Model 3. The Hyundai Ioniq 6, meanwhile, claims an impressive 614km range. Another electric hatchback, the Polestar 2, offers 546km of range in its base model, so even with the range reduced, the Cupra Born is still capable of useful range.

Cupra claims an 18.2kWh per 100 kilometres efficiency. I returned an overall reading of 19.9kWh/100km after a week, which was a balanced mix of city, suburban and highway driving. Although that's higher than Cupra's claim, I should clarify that during my time in the car, I wasn't actively trying to conserve energy. 

The car comes with a Type 2 charging port. During my week in the car, I was able to use the wallbox charger we have installed at the Drive office garage, and plugged in probably twice over the course of a week. On both occasions, I didn't need to charge – it was more for reassurance and ease. I still had 20 per cent battery or more, and knew that my next journey would cover that.

If I were to permanently own an EV, I'd set up a charging station in my garage at home and charge nightly or every few days. A Jet Charge home charger can be bought directly from a Cupra dealership. 

However, if you don't have access to home charging, then the car comes with a ‘Mode 3’ cable included, which is compatible with most public chargers. A Mode 2 (wall plug to vehicle) accessory is an optional extra. The Born can charge on AC power at up to 11kW or DC fast-charge at up to 170kW, with a claimed 0–80 per cent charge of 26 minutes when plugged into a fast charger.   

What is the Cupra Born like to drive?

Being an EV, you get instantaneous power from the off. To put numbers against it, Cupra claims a 0–100km/h acceleration time of 7.0 seconds. Compare this to the Volkswagen Golf GTI that boasts a 6.4-second time, and the Tesla Model 3 RWD with a 6.1-second claim. 

This power subsides fairly quickly: the 170kW/310Nm power and torque outputs aren't enough to hold that punchiness once you reach a consistent speed. The Volkswagen Golf GTI has higher torque outputs (370Nm) than the Born, and a lower kerb weight, which eats into the hot hatch feel a little.

Having said that, the added Performance Package on this model should give it more of a performance feel than the original, with the bigger tyres and Dynamic Chassis Control dampers, though I ought to caveat that I haven't tested the Born without the Performance Package.

The suspension is firm but still soaks up enough lumps and bumps on the road to make it a sensible family car when you need it to be. Adaptive damping offers a degree of adjustability too, allowing you to dial in stiffer settings on more entertaining roads that benefit from it.

That said, the seats are firm and I got uncomfortable in the car on longer journeys. The car corners well too, and feels relatively agile despite being on the heavier end of the scale within its segment.

Wind and road noise are relatively minimal, though more perceptible given the electric powertrain is so quiet. 

The brakes feel sensitive at first, more so in Sport mode, which is one of the four different driving modes you can choose from. 

I've already mentioned in the safety section that I found the lens of the 360-degree camera a bit out of focus, so reversing didn't feel as comfortable as I would have liked. Natural visibility is good as the windows are large, but the rear-view mirror is small and as a result it never seemed to capture as much of the rear view as I needed, no matter what angle I had it at. 

Should I buy a Cupra Born?

The Cupra Born is unique in that it doesn't have any obvious competitors, and for that reason, I would imagine anyone considering the car is already halfway to making their mind up. And I can see why: it's a good-looking car inside and out, towing the line perfectly between tasteful and distinctive. 

I'm not sure I'd deem it a 'hot hatch' without the Performance Package included, and even then there is a distinct lack of energy in the drive that you'd more likely find in a Volkswagen Golf GTI. 

Performance credentials aside, I would say this is a good first electric car for someone. It offers consistency, there is plenty of safety technology to assist with driving, the running costs are reasonable, and it stands out from the crowd.

For a family considering the Born, it might suit being a second car rather than the primary, given you'll likely need more room in the back and the seats aren't too comfortable on longer journeys. 

What I can't make peace with is the infotainment system. It lacks some functions I would consider basic, while the interface is a touch too complex and sometimes unresponsive. Not something I would expect in a car that costs $60,000.

How do I buy a Cupra Born? The next steps.

My test model came with the Performance Package included. It might be worth test-driving a Born model without this optional package. Although the Born doesn’t have any obvious competitors, I would recommend test-driving a few other electric models to see whether it’s the right fit. The Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2 and MG 4 would be a good start.

You can also find a full range of Cupra models over at Drive Marketplace, along with a range of available electric vehicles around the country.

If you want to stay updated with everything that’s happened to the Cupra Born since our review, you’ll find all the latest news here.

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