2023 Cupra Born price and specs

The 2023 Cupra Born electric 'hot hatch' is due in Australia in March or April 2023, priced from $59,990 plus on-road costs.

The Born will arrive in Australia as the first fully-electric vehicle for the recently-arrived Cupra brand, available in a single model with the choice of two optional equipment packages.

It is the first electric vehicle for the non-prestige brands in the Volkswagen Group locally – after premium electric offerings from Audi and Porsche, but ahead of Volkswagen and Skoda electric cars in Australia.

Standard specifications for Australia see the Born arrive with the largest available battery offered in overseas markets, with a 77kWh useable capacity (82kWh total), paired with a 170kW/310Nm single electric motor driving the rear wheels.

Cupra claims it has the only electric car in Australia with both the driving range claim and the price starting with a '5', pointing to the $59,990 before on-road costs pricing, and 511km claimed range for the standard model before options.

However, drive-away pricing for each state, which varies due to differences in stamp duty calculations, is available below..

The RRP is similar to the petrol-powered Cupra Leon VZx and hybrid Leon VZe, at $60,490 and $61,490 plus on-road costs respectively, but dearer than a mid-trim petrol Leon VZ ($52,990).

With Cupra's performance-oriented brand positioning, the Born will be marketed in Australia as a hot hatch, and claims a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 7.0 seconds – though behind the sprint times of the Cupra Leon VZ (6.4sec) and a Hyundai i30 N automatic (5.4sec).

Standard features includes 'Seaqual' interior trim – a fabric woven from yarn composed of recycled ocean plastics – along with dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, user-configurable ambient interior lighting, LED headlights and tail lights, and 19-inch alloy wheels.

Screens inside the Born encompass a 5.3-inch digital driver display – in a column-mounted pod which also houses the gear selector off to the side – plus a large 12-inch infotainment display. Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, as is digital radio.

Two available options packages will be offered – but both reduce the Born's seating capacity from five to four occupants.

The Interior Package adds 12-way power adjustment for the front seats, front seat heating and massage functions, Dinamica suede-look trim highlights, nine-speaker premium Beats audio and heated washer jets for $2900.

The $2600 Performance Package replaces the Born's 19-inch black and copper wheels and 215/50 R19 tyres with 20-inch back and silver wheels shod with wider 235mm Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres.

Dynamic chassis control (adaptive suspension) also forms part of the package, but the changes to the wheels and tyres impact projected driving range, with 475km claimed.

Standard safety equipment includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, seven airbags including a centre airbag between the front-seat occupants, lane-keep assist, side assist (blind spot warning) with rear cross traffic alert and exit warning, driver fatigue monitoring, pre-crash assist and a 360-degree camera.

The Born will be available in a choice of Vapor Grey standard paint, or Glacial White, Geyser Silver, Quasar Grey and Rayleigh Red metallic paints for no additional cost. Premium metallic Aurora Blue attracts a $475 surcharge.

The 2023 Cupra Born is expected to arrive in Australian showrooms from March 2023.

Note: All state-based prices above are drive-away and listed before any applicable state and territory-based incentives or rebates.