2025 Cupra Born review | CarExpert

Electric vehicle (EV) prices are on the slide, and the Cupra Born is ‘Exhibit A’ of this developing trend.

The sporty Spanish electric hatchback arrived Down Under back in 2023 with a price tag of $59,990 before on-road costs, which held firm through turbulent times for EVs… until now.

Amidst cuts to prices across the EV market, Cupra has attacked 2025 with aggressive nationwide drive-away pricing for Born, discounting it by up to $19,400. That equates to savings of 29 per cent – mind-boggling, even in the current climate.

So, where does that leave this new-age compact performance car? Well, it’s now cheaper than just about all of its rivals.

You can throw a blanket over the Abarth 500e, Smart #3, Volkswagen Golf GTI and Mini Cooper SE, all of which sit in the $55,000-60,000 bracket before on-road costs – a decent chunk more than the Born.

WATCH: Paul’s video review of the 2023 Cupra Born

Given the niche nature of an electric Cupra hatch, there’s not much else you’d cross-shop it with.

Does that make the Born a slam-dunk selection for new car buyers chasing a European urban runabout with some flair? Or is there more to the story? Let’s find out.

How much does the Cupra Born cost?

The Cupra Born currently comes in just one single variant, with either four or five seats. Cupra is offering discounts to the tune of over $15,000 on MY23 and MY24 Born models until the end of March, or while stocks last.

At the time of publication, however, it appears Cupra Australia has exhausted its supply of un-optioned Born vehicles and is now advertising a stockpile of Borns with Interior Pack from $49,990 drive-away – the spec you see here.

To see how the Cupra Born compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool

What is the Cupra Born like on the inside?

The Cupra Born has stacks of interior wow factor for a sub-$50k electric vehicle.

Upon sliding into the driver’s seat, you’re greeted by an expansive glasshouse enhanced by a raked windscreen and split A-pillar.

Wherever you look there are unique, high-end finishes, and that’s accentuated by the $2900 Interior Pack fitted to our tester. The optional upgrade package brings front sports trimmed in blue suede, which oozes European luxury.

Not only are the pews stylish, they’re also supremely comfortable with plenty of cushioning and side bolstering, plus adjustable lumbar and thigh support.

It doesn’t end there, either. Both front seats feature 12-way power adjustment, three-stage heating and a massage function to top it off – there’s really no excuse for being uncomfortable in the driver’s seat.

That doesn’t change when you reach out and grasp the perforated leather steering wheel, which sit perfectly in the hands. It features ergonomic contours and heating for cold winter mornings, as well as an eye-catching woven centre panel.

In addition to the two major touch points, there are several other nice touches scattered through the cabin. The central tunnel and door cards wear suede inserts, and metallic finishes can be found throughout.

There are less desirable hard plastics too, but only where you’d expect them to be. While the cabin undoubtedly presents beautifully, there are some flaws hidden beneath the surface, namely in the technology.

The Born features a 5.3-inch digital instrument binnacle and 12-inch infotainment touchscreen, both of which boast clean graphic designs and uncluttered layouts. It’d be nice if the instrument screen was paired with a head-up display (HUD), as the font for your speed and efficiency readouts is on the smaller side.

Angled towards the driver, the infotainment screen is well within reach, and defaults to a smartphone style app grid menu system.

Physical buttons are nowhere to be seen, so it’s all about touch inputs, from the screen itself to capacitative sliders that control audio volume and cabin temperature. Cupra has gone down a similar route by fitting the steering wheel with haptic buttons, and it’s all to the Born’s detriment.

Minimalist screen-centric interiors can work, but there has been pushback against recent VW Group technology for good reason. The haptic steering wheel buttons simply aren’t user-friendly – it’s easy to press the wrong button and smooth plastic surface isn’t tactile to use.

For an interior that’s generally low on distractions, faffing around with steering wheel controls quickly becomes very distracting. The same can be said for the volume and climate sliders.

The infotainment system has sharp processing in its favour but is down on functionality compared to some rivals, lacking satellite navigation or the option of wireless smartphone mirroring. Instead, phones need to be hooked up via USB-C outlets in the centre console.

Cupra’s driver profile feature is great for moulding the system to your preferences, with the option to set up app shortcuts at the bottom of the centre screen for easy access. A nine-speaker Beats sound system is reserved for Borns fitted with the Interior Pack, and I wouldn’t say it’s a huge drawcard.

One advantage that the Born does have over its rivals in the small car segment is plenty of cabin storage. Deep storage bins are carved into the door cards, and a similarly cavernous tray sits below the centre stack. A wireless charging pad is incorporated into the centre console.

The second row is equally spacious, with ample room for both people and their belongings.

A three-seat rear bench is standard, but the Interior Pack turns the Born into a four-seater, which is probably how I would option the car.

With one less potential passenger, each rear occupant has more space to spread out, and most adults will be able to find a comfortable seating position.

Headroom isn’t an issue for six-footers, and the front seat backs are gentle on cramped knees. Air vents are a notable omission, but the windows are nice and big.

Road trip essentials including books, snacks and electronics fit snugly in the large door bins and shallow map pockets, while a pair of USB outlets is on hand to keep devices charged up.

The absence of a middle seat allows the centre armrest and integrated cupholders to remain in permanent use.

Behind the second row, the Born is blessed with 385 litres of boot capacity, more than any of its closest rivals. In addition to raw space, you get baggage hooks and a 12V power socket, while the rear bench folds flat in 60/40 fashion.

There’s even a ‘ski slot’ opening between the boot and second row – perfect for trips to the snow… if you’re confident taking a rear-wheel drive EV up the slopes.

Parents in the market for a Born can tick the child safety box, as ISOFIX and top tether points are attached to both rear outboard seats.

To see how the Cupra Born compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

Just one drivetrain is currently offered in the Australian-market Born… until the faster VZ arrives later this year.

A new performance flagship – the Born VZ – will arrive during the second quarter of this year, bringing with it a more powerful 240kW/545Nm rear electric motor and a larger 79kWh battery pack.

To see how the Cupra Born compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool

How does the Cupra Born drive?

The unique dimensions of the Born have a significant bearing on how it drives, and what buyers should ultimately expect from Cupra’s smallest electric offering in Australia.

I went into this review thinking the Born was going to be a light, nimble city hatch that’ll turn on a dime and willingly dart in and out of traffic. That’s not quite the reality, and it was apparent as soon as the car arrived in my driveway.

The first thing you notice about the Born is that it’s quite big. At 4.3 metres long, this ‘little’ EV is longer than most rivals including the Golf GTI, and it also stands quite tall.

Then there’s the topic of weight. The Born tips the scales at 1927kg – nearly half a tonne heavier than the GTI, and 147kg more than a base Smart #3.

That creates some issues for the not-so-little Born. Rewarding handling dynamics are a key USP for Cupra as a brand, but I can only imagine that it’s very difficult to make a 2.0-tonne electric car that handles like a traditional hot hatch.

To Cupra’s credit, they’ve imbued the Born with some entertaining driving characteristics, but the model still has a clearly defined dynamic ceiling.

You feel the extra kilograms on the road, especially when punching the throttle – acceleration is brisk and smooth, but never exhilarating. After an initial burst of electric torque, the thrills taper off when approaching 100km/h, which isn’t unusual for EVs with more modest outputs.

The hotter Born VZ is bound to address this when it arrives in a few months. Set to arrive in April or May, the sharper flagship will arrive with an extra 70kW and 245Nm – enough to improve the Born’s 0-100km/h sprint by 1.4s.

While you can have some fun with the rear-wheel drive layout in certain situations, the Born is prone to understeer when taking corners at speed. Regardless, rear-wheel drive hatches are few and far between, and the layout remains a key selling point of the Born.

When driven a little less vigorously, the direct and well-weighted steering system in the Born is a pleasure to interact with.

Cupra has opted against piping synthetic engine noise into the cabin, which can be viewed as either a pro or con depending on your taste. I didn’t mind the silence personally, but many value sound as a key source of engagement behind the wheel.

All-in-all, the Born feels more like a warm small crossover of sorts rather than a hot hatch. It offers a smoother ride than you might expect, gliding over imperfections in the road with ease.

The compliant ride is down to a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear independent suspension setup with passive damping and Cupra’s preferred spring rates, which are firmer but expertly judged for Australian roads.

Regenerative braking can be adjusted between the drive modes, with the sportiest ‘Cupra’ providing aggressive levels of regen. It takes stress off the undersized rear drum brakes, and is a fun way to slow the car down, even if it won’t come to a complete stop without stepping on the left pedal.

As a city car, the Born’s credentials are bolstered by the inclusion of desirable convenience features. A surround-view camera and parking sensors at both ends of the vehicle make parking a breeze, despite its chunky dimensions.

Outside city limits the Born maintains its mature demeanour. Wind and road noise remains muted on the highway, while adaptive cruise control is on hand to take a load off the driver over long journeys.

With that said, the suite of advanced driver assist systems leaves a bit to be desired. The Born isn’t capable of semi-autonomous driving, missing out on the lane-centring feature built into VW Group’s Travel Assist system. It also misses out on traffic sign recognition and speed limiting – at least in Australia.

A slew of drive modes are at your disposal when the road turns twisty or rough, from eco and comfort to individual, performance, and Cupra.

The latter offers the most enthusiast regen and throttle response, lending itself to spirited driving.

It comes at the cost of efficiency – over one week over mixed driving we saw 20.4kWh/100km – but the Born can easily post respectable range figures when driven sensibly.

To see how the Cupra Born compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool

What do you get?

Two option packages are available with the Cupra Born, which comes as standard in a single trim level.

Cupra Born highlights:

• 19-inch black and copper Typhoon alloy wheels
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors
• LED headlights, tail lights, fog lights
• Automatic headlights with auto high-beam
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Tinted rear windows
• Rear roof spoiler
• 5.3-inch digital instrument binnacle
• 12-inch infotainment touchscreen
  • Apple CarPlay, Android Auto (wired)
  • Wireless phone charging
  • DAB+ digital radio
  • 4 x USB ports
• Surround-view camera
• Leather, heated steering wheel
• Front bucket seats
• Floor mats
• Keyless entry and start
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Dual-zone climate control
• Aluminium pedals
• Sports suspension
• Driving profile selection
• Progressive (variable-ratio) steering

Options

A pair of option packages are offered with the Born.

Interior Package: $2900

• Aurora Blue, suede-trimmed, front bucket seats
• Heated front seats
• 12-way power adjustable front seats with massaging
• 2-seat rear bench
• Heated washing jets
• Beats premium sound system – 9-speaker, 395W

Performance Package: $2600

• 20-inch firestorm alloy wheels in black and silver
• 235mm Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres
• 2-seat rear bench
• Adaptive damping

To see how the Cupra Born compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool.

Is the Cupra Born safe?

The Cupra Born wears a five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on 2022 Euro NCAP tests.

Standard safety features include:

• 7 airbags incl. front-centre
• AEB incl. Pedestrian, Cyclist detection
• Adaptive cruise control
• Driver fatigue monitoring
• Lane Assist
  • Lane departure warning
  • Lane keep assist
• Park Assist
• Parking sensors front, rear
• Proactive passenger protection
• Side Assist
  • Blind-spot monitoring
  • Rear cross-traffic alert
  • Exit Warning

To see how the Cupra Born compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool

How much does the Cupra Born cost to run?

Like the wider Cupra line-up, the Born is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

To see how the Cupra Born compares with its rivals, use our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Take on the Cupra Born

Despite receiving no updates since its 2023 launch, the Cupra Born makes more sense now than ever before.

It remains a bit of an oddball, with unique proportions and a performance bite that doesn’t quite match its visual bark.

That’s not to say the sexy styling isn’t welcome, because the Born is a stunning vehicle inside and out. That optional blue interior just pops, and all the high traffic areas are finished in high quality materials.

Frustrating capacitative controls and ADAS omissions compromise everyday usability, but those drawbacks aren’t dealbreakers.

The Born is a practical thing, too. Four adults can travel in comfort, and there’s plenty of room in the boot for weekends away.

We already knew all that, though. More importantly, the purchase of a Born actually makes some semblance of financial sense now.

Many will argue that EVs continue to be a risky buy, and those who’ve bought one of these over the last few months would probably agree.

But it’s also undeniable that the Born is currently a relative bargain compared to its rivals. As we speak, you’d have to stump up at least another $10,000 to get into the closest electric competitors – the Smart #3, Abarth 500e, and Mini Cooper SE.

Pivoting to a petrol-powered equivalent doesn’t change the value equation much, either. Want to get behind the wheel of everyone’s favourite practical performance hero, the Volkswagen Golf GTI? That’ll be $60k on the road, minimum. Even a base Hyundai i30 N will set you back $55,000 drive-away.

The price wars are likely to continue, especially as the electric vehicle market grows, but that’s a universal trend that also poses issues for more traditional ICE models.

Perhaps the more pressing threat to the Born is the imminent arrival of its meaner twin – the Born VZ. But without any pricing information, it’d be irresponsible to make assumptions about what effect the new flagship will have on base Born values.

So, if your heart is set on something sporty and (relatively) compact, the Born is now a good bet, at least until the end of March.

Interested in buying a Cupra Born? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here

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