How does the Cupra Born stack up against electric car rivals?

The new 2023 Cupra Born electric car has landed in Australia, and on paper it looks like it’s trying hard to strike a broadly appealing balance between price and range without sacrificing a premium feel.

But does it succeed? Amongst a list of several rivals that match up closely in terms of either the Cupra Born's 511km range or $59,990 price (before on-roads), there are some strong electric car contenders.

The very popular Tesla Model 3 is an obvious one, and despite its 420km range being shorter for the Standard Range Plus model, and pricing being above that of the Born at $65,600, it’s also a larger car.

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Aside from that, the Tesla brand has also built a lot of desirability among electric car fans, at least historically, and it’s the number one selling EV in Australia.

Not too far behind as another option for buyers who need the range is the Hyundai Kona Electric Extended Range, which in its lower Elite specification starts at $60,500, and $64,000 for the highly equipped Highlander.

For both, the Extended Range means a 484km drive without charging, which isn’t too far behind that of the Cupra Born.

Also close on pricing is the Nissan Leaf+ at $61,490, though its 385km range falls short.

Getting into more expensive territory (short of an $80,000+ Tesla Model 3 Long Range) means spending more than $5000 over the Born’s price and still missing out on the range.

A Kia Niro EV S costs $65,300 and has a 451km range, a Polestar 2 has a longer range at 470km but costs $63,900, and even the cheaper Mazda MX-30 ($65,490) would disappoint in comparison, with 200km making up less than half the Born’s range.

Heading the other way, below the $60,000 mark, and the options are slimmer.

If saving a few thousand dollars is worth losing almost 100km of range, the BYD Atto 3 Extended Range (at $51,011 drive-away) boasts a 420km range and is quickly becoming a popular choice for Australians.

It’s also more likely to be available than the Born, which will be limited to around 500 units in the Born’s first year on sale.

There’s also the Mini Cooper SE, which brings with it style and heritage cred, a lower price than the Born at $55,650, but a very urban range of 233km.

Finally, if savings are the most important part of the equation, the MG ZS EV is the cheapest electric car on sale in Australia at $44,990 before on-roads, but has only a 320km range.

It seems then that the Cupra’s 511km range is well ahead of the curve for its price… as long as you can get your hands on one.