CUPRA Born vs Abarth 500e

The CUPRA Born starts from $59,990 before on-road costs, while the Abarth 500e opens at $60,500. That makes the CUPRA Born the more affordable entry point by $510.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $65,989 and $66,550 respectively.

Both models qualify for Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) exemption, which is a significant advantage for salary-sacrificed novated leases. Depending on your tax bracket, this can save $5,000-$15,000+ per year compared to an equivalent ICE vehicle.

The CUPRA Born holds a 5-star ANCAP rating vs 4 stars for the Abarth 500e.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The CUPRA Born packs more ADAS features with 8 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 1 in the Abarth 500e.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the CUPRA Born and 6 in the Abarth 500e.

The CUPRA Born features a 12.9-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Abarth 500e gets a 10.3-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The CUPRA Born stands out with ambient lighting that you will not find on the Abarth 500e. The Abarth 500e counters with wireless charging and JBL audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the CUPRA Born gets leather-appointed upholstery while the Abarth 500e offers leather & alcantara. Climate control is 2-zone in the CUPRA Born and 1-zone in the Abarth 500e.

The CUPRA Born uses a Electric Motor producing 170kW and 310Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 7 seconds.

The Abarth 500e responds with a Electric making 113kW and 235Nm, paired to a single-speed automatic driving the front wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7 seconds.

The CUPRA Born has the clear power advantage at 170kW vs 113kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Battery: 82kWh (CUPRA Born) vs 42kWh (Abarth 500e), giving WLTP ranges of 511km and 253km. DC fast charging peaks at 170kW (CUPRA Born) vs 85kW (Abarth 500e).

The CUPRA Born measures 4,322mm long on a 2,766mm wheelbase, 649mm longer than the Abarth 500e at 3,673mm (2,322mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the CUPRA Born generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 385L in the CUPRA Born and 185L in the Abarth 500e, giving the CUPRA Born a 200L advantage. The CUPRA Born seats 5 vs 4.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (CUPRA Born) vs 3 years / 150,000km (Abarth 500e). The CUPRA Born has longer coverage.