Cupra News

Driver alert systems have gone too far and my opinion is that these systems, which are designed to help us focus on the road and keep us safer, actually do the opposite.

It’s EOFY time again!

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) has confirmed the Cupra Tavascan misses out on a five-star safety rating in Australia.

There’s a lot of attention paid to the rise of Chinese auto brands in Australia and their ever-increasing market share.Brands like BYD, Chery, GWM, MG and newer marques like Deepal, Geely, JAC, Leapmotor and Zeekr have collectively taken a bite out of the sales of some long-standing brands.But it’s not all doom and gloom for the more established, non-Chinese makes. In fact, a number of them are performing quite well on the sales charts so far this year.However, it’s not mainstream legacy brands that are on the up. In fact, a lot of the top-10 brands are treading water.With the exception of Fiat Professional, whose sales are up by 120 per cent this year, all of the other brands experiencing strong growth in 2025 are exotic, premium or semi-premium offerings.One of the semi-premium brands doing well in 2025 is Cupra. Volkswagen Group’s Spanish performance specialist has seen its overall sales shoot up by 35 per cent so far in 2025 after a slower 2024.While a couple of its models - the ageing Ateca SUV and the Leon small hatchback - have gone backwards on the sales charts, the striking Formentor SUV has increased by 54.8 per cent in 2025. At 469 sales so far, it’s not a massive number but it represents a big uptick for a newish name.The Born EV is also up this year by 24.2 per cent, while the only just arrived Tavascan electric SUV is expected to further boost Cupra’s sales thanks to keen pricing and sharp design. Facelifted versions of the Leon and Formentor arriving this year should only help Cupra’s upward trajectory.Mini is another semi-premium brand having an excellent 2025. The BMW-owned marque’s sales are up by 69.4 per cent so far (1394 versus 823 units). And it’s largely thanks to one model.The new-gen Countryman SUV has proven to be a massive hit, recording 553 sales which equates to a 369 per cent increase on Q1 last year. As well as enjoying positive media reviews, buyers have clearly warmed to the new Countryman’s more family-friendly dimensions, new tech and the option of petrol and fully-electric powertrains.Of course the Cooper hatch remains the brand’s top seller, with petrol and electric versions combining for a total of 634 sales, up 29.7 per cent.It might not be a premium brand in its US home market, but in Australia, Chevrolet takes a more upscale position as it only sells high-end, full-size pick-ups and sports cars.That strategy is clearly working because Chevrolet sales are up by 12.8 per cent so far in 2025, on the back of interest in the Corvette sports car. Z06 sales are up 250 per cent and the Stingray has increased by 50 per cent. The Silverado 1500 truck is the biggest seller with 627 sold in 2025, up by 14.4 per cent.Two of Australia’s most popular premium brands are also having a good year - Lexus and Mercedes-Benz.What’s interesting about Lexus is that its growth is mostly down to the compact LBX SUV. The little crossover has recorded a massive 353 per cent increase on its Q1 2024 tally with 598 sales.The LBX is easily outselling its slightly larger UX sibling and is just ahead of the aforementioned Cupra Forementor (469 sales) and Mini Countryman (553), but trailing the Audi Q3 (676) in the premium small SUV segment.The Toyota Prado-based GX large SUV is Lexus’ other solid performer with 285 sales.Mercedes is having an exceptional start to the year with a 31 per cent boost thanks to big sales increases on a number of its model lines.Key models having a good year include the E-Class (+223 per cent) and S-Class (+300 per cent) sedans, GLA (+139.2 per cent), GLC (+82.5 per cent) and GLS (+72.6 per cent) SUVs and EVs like the EQB (+270 per cent).Despite double-digit sales drops for most of its Range Rover models - Range Rover, Evoque and Velar - Land Rover has seen strong interest in the Defender (+61.2 per cent) and the Discovery Sport (+57 per cent) for a Q1 boost of 13 per cent.As is often the case in harsh economic times, the top end of town is sailing through unaffected. That is evident in sales of exotic brands in Australia, which are largely in positive territory.Rolls-Royce may have small volumes, but sales are up by 111 per cent this year, while sports car brands like Aston Martin (+34.1 per cent), Ferrari (+7.4 per cent), Lamborghini (+78.3 per cent) and McLaren (+100 per cent) are all well in front of the year prior.

Volkswagen Group will front its Tesla Model Y rival – the Cupra Tavascan – with a price tag of $60,990, before on-road costs, when it lands in Australia this April.

The Volkswagen Group’s first electric car to arrive in Australia is now being heavily discounted. Following its launch in May 2023, the spicy Cupra Born’s drive-away price has been slashed up to $19,400 until April 1 to make way for the more potent VZ version. That said, the $47,090 drive-away price is not representative of any examples listed in stock, all of which have the interior, performance, or both packs equipped. That means you’ll be paying $49,690 (performance), $49,990 (interior) or $52,690 (both packs) drive-away. The discounts mean Cupra Born buyers in the ACT will save $14,900; Queensland $16,490; NSW, SA and Tasmania $17,400; Victoria $17,900 and $19,400 in WA. Run-out pricing makes the sporty Cupra Born more enticing alongside similar price electric cars, such as the MG4 77kWh, Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2. As part of Cupra’s sales activity, there are deals on the whole range including Leon hot hatch, Ateca small SUV and Formentor SUV. There is only one Cupra Born trim sold in Australia, carrying a 77kWh (usable) battery pack for a WLTP-verified 511km combined driving range. The Born employs a single 170kW/310Nm electric motor sending drive to the rear wheels via a single-speed reduction gear for a 0-100km/h sprint in 7.0 seconds. Standard equipment includes LED lighting, bucket seats, 19-inch alloy wheels, 12.0-inch multimedia touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Optionally, a $2900 interior package brings 12-way power adjustable seats, different upholstery and a Beats sound system. The 'Performance Pack' upsizes the wheels to 20 inches wrapped in stickier Michelin Pilot Sport tyres. Since introduction, Cupra has sold 1352 Borns in Australia. In the first half of this year, though, the package will become more compelling with a mid-life tech boost and much punchier VZ grade in the first half of this year. The Cupra Born VZ gets a serious boost, with power up 70kW to 240kW and torque rising to 545Nm reducing the 0-100km/h sprint by 1.3 seconds. New adaptive dampers and suspension, more efficient motors and larger 79kWh battery, the latter of which increase range to an impressive 570km (WLTP combined). Prices listed are national drive-away until 1 April

Australia’s new car market rose very slightly in volume in 2024 compared to 2023 - but it wasn’t good news across the board.

I feel like 2024 was the eye of the storm. It’s the year, which sits between a big surge of electrification, yet before our market will be hit with a big shake-up with at least 12 new manufacturers entering the fray in 2025.

Cupra explains why a ute is simply off the table despite 'experimenting' with new bodystyles and an impending US market arrival.

Cupra plots bounce-back from 2024 sales slide, but won't target traditional rivals in its range-wide refresh.