What's the difference?
If you’re someone still convinced the newcomer Chinese brands don't have what it takes to shake up the Australian new car market, this might just prove you wrong.
It’s the 2025 XPeng G6 Long Range, and it’s a lot like the Tesla Model Y, only cheaper – and, in some ways, much better.
Don't believe me? Read on and I'll prove it.
Electric cars. Australia now has quite a few, and to add more confusion to the mix, there are a litany of all-new brands releasing models into this new frontier of the automotive landscape.
Most new electric cars are in Australia’s favourite buying category, the SUV, but there’s also a ute, some odd sedan-y things, and, of course, a handful of hatchbacks.
Hailing from Spain, the Cupra Born sets itself apart from the rest for a few reasons though. Firstly, it promises to be a hot hatch, something we haven’t really seen much of yet, and secondly, it has to bear the burden of launching Volkswagen Group’s all-electric MEB platform to the Australian market, but most importantly for Australians keen to hop into their first electric car, it promises to do this while offering a long range at a reasonable price.
Can it really do it all? We attended the Cupra Born’s Australian launch to find out.
You never know quite what to expect when you jump into the first model from a brand-new brand, but the XPeng G6 was a pleasant surprise. And at this price, with these features, it should really give Tesla Model Y shoppers something to think about.
The Cupra Born has so much going for it. An appealing price, long range, and super cool design chief among them.
I think the main thing holding it back will be that it doesn’t quite have the same out-and-out performance people have come to expect from a ‘hot hatch’ in the era of cars like the VW Golf R.
Importantly though, it delivers huge dollops of fun and driver engagement, something that's quite rare in the electric era.