There’s a common refrain when it comes to new EVs. A lot of new cars, in fact. Essentially it’s hard to argue that they all seem way too heavy, much too fast and stupidly expensive. Plenty of people need affordable, simple, dependable new cars, and there doesn’t seem to be an awful lot of them. Dacia to the rescue, then, as this is the updated Spring: a sub-1,000kg electric car that’s already the cheapest new EV in Europe and is set (we hope) to claim the same accolade in the UK. Prices will follow in March, though there’s plenty to be encouraged by already for those weary of mega, mammoth electric cars.
When more than two tonnes is the going rate for anything battery-powered, the Spring’s 984kg kerbweight is extremely impressive. Of course, it won’t be as plush or as rangey as the super duper stuff, but that’s not the point - it’s a city runaround. And to weigh less than a VW Up doing so is laudable. That’s for the top-of-the-range Extreme model, too, crammed with active safety tech, and is actually six kilos heavier than the outgoing Spring - of which 140,000 have been sold in Europe since its original launch in 2021. The key to its lightness is keeping the Spring small and simple. The battery is only 26.8kWh in capacity (or just a single kWh more than that used in a plug-in Porsche Panamera) for a start; a smaller battery obviously doesn’t need as long to charge, doesn’t require as much cooling, doesn’t take up as much space and so on. It’s all to the Spring’s benefit.
The important numbers are 65hp (there’s 45hp for those that really want it), 0-62mph in less than 14 seconds and a WLTP range of ‘more than 137 miles’, with certification pending. Dacia claims consumption of ‘below 14.6kWh/62 miles’, or 4.25 miles per kilowatt hour. The battery can be charged from 20 per cent to 100 per cent on a 7kW wallbox in four hours, or a 30kW charger can do 20 per cent to 80 per cent in 45 minutes. That 7kW figure will likely be important as an urban runaround, being plugged in at supermarket chargers and so on. Nobody is going to be doing mega miles looking for the next Ionity; Dacia’s data from existing owners suggest an average of 23 miles a day. It offers vehicle-to-load charging and regenerative braking for the first time, too.
A significant part of this Spring update is about giving the 3.7m-long EV a more recognisable Dacia look. So it gets the new brand grille, the Y-shaped light signatures and some smart new colours like the Brick Red seen here. As with all new Dacias, there’s no chrome anymore, and the door protectors can be removed for those who like to live parking life dangerously. The interior, too, has been refreshed, with all models getting a seven-inch digital dash and the plusher models that people will actually buy (like the Extreme seen here) adding a 10-inch central display also.
Elsewhere, the YouClip points recently announced for the Duster are also in the Spring. It’s back to basics but it’s not boring, as we’ve come to expect from Dacia of late. Additional goodies for UK Spring buyers include a bigger boot than the original car, now with up to 1,004 litres (308 with the seats up), an optional 35-litre frunk and a 3D-printed cupholder. There’s a five-star Euro NCAP rating, too, for anyone who needs convincing about precious cargo in the bargain basement EV.
In the UK, there will be Essential, Expression and Extreme trims - just like the rest of the Dacia range. It’ll be interesting to see if buyers follow existing ICE and hybrid buyers by going for the top-of-the-range Extreme (which tends to be the most popular spec) or fully lean into the - hopefully - cheap-as-chips appeal. An Essential will have a USB port, cruise control, remote central locking, electric front windows and rear parking sensors - almost like the old days of kit lists. The Expression gets air con and 15-inch wheels, so that’s probably a bare minimum for most, then Extreme adds the copper accents, rear electric windows, central screen, V2L charging and phone mirroring. It’s easy to imagine many not considering anything but Extreme. The Spring currently starts at just under £15k in Europe. Less than £20,000 and some good lease deals might see that 140,000 total added to quite quickly…
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