Dacia's Spring resets the value proposition for EV buyers on a budget. Jonathan Crouch reports

Ten Second Review

Dacia shakes up the affordable end of the EV market with this car, the Spring. The driving range is modest, but then so also is the price. This Romanian contender is fun to look at - and to drive. Here at last is an EV small hatch more comparably priced to a combustion model.

Background

Electric cars are too expensive. That's the bottom line. Despite continued industry promises, we're still waiting for the required wave of small, affordable EVs priced more comparably with fossil-fuelled runabouts. If any car maker was going to provide such a thing, you'd hope it might be Dacia, Renault's Romanian budget brand, who shook up the market a decade ago by offering UK folk a new family hatchback (the Sandero) for under £6,000. In fact, they already have, launching Europe's cheapest electric car, the Spring, back in 2021. Early versions of that model never appeared here, but Dacia is taking the opportunity provided by this model line's facelift to introduce it for the British market. The Spring is assembled in China as part of a joint venture between the Nissen Renault Alliance and the DongFeng Motor Group. And over 120,000 have been sold across Europe so far. So what might be its prospects here? Let's take a look.

Engines and Tech Spec

Our market focuses on the gutsier version of the Spring with a 65hp electric motor; an entry-level 45hp version's also available, but you'd have to be really urban-bound to choose that because it takes over 19 seconds to get to 62mph, around 5 seconds more than the 65 version. Both variants come with the same small battery pack with just 26.8kWh of usable capacity available, a modest figure that means just 137 miles of range can be had. But you won't be choosing a Spring for long journeys - or for performance; the 64bhp variant makes 62mph in just under 14s, though because the first 30mph is dispatched so quickly, it feels faster than that, helped by a light kerb weight of just 984kg. The tight turning circle, super-light steering and the small exterior size make the Spring a great city car. Predictably, it's less comfortable on the motorway, where it can get blown about by HGVs and going above 70mph takes quite a bit of driver determination. Best to keep this Dacia in its comfort zone, zipping about the suburbs, where it's really quite a fun companion.

Design and Build

Visually, this is the kind of small runabout that European customers tend to want these days, an A-segment small hatch with various Crossover cues (chunky wheel arches and a slightly higher ride height). If you want some perspective on size, we'll tell you that the 3,734mm length is fractionally longer than a city car-class model (the Hyundai i10 is about 6cm shorter). This facelifted model gets a smarter front-end look, with LED daytime running lights and indicators on the grille. The rear gets Y-shaped thinner lights and a matt black plastic panel. The cladding around the wheel arches and the bottom section of the bumpers has been left unpainted. Dacia reckons that will help this area to better cope with urban scrapes or dents. The brand has redesigned the interior of the revised model UK sales are launched with, incorporating cabin architecture borrowed from the new Duster SUV. Take a seat and it doesn't feel especially EV-like; you start the car by turning an old-fashioned key. Drive is engaged by twisting the chunky auto shifter, which has just three settings, D, N and R. For Park, you shift to N and pull on the manual handbrake. All the buttons and switches are huge, the infotainment screen (10.1-inches with top spec) works well and the dials are clear, but the squashy seat positions you quite high and you can't adjust the steering wheel. There's just a single wiper and top 'Extreme' trim livens up the cabin with some copper-coloured accents and neoprene upholstery. The rear seat is rather cramped, particularly if there's anything other than a short passenger up front. But that's so as a larger-than-expected boot can be provided for, 308-litres in size.

Market and Model

Prices kick off at around £15,000, which is makes the Spring the most affordable EV in the UK, but that's for the feebler '45' badged version you probably won't want. The '65' variant with the perkier electric motor that you'd be more sensible limiting yourself to costs from around £16,000, which is still very cheap for an EV. At that price, you get the same entry-level 'Expression' trim level as is offered in the '45' version. For plusher 'Extreme' trim with a '65' model, you'll need around £17,000. At these prices, the Spring's only real rivals on price are second hand electric cars. 'Extreme' trim gets you black wheels, copper-coloured detailing, nature-inspired paint colours and smart topographical badge motifs. In this spec, your Spring will also be able to charge external devices. There's also the same infotainment screen you get with the Jogger, a display which incorporates a rear parking camera and 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring. Along with rubberised floor mats and neoprene seat upholstery. Some copper -coloured cabin detail features as well, but it doesn't alleviate the rather budget feel engendered by the dark grey plastics, the rugged robust interior architecture or the blanked-off buttons on the steering wheel. Dacia's new 'Youclip' accessory mounts appear on the dashboard, the centre console and the glovebox. to these can be attached things like a cup holder and a phone cradle. As part of this Spring's most recent update, Dacia has added various camera safety features - lane-keeping assistance, advanced emergency braking and driver attention monitoring. As you'd expect, there are also front airbags, plus full-length curtain airbags, and ISOFIX points are provided for the outer rear seats.

Cost of Ownership

We gave you the driving range figure earlier - 137 miles - which is more likely to translate into 90-120 miles in real world motoring, and then only if you use the provided Eco button, which dulls acceleration and climate functions. Which might leave you tempted to ask your dealer whether Dacia is planning a version with a battery larger than a 26.8kWh usable capacity. Actually, the reverse is true, the brand currently looking into the possibility of a variant with an even smaller battery, which would reduce range a little but increase efficiency and further reduce the asking price. This car knows its market you see - amongst people who won't care that this urban runabout can't be comfortably used for inter-city journeys. The brand says the average likely Spring customer will do no more than 20 miles a day and will average 16mph. Of more importance is the fact that its lithium-ion cells can be DC-rapid charged at 30kW, which means a 20-80% charge can be completed in 45 minutes. A 7kW garage wallbox connection will charge the car in around 5 hours - or around 13 hours if you connect to a domestic socket. Once on the move, WLTP energy efficiency is rated at 4.3 miles-per-kWh, helped by the feather-light (for an EV) 984kg kerb weight. On to the warranty. Dacia offers its latest Zen warranty which can cover you for you to 7 years provided you get your car regularly serviced at a Dacia franchise. This is backed by three years or 60,000 miles of roadside assistance. Dacia offers a choice of pre-paid servicing schemes covering you for either two years and 24,000 miles or three years and 36,000 miles.

Summary

Some cars simply have to be viewed in proper perspective and this is one of them. Those who might carp about the relatively feeble 137 mile driving range are missing the point. Which is that this Dacia is intended primarily for urban and suburban use; and that it will almost always be bought as a second or third car. In any case, a driving range figure of this sort didn't seem to do the original MINI Electric any harm. It's the same story with most of the other things that Spring prospects might be tempted to complain about. Sneering at the utilitarian cabin plastics? Just look at the uber-modest prices being asked here. Disappointed by the lack of rear seat space? Well it's only intended for kids and anyway, the packaging of this seat frees up more boot space, which for most customers will be more important. In short, you can see why so many European folk have been minded to spring for this Dacia.

Body Glass

3 speed windscreen wipers

Rain sensor

Tinted windows

Automatic wipers

Front electric windows

Heated rear window

Rear wash wiper

Brakes

Anti-lock Brake System + Emergency Brake Assist

Electronic Stability Program + Hill Start Assist

Automatic Emergency Braking System (AEBS)

Carpets/Rugs

Carpet mats

Driver Aids

Lane departure warning system

Lane keep assist system

Event data recorder

Emergency Stop Signal (ESS)

Driver attention warning

Traffic sign recognition with speed alert/Intelligent speed assist (ISA)

Cruise control + speed limiter

Rear parking sensors

Rescue code

Electric power assisted steering

Driver Information

e-Call (emergency call)

Driving Mirrors

Manually adjustable door mirrors

Black door mirrors

Embellishment Trims

White airvents inserts

Brick red dashboard decopart

Entertainment

Media control - DAB radio with display on instrument panel, Bluetooth, 2 Speakers

USB socket

Exterior Body Features

Front and rear Bumper, body coloured with black elements and grey insert

Rear side wing doors

Body colour door handles

Exterior Lights

Rear fog lights

LED Y shape Dacia signature lighting

LED automatic daytime running lights

Automatic headlights

High level third rear brake light

Heating/Cooling/Ventilation

Manual air conditioning

Interior Features

12v socket in front

Height adjustable steering wheel

Fabric upholstery

Grey interior door handles

Soft feel steering wheel

Safety

Alcohol imoboliser predisposal

Front seatbelt pretensioners

Driver and passenger seatbelt not fastened warning

Side impact protection

Tyre pressure monitor

Child locks on rear doors

Door open visual and audible warning

6 airbags - Driver, front passenger, curtain and side airbags

Two 3 point rear seatbelts

Seats

1 piece folding rear bench seat back

Single front passenger seat

Front headrests

Rear headrests

ISOFIX attachment on outer rear seats

Security

Engine immobiliser

Remote central locking

Vehicle Charging

Mode 3 charging cable

Wheels

14" steel wheels

Cians styler cover for 14" steel wheels

Wheels - Spare

Tyre inflation kit

Electric Vehicle Data

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Percentage Change: 20-100

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - City: 11.5

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (km) - Comb: 225

Battery Type: Lithium-ion

Battery Leased: 0

Battery Capacity in kWh: 26.8

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Mileage: 100000

Standard manufacturers Battery warranty - Years: 8

Coupler/Connector Type: CCS Type 2

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Charge Time (Mins): 650

Battery Charging Scenario 1 - Power Supply - kW: 2.3

Maximum Charging Rate - kW: 30

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Charge Time (Mins): 240

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Power Supply - kW: 7.4

Battery Charging Scenario 2 - Percentage Change: 20-100

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Charge Time (Mins): 45

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Power Supply - kW: 30

Battery Charging Scenario 3 - Percentage Change: 20-80

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Charge Time (Mins): N

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Power Supply - kW: N

Battery Charging Scenario 4 - Percentage Change: N

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb - TEL: 13.5

Usable Battery Capacity: 26.8

Charging Port Location: Front

Battery Capacity % guaranteed under warranty: 70

WLTP - Pure Electric Range (miles) - Comb: 140

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb: 14.1

WLTP - EC (kWh/100km) - Comb - TEH: 14.1

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb - TEL: 4.6

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb - TEH: 4.4

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - Comb: 4.4

WLTP - EC (miles/kWh) - City: 5.4

Emissions - ICE

Standard Euro Emissions: N

CO2 (g/km): 0

Engine and Drive Train

Gears: 1 SPEED

Transmission: AUTO

Fuel Delivery: N

CC: 1

General

Did at least one aspect of this vehicle's safety give cause for concern?: 0

Vehicle Homologation Class: M1

Badge Engine CC: 1.0

Coin Description: 27kWh

Coin Series: Expression 45 33kW

Badge Power: 45

Insurance Group 1 - 50 Effective January 07: 24A

Special Edition: 0

Alternative Fuel Qualifying: No

Special Order: 0

Performance

Engine Torque - MKG: 12.8

Engine Power - KW: 33

0 to 60 mph (secs): 0

Engine Power - PS: No

Engine Power - BHP: 45

Engine Torque - RPM: 2521

Engine Torque - NM: 125

Engine Torque - LBS.FT: 92

Engine Power - RPM: 8200

Top Speed: 78

0 to 62 mph (secs): 19.1

Test Cycles

RDE Certification Level: RDE 2

Emissions Test Cycle: WLTP

Tyres

Alloys?: 0

Tyre Size Front: 165/70 R14

Wheel Style: N

Wheel Type: 14" STEEL

Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT

Tyre Size Rear: 165/70 R14

Space Saver?: 0

Vehicle Dimensions

Height (including roof rails): N

Length: 3701

Width: 1583

Wheelbase: 2423

Width (including mirrors): 1767

Height: 1519

Weight and Capacities

Luggage Capacity (Seats Up): 308

No. of Seats: 4

Max. Loading Weight: 364

Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: N

Max. Towing Weight - Braked: N

Max. Roof Load: N

Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): N

Luggage Capacity (Seats Down): 1004

Gross Vehicle Weight: 1315

Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 9.6

Minimum Kerbweight: 951

Exterior Body Features

Metallic paint

Special paint

Paint - Metallic

Metallic - Safari beige

Metallic - Khaki

Metallic - Lightning grey

Metallic - Brick red

Paint - Solid

Solid - Polar white

Paint - Special

Special - Stonewash blue

Trim - Cloth

Fabric - Grey dual tone with embossed Dacia logo