Budget-friendly car maker Dacia has confirmed its first fully electric vehicle will arrive in the UK later this year with a game-changing low price.
Starting from £14,995, the Spring EV will be £12,000 cheaper than Britain’s current cheapest EV, the MG4.
The Spring is just £200 more expensive than Dacia’s most affordable Sandero supermini, and its bargain price tag is only bettered by a handful of other models – it will become Britain’s sixth cheapest new motor across all fuel types.
And its impact on the EV market could be groundbreaking, as its low price point should force the hand of rival brands to make their battery-powered cars less expensive.
Britain’s cheapest electric car… and by some margin: Dacia has confirmed its new Spring EV (pictured) will start from £14,995 in the UK. That’s almost half the price of the next most affordable battery-powered car in UK showrooms today
Dacia Spring: Priced from £14,995
Dacia says Spring’s unique selling point is that it’s a ‘widely affordable’ fully electric car that will ‘rewrite the EV rulebook’.
Luke Broad, Dacia brand director for the UK, said: ‘Spring has played a key part in widespread adoption of EVs across Europe and, with a price that is even lower than speculated, we’re confident it will continue the success story in the UK.’
And he’s not wrong; Spring was the third most sold electric car to ‘retail customers’ in 2022 and 2023, accumulating more than 140,000 global sales in the last two years.
‘We have listened to the concerns of UK drivers regarding accessing EVs, ensuring it not only has an unprecedented price but affordability that doesn’t come at the expense of durability, equipment or usability,’ Broad continues.
‘Quite simply, there’s no other new EV currently on sale that offers so much for so little.’
The statement £14,995 entry price gets you the smaller of the two power outputs, with the Expression Electric 45 delivering – the trim level name suggests – 45 horsepower from its single motor setup.
The more powerful 65hp variant (also using a single e-motor) starts from £15,995 for the Expression Electric 65, while the top-of-the-range Extreme Electric 65 rings in at £16,995.
Incredibly, there’s a more basic ‘Essential’ trim which would be even less expensive, though it currently sounds like this won’t be coming to the UK market… for now.
Drivers who put a holding payment for a Spring down early will get even better value for money.
Not only should it lock them into today’s announced pricing (which is likely subject to change) for when their car arrives in October, the £99 deposit secures pre-order customers a complimentary £250 package.
This can be spent towards adding accessories to their Spring or the installation of a home charger (via Mobilize Power Solutions) or alternatively against the cost of public charging.
‘This choice recognises that everyone has different requirements. For added simplicity, customers choose from the trio of extras at the point of pre-ordering,’ the company says.
Officially, the current cheapest EV in showrooms today is the MG4. This medium-size family hatchback is a lot bigger than the Spring and starts from £26,995
The Spring’s biggest rival will be the Fiat 500e. The Italian city car starts from £28,195, though is eligible for Fiat’s £3,000 e-grant offer until the end of the year, meaning the price in 2024 is £25,195. That’s still £10k more than the Dacia
How much cheaper is it than rivals?
The £14,995 starting price is certainly something that shouldn’t me sniffed at, given that it significantly undercuts every other electric car on sale in Britain today.
The least expensive EV on sale in Britain today (not including the Citroen Ami quadricycle) is the MG4, which starts from £26,995.
While the MG is somewhat larger and represents great value at its existing price point against rivals, the Spring is set to drastically move the goalposts for how little an EV can cost, with the starting price some £12,000 less than that of its Chinese competition.
Arguably the Dacia’s most comparable battery vehicle on sale right now is Fiat’s 500, which starts from a significantly pricier £28,195.
That said, the 500e is currently eligible for Fiat’s own £3,000 ‘e-grant’ offer, which slashes the start price to £25,195. With the grant available until the end of the year, it makes the cute Italian city car the nation’s second cheapest EV behind the Spring for 2024 at least.
The Spring’s entry price is just £300 more than its combustion-engined sibling, the Sandero.
In fact, the Dacia EV will be the sixth least expensive new car on sale in 2024 across all fuel types.
Only the Kia Picanto (from £13,695), Citroen C3 (from £13,995), MG3 (from £14,320), Fiat Panda (from £14,740) and Dacia Sandero (from £14,795) are cheaper.
The Spring’s battery size is just 26.8kWh. To put that into perspective, the largest in an EV sold in Britain today is four times bigger – the 120kWh pack in the £100,000 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+
What performance can we expect from the nation’s cheapest EV?
The ‘all-new’ Spring sold to UK customers from next month is said to ‘achieve greater efficiency through its light weight’. And it’s certainly that.
Tipping the scale at just 984kg, it’s the only EV on sale in Europe that’s less than a tonne.
As such, it doesn’t need an enormous battery to achieve the range Dacia deems fit for a car of these proportions.
In fact, the battery pack is just 26.8kWh.
To put that into perspective, the largest battery in an EV sold in Britain today is four times bigger – the 120kWh pack in the £100,000 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+.
But Dacia says the battery size has been ‘precisely calibrated to meet the needs and lifestyles of Spring drivers, without degrading the overall performance by adding excessive weight’.
The five-door supermini debuts with a range of up to 137 miles from both variants, though a Dacia spokesperson told us the 65hp will offer a little extra grunt for ‘overtaking outside of the city’.
That doesn’t sound much, especially when you take into account that under real-world driving conditions you will do well to achieve 90 per cent of that figure, but bosses say this is more than suitable for Spring buyers.
What justification does it have for such a claim?
Well, the company has been collecting data from on-board computers of Springs sold across Europe and found that the average owner drives just 23 miles per day.
The customer information it has downloaded also shows that a Spring travels mostly in town at an average speed of only 23mph. And in three in four cases, the cars are recharged at home rather than using the public network.
In an urban (inner city) run in slow-moving stop-start traffic with no fast B-roads or motorway use, the range is said to be good for up to 186 miles.
So green is the Spring that its energy efficiency and carbon footprint received high praise in 2022, when it was awarded the maximum 5-star rating from the independent European organisation Green NCAP.
But while it might be eco friendly, it’s not what you’d call fast.
The most powerful 65hp model takes 14 seconds to reach 62mph from a standstill, which is pretty pedestrian by EV standards. The lesser 45hp example takes a whopping 19.1 seconds, meaning you might get out-sprinted by a milk float or a mobility scooter.
Top speed is limited to just 78mph, making the Spring suitable for motorway use – though probably not for long period given the limited range.
While it might be eco friendly, the Spring won’t be quick. The slower 45hp version takes a staggering 19.1 seconds to reach 62mph. Top speed for both will be limited to 78mph
Placing a £99 deposit now secures pre-order customers a complimentary £250 that can be spent towards accessories or the installation of a home charger (via Mobilize Power Solutions) or alternatively against the cost of public charging
As standard, the Spring will come with a 7kW AC charger that can charge the battery from 20 per cent to 100 per cent on a domestic three-pin plug in less than 11 hours, or in just four hours via a 7kW homecharger.
A 30kW DC charger enables fast charging from 20 per cent to 80 per cent in 45 minutes if you plug into a public rapid-charging device.
And Dacia has even equipped the UK-spec Spring with a bi-directional V2L (vehicle-to-load) charger (only on Extreme trim levels).
This means it comes with an adapter that plugs into the car’s charging connector, which is located under the grille, that can be used as a conventional 220V/16A socket for appliances.
It then can be used as an energy source to power electrical devices, such as a laptop, kettle or even a microwave.
The car Britons can get their hands on first is an upgraded version of the Spring EV that’s been on sale across mainland Europe for the last three years.
This facelifted model comes upgraded with regenerative braking for the first time, with the automatic gear selector including a ‘B-mode’, which noticeably slows the vehicle via the regenerative system to feed energy back into the battery.
As standard, the Spring will come with a 7kW AC charger that can charge the battery from 20 per cent to 100 per cent on a domestic three-pin plug in less than 11 hours, or in just four hours via a 7kW homecharger
The five-door supermini debuts with a range of up to 137 miles between charges from both variants, though a Dacia spokesperson told us the 65hp will offer a little extra grunt for ‘overtaking outside of the city’
Will it be practical?
Don’t be fooled by the Spring’s SUV-inspired looks – this is far from an enormous Chelsea Tractor.
At just 3.7 metres long, it’s shorter than Dacia’s Sandero supermini.
This will be ideal for inner-city jaunts, with a turning circle of just 4.8 metres making it exceptionally agile and easy to plug into the smallest of parking spaces.
In particularly tight scenarios, owners will be comforted by the fact the Spring’s bumpers and wheel arches have plastic protection strips.
This is so that the small EV can ‘withstand everyday wear and tear without compromising on appearance,’ bosses say.
Its high ground clearance also allows for customers to ‘venture over rough terrain,’ says Dacia, though we wouldn’t recommend taking on any mountains or ravines, given it’s only available in two-wheel-drive.
While its small dimensions will be to the benefit of ease of driving in the city, the compromise will be interior passenger space.
At just 3.7 metres long, the Spring is shorter than Dacia’s Sandero supermini. This will be ideal for inner-city jaunts, with a turning circle of just 4.8 metres making it exceptionally agile and easy to plug into the smallest of parking spaces
If similar to the pre-facelift Spring, expect there to be limited room in the rear, which is likely to be cramped for taller-than-average adults.
While its small dimensions will be to the benefit of ease of driving in the city, the compromise will be interior passenger space.
That said, Dacia claims it has the best storage volume in its class.
The boot offers 308 litres of loading space – 1,004 litres with the rear seats folded down – and has additional storage throughout the cabin, with an overall volume of nearly 33 litres.
Customers will also be able to access 35 litres of ‘luggage’ space under the bonnet.
Dacia says that despite the Spring’s ‘unprecedented’ low starting price, it still promises robust durability, lots of equipment and plenty of usability
The Springs elevated ground clearance allows for customers to ‘venture over rough terrain,’ says Dacia – though we wouldn’t recommend taking on any mountains or ravines, given it’s only available with two-wheel drive
As well as a class-leading boot, the Spring also has some storage space up front. Customers will also be able to access 35 litres of ‘luggage’ capacity under the bonnet
Will it feel like a no-frills product?
Plenty of drivers have turned their noses up at the prospect of buying a Dacia due to its no-frills asking prices.
Yet, the latest examples of its Sandero, Duster and Jogger are not just well equipped, they offer generally solid cabins, if not loaded with the latest tech.
They also look pretty smart too, which – from the images seen here – is set to continue with the Spring.
It features the brand’s Y-shaped light signatures front and back, with full-LED daytime headlights.
The boxy proportions give a chunky, robust feel, which is bolstered by square wheel arches over the 15-inch wheels.
There is lower-door side protection that can be easily removed and replaced in case of any car park dings and there are are decals instead of chrome badges and lettering as part of the effort to make it as lightweight as possible – and to keep costs down.
Dacia says it doesn’t come with roof bars like some small crossover rivals because ‘they are generally redundant on a small car used mainly for short trips,’ and by removing them again helps to trim its bulk and extend its driving range.
It will come in a range of six shades, including newly introduced Brick Red and Beige Safari.
The Spring’s boxy proportions give a chunky, robust feel, which is bolstered by square wheel arches over the 15-inch wheels
The entry Expression trim level come with just a 7-inch digital instrument cluster – owners will have to use their smartphone as the infotainment screen, with a compatible Dacia system. Pricier Extreme models
Pictured is the cabin on the higher Extreme trim, which gets a 10-inch central touchscreen, which includes ‘smart navigation’ that has real-time traffic conditions and up-to-date European maps for up to eight years
Inside, it’s designed to be durable yet efficient and clever.
Basic trim levels come with just a 7-inch digital instrument cluster.
Buttons on the steering wheel control the multimedia system with media information and phone calls displayed on the driver’s display.
It also incorporates two speakers, a Bluetooth connection, and a USB port.
When connected to the free Dacia Media Control app, drivers can use radio and media functions and access other features – including navigation – via their smartphone.
Higher trims get a 10-inch central touchscreen, which includes ‘smart navigation’ that has real-time traffic conditions and up-to-date European maps for up to eight years.
The infotainment screen also enables wireless use of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and comes with a pair of USB ports.
The lower section of the centre console can also be used as a cup holder, thanks to a 3D-printed inset, and there’s space for Dacia’s YouClip accessory mount, which can carry a smartphone or other devices.
Another handy feature is the tray sitting above the glovebox, which has it’s own light so passengers can find their phone or house keys stashed there in the dark.
David Durand, Dacia design director, said: ‘As Spring embraces the brand’s new design language, it is a resolute sign that it is here to stay as a key member of the Dacia family.
‘We gave it a serious and confident design. Building on the success of the previous generation, the All-New Spring confidently asserts its own identity.’
The lower section of the centre console can also be used as a cup holder, thanks to a 3D-printed inset. It also comes with Dacia’s YouClip accessory mount, which can carry a smartphone or other devices
Another handy feature is the tray sitting above the glovebox, which has it’s own light so passengers can find their phone or house keys stashed there in the dark
The model pictured is the high-spec Extreme trim level. This adds copper interior and exterior finishes, including these contrasting wing mirrors
What’s the difference in trim levels
The entry Expression trim comes with a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, height-adjustable 3-spoke steering wheel, speed limiter, cruise control, steering wheel mounted controls, central locking with remote control and a ‘Media Control system’ with USB port, which lets you use your phone as the infotainment screen when cradled to the dashboard.
Electric front windows (wind-up at the back), rear parking sensors, 12V socket, manual air conditioning and 15-inch wheels (only on Electric 65) complete the trim.
For an extra £1,000, the Extreme trim adds copper interior and exterior finishes, electric mirrors and rear windows, a 10-inch digital infotainment screen, two USB ports and wireless connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Only the Extreme has the bi-directional charger for external appliances.
Dacia UK estimates that 60 per cent of customers will opt for the more expensive Extreme trim.
The Spring will be sold as standard with an updated emergency braking system with detection for vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycles. This should mean it should get a higher Euro NCAP crash test rating than some of its sister models
Will the Dacia Spring prove to be a game changer for the EV market? Given its budget price point, it should force the hands of rival manufacturers to slash the premium price tags for their battery-powered cars
Will it have a better safety rating than other Dacia models?
One of the big criticisms of Dacia models of late – particularly the Sandero – is its low Euro NCAP crash test rating.
However, this is primarily due to it lacking passive safety tech as standard.
That won’t be the case with the Spring.
It will come with an updated emergency braking system with detection for vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycles.
The suite of safety features also include traffic sign recognition with speed alert, rear park assist, emergency stop signal, lane change alert, lane keep assist, driver attention warning and emergency call (eCall) in case of accidents and an ambulance or the police needing to be contacted.
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