Dacia Spring: Budget EV grows up, price expands

The second-generation Dacia Spring has been revealed with a much brawnier and modern design, both inside and out.

While the first-generation Spring was based on the Renault Kwid and built in China, the new model will be made in Slovenia alongside the closely related Renault Twingo E-Tech. Combined with a shift to a newer architecture, this means the Spring loses its title as Europe's cheapest electric vehicle.

In the UK, pricing is expected to kick off at just under £18,000 (A$33,800), which is a significant jump from the current model's £11,990 (A$22,500) starting price. 

As it's manufactured in Europe, the new Spring qualifies for EV incentives in many countries, including the UK and France, which closes the price gap to the old model significantly. It could also qualify for the EU's mooted new e-car category that may give it another advantage against Chinese competitors.

Measuring 3.85m long, 1.74m wide and 1.49m tall, the new Spring is 150mm longer and 157mm wider than the first-generation model. The roof is 29mm closer to the ground, and the Spring no longer looks as though it is sitting on stilts.

Gone too is the original Spring's organic styling, replaced by a much more angular affair that ties in with Dacia's latest design language. While the Dacia's body panels are completely unique, the car's Twingo roots are revealed via the rounded side windows.

Interestingly, the Spring's flatter bonnet means it can be optioned with an 18L frunk, which is fashioned primarily to store the car's charging cables. The boot can store 337L worth of stuff with the seats up, and this grows to 1283L when the rear seats are folded down.

Inside, the Spring's lineage is much easier to see. Although the upper dashboard is unique to the Spring, with a chunkier design and air vents that include half of Dacia's logo, the steering wheel, lower dashboard and centre console are taken straight from the Twingo.

A 7.0-inch digital instrument display is standard on both levels, but only the top-spec Journey has a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, as well as built-in satellite navigation.

In the base-spec Expression, the audio system is controlled via buttons on the steering wheel and info is displayed on the instrumentation screen. Passengers can also connect and control the sound system via the Dacia Media Control smartphone app.

The single drivetrain and battery combo is another area of commonality with the Twingo. Weight and cost are kept down thanks to car's small 27.5kWh (net) lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery.

As there's a modest 60kW/175Nm electric motor driving the front wheels, the Spring has a WLTP driving range of 250km. The Spring needs a claimed 12.1 seconds to complete the 0-100km/h standard, and has a top speed of 130km/h.

It supports AC charging up to 6.6kW in standard form, but buyers need to option the fast-charging pack to enable 11kW AC and 50kW DC charging.

The outgoing Spring had a 24.3kWh LFP battery paired to either a 33kW or 48kW motor, and a WLTP range rating of up to 225km.

At launch there will be just two trim levels. The base Expression has 15-inch steel wheels, electric front windows, pop-out rear windows, rear parking sensors, air-conditioning, a split-level boot floor, 50/50-split/folding rear seats, central locking, fabric upholstery, a height-adjustable driver's seat, and three YouClip mounting points.

Step up to the Journey and there's 16-inch steel wheels, a reversing camera, hands-free access card, 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, boot cover, one YouClip mounting point, and upgraded upholstery featuring a mix of TEP and fabric.

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