It was in the wine region of Bordeaux, in southwestern France, that we had the opportunity to drive the new Dacia Spring. There are quite a few differences since the last time I sat behind the wheel of this model, starting with the exterior look, which is more appealing, almost like a mini-Duster. The new design somewhat disguises the diminutive size — 3.7 meters — of this city car, which has captivated thousands of new electric vehicle enthusiasts all over Europe.
In versions with the 48 kW (65 hp) engine, the new Dacia Spring finally gets 15” wheels, providing more stability and traction, addressing one of the model’s limitations in certain types of use. The steering wheel is much more appealing and now has height adjustment, which is always good news. The unintuitive rotary gear selector has now been replaced by a longitudinal control. Another new feature is the B mode, which enhances energy recovery during deceleration and which Dacia claims allows for one-pedal driving. This is not entirely true, as the regeneration system does not completely stop the vehicle. You always need to use the brake pedal in these circumstances. Still, there is an improvement.
Without further ado, let’s get behind the wheel. In front of us, there’s a quite comprehensive 7” information panel, and at the center of the redesigned dashboard, another 10” screen, which can be connected to a device via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This configuration, along with the bidirectional charging function, is currently exclusive to the Extreme version. The trunk space has increased by 6% and now has a capacity of 308 liters, going up to 1004 with the rear seats folded down.
More Robust and Stable
I immediately noticed that the steering is more precise, and as we increase speed, the new Dacia Spring feels much more stable. The power steering has been readjusted, and the improvement is significant. Weighing still under 1000 kilos, the Spring continues to be the lightest electric car on the market and also, almost certainly, the one with the lowest turning radius: only 4.8 meters.
As for performance, the acceleration remains at 15 seconds from 0-100 km/h for the more powerful version and less than 20 seconds for the base version. The top speed is limited to 125 km/h.
The 48 kW (65 hp) engine is the same used in the previous version and the battery characteristics remain the same, with 26.8 kWh. With a WLTP consumption rated at 14.6 kWh, Dacia expects to homologate a range of 220 kilometers on a full battery charge.
More Economical Than Expected
In reality, the Spring’s consumption tends to be pleasantly surprising, at least in our case. This time, even with the more powerful version and larger wheels, we completed the route slightly below 10 kWh/100 km, with the air conditioning always on, which the onboard computer indicated as consuming 1.8 kWh. With the 33 kW (45 hp) Spring, we had previously achieved long-distance consumption around 8.2 kWh.
Considering that Dacia Spring customers drive an average of 37 kilometers per day and 75% charge the battery at home, it is easy to see that this model, in addition to having no local emissions, also has exceptionally low operating costs. Some domestic rates can lower the cost to €1 per 100 km, which is exceptional.
The internal AC charger maintains a power of 7 kW, allowing the battery to charge from 20% to 100% in four hours. There is an option for the Spring to be equipped to receive up to 30 kW DC charging, reducing the charging time from 20% to 100% to 45 minutes. On a domestic outlet, the same process takes 11 hours.
Another Bestseller from Dacia
The model was launched in Europe in 2021 and since then has sold 150,000 units, becoming one of the best-selling electric cars on the Old Continent and, by a significant margin, the cheapest. Last year, 61,803 units were delivered to customers, making the Spring the third best-selling EV in Europe.
The story of the Spring originates from the Renault Kwid, a diminutive SUV produced in India and Brazil, but the electric evolutions were and will continue to be exclusively produced in China since 2019 (Renault City K-ZE). In 2021, it finally arrived in Europe with the already described success, the only BEV on the market priced below €20,000. Since then, there have been annual updates, with an aesthetic update in 2022 and the arrival of a 65 hp version in 2023. Now, a more profound renewal has been made to the bodywork — only the roof remains unchanged — and also to the interior, with significant improvements in the infotainment system, ergonomics, and materials used.
Significant attention has also been given to the new advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), which aim to meet the new European safety requirements. The task is not easy, as the platform was developed for markets with lower demands in this respect. The new Spring has an advanced emergency braking system, traffic sign recognition with speed alert, and lane departure warning, among others. It is also possible to activate each ADAS through a My Safety button.
One of the most interesting new features is the ability to use the Spring’s battery to power external electric devices, such as lights or appliances. This V2Object functionality includes a bidirectional charger and an adapter and is available as standard in the Extreme model, the most well-equipped one.
Models and Prices
There will initially be three different equipment levels of the Spring. The first, called Essential, maintains the 33 kW (45 hp) engine and 14” wheels. It only has the 7” screen in front of the driver and no air conditioning. The price starts at €16,900. The intermediate version, called Expression, will be available with both engines in some markets and includes air conditioning and 15” wheels, priced at €18,900. The Extreme version adds the multimedia system with a 10” central screen and wireless connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with the bidirectional charger and other aesthetic and practical equipment. The price starts at €19,900.
These values are roughly the same as the outgoing model and will remain so at least until the end of the year. Following that, they might change, due to new tax regulations regarding Chinese produced vehicles, enacted by the European Union.
The new Spring will be available in six colors. In addition to the four already known (Kaolin White, Slate Blue, Pearl Black, Lightning Grey), Safari Beige and Brick Red are now added.
Orders for the New Dacia Spring have already opened in most European markets and the first deliveries are scheduled for the last quarter of 2024.
With a lack of competition at this price level, a significant array of improvements to European tastes, and the growing interest of many prospective buyers in economical and utility vehicles (even more so if they are electric…), the Dacia Spring is poised to continue its successful commercial run.
