Dacia has recently launched the Spring, an all-electric vehicle that is priced starting at £14,995, making it the most affordable electric car in the UK market. This city car is compact, measuring 3.72 meters in length, and comes equipped with a small 26.8kWh battery that offers a range of 137 miles in official tests.
The Dacia Spring is available in three trims: Expression, Expression 65, and Extreme 65, with the numbers indicating the electric motor power. The entry-level model has 44bhp, while the higher-end versions boast 64bhp. All variants come with features like a seven-inch touchscreen display, cruise control, parking sensors, air conditioning, and 15-inch wheels. The top-spec model also includes electric windows, a ten-inch screen with navigation, smartphone connectivity, and a two-way charger.
In terms of design, the UK version of the Dacia Spring has received an exterior makeover and a new dashboard layout. The cabin now features a seven-inch digital instrument panel across all trims, with the top Extreme 65 model getting a 10-inch touchscreen with live navigation and over-the-air updates. The materials used in the interior have been upgraded, offering higher-grade fabrics on the seats and textured plastics on the door inlays.
From a practicality standpoint, the Dacia Spring comes with Dacia’s innovative YouClip accessory system, allowing items like cup holders and a torch to be attached to various points in the cabin. The boot space is comparable to a supermini, offering 308 liters of capacity with the rear seats up and expanding to 1,004 liters when folded down. Additionally, Dacia will offer a two-seat cargo version with a 1,085-liter load bay.
Charging the Dacia Spring can be done from 20% in 11 hours with a domestic three-pin plug, while a 7kW wallbox will take around four hours. DC charging up to 30 kW is available as an option, allowing the car to reach 80% charge in 45 minutes. The vehicle also supports vehicle-to-load technology, enabling users to power devices like electric grills or lamps through a supplied adaptor.
Overall, the Dacia Spring presents an affordable and practical option for those looking to transition to electric vehicles without breaking the bank. With its compact size, decent range, and modern features, it aims to make electric driving accessible to a wider audience in the UK market.