We tried the Dacia Spring, the truly affordable electric car

A new segment and new technology at a price of Dacia. The Spring, a vehicle of an essentially urban character, with an SUV look and electric technology, arrives at a key moment to become a bestseller in its category, because thanks to the advantages of the Plan Moves III, it can receive a subsidy of more than 40 percent of the vehicle’s price; that is, if you have a vehicle to scrap and opt for the manufacturer’s financing plan, the final price of the model in its entry-level version starts at 9,550 euros. That said, we must not forget that the amount of the subsidy received counts as income for income tax (IRPF).

The Spring comes to democratise the use of electric vehicles, proposing a new concept of sustainable and economical mobility, since not only is the purchase price low, but maintenance costs are also well below those of a combustion-engine vehicle.

Made in China

For the development of the Spring, which is produced at the Chinese plant in Shiyan, the team started from the CMF-A Alliance platform, used for other group models built in India and Brazil, such as the Kwid, with an overall weight of just 970 kg, a figure much lower than that of other electric vehicles.

Its style recalls the lines of the Dacia Sandero on a smaller scale. Its dimensions are also fairly compact: it measures 3.73 m in length, 1.77 m in width and has an overall height (with roof bars included) of 1.52 m. The wheels placed at the extremes of the body have allowed a wheelbase of 2.42 m, which favours interior space, limited to four occupants.

To enhance the SUV look of the bodywork, plastic wheel-arch cladding has been fitted, along with plastic trim on the side, front and rear, roof bars, and the body has been raised 15.1 cm above the ground. It has a turning circle of 4.8 m, which makes it easy to manoeuvre, and its parking assistance system, depending on the trim level, provides visual and audible assistance thanks to the sensors and the reversing camera.

Its style recalls the lines of the Dacia Sandero on a smaller scale, with widened wings and a domed bonnet. It includes LED daytime running lights in the upper part and light clusters divided into two sections. The front grille, which hides the central charging socket, can be opened vertically using a mechanical interior handle located near the steering column.

The wheel trims imitate the look of alloy wheels with the Flexwheel system: open steel wheels that integrate trims, giving the appearance of alloy wheels. It comes with 14-inch tyres in the 165/70 size.

The versions we were able to drive briefly during the first contact are still at prototype stage, as neither the settings were fully fine-tuned nor were the materials final (the rear light clusters will carry the brand’s new light signature in the form of a cut double arrow). Nor were the equipment levels we saw final for the versions that will go on sale in Spain from next autumn.

Simple and functional interior

With seating for four occupants and a five-door body, the Spring’s interior has been developed to provide what is needed for urban driving. Superfluous elements have been dispensed with, although also some items that could be useful for on-board comfort, as it has no steering wheel adjustment of any kind (height and reach) nor seat height adjustment for the driver.

The boot offers easy access and generous capacity: 270 dm³ VDA without counting the space under the boot floor for the spare wheel (optional, for an extra 100 euros), which provides 20 litres more. With the one-piece rear seat backrest folded down, it can reach 620 litres of capacity.

It features digital instrumentation, simple and very clear, highlighting a gauge showing power consumed or generated, with information displayed in coloured sections, which makes it easy to see the energy consumption or regeneration taking place at any moment.

It also has a large digital speedometer, gear selector indicator, battery level percentage gauge, external thermometer, battery level indicator, and an on-board computer with various functions such as dual total and trip odometers, instantaneous consumption/regeneration indicator, average consumption, etc. To operate it you press a button on the instrument cluster itself, which means reaching through the centre of the steering wheel. At the front it offers 23 litres of storage spread across the glovebox, the front door bins and the central console tray.

Furthermore, some items included as standard are surprising, such as the automatic headlight activation system, four electric windows, speed limiter, central locking with remote key, air conditioning, front, side and curtain airbags, or the assisted emergency braking system, which activates from 7 km/h and detects the distance to the vehicle ahead (stationary or moving). If there is a risk of collision, it warns the driver visually and audibly before boosting braking force, or it applies the brakes automatically if the driver does not brake or does not brake sufficiently.

The Media NAV multimedia system, with wired mirroring for Android and iOS, and the electric mirror adjustment will be available depending on the trim level. The Media Nav equipment includes a 7-inch touchscreen, GPS navigation, DAB radio, voice recognition, Bluetooth and an auxiliary input.

Restrained power

To move the small Spring, a simple and lightweight electric motor rated at 33 kW (45 CV) with a maximum torque of 125 Nm between 500 and 2,500 rpm has been chosen, powered by a lithium-ion battery with a usable capacity of 27.4 kWh. It has a WLTP-homologated combined consumption of 13.9 kWh/100 km, which allows it to claim a range of 230 km in the combined cycle and 305 km in the urban cycle.

For charging it offers several options: via a 230 V domestic socket or Green Up with the Flexicharger cable (mode 2); through a 7.4 kW Wallbox with a dedicated cable (mode 3 Mennekes) or by connecting to a 30 kW DC fast-charging point (this option will be offered as an extra from next year). However, the on-board charger accepts powers between 2 and 6.6 kW.

Depending on the type and power of charging, times can be considerably reduced: under 14 hours for a full 100% charge from a 2.3 kW domestic socket; under 8 h 30 min for a charge from a 3.7 kW Green Up socket and under 5 hours for a charge from a 7.4 kW Wallbox. When connected to a 30 kW high-capacity DC socket, only 1.30 hours for a complete recharge is needed.

As in other models in the group, via a smartphone and the MYDacia app, you can check the battery charge level, the available range, and geolocate the vehicle in real time. When connected to the mains, the app allows you to start pre-conditioning of the cabin, either cooling or heating, check the charging status, and pause or resume charging.

Mainly urban use

Not only because of its dimensions and power, but also because of the technical configuration of the Dacia Spring, its use is fundamentally focused on city driving, although its range allows some leeway when tackling longer stretches of road.

Although its power is limited to 45 CV, which in Eco mode restricts power to 23 kW and top speed to 100 km/h, the sense of strength is felt forcefully, especially on pull-aways, thanks to the brilliant torque delivery from the very start. It promises an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 19.1 seconds and covering the kilometre from a standing start in 40.5 seconds, with its top speed limited to 125 km/h.

Using it is very pleasant, as the absence of noise and vibration, as well as the linear power delivery, make it especially enjoyable. A very light steering (with variable assistance) and a steering lock angle of 38º allow excellent ease of manoeuvring.

You should not expect too much when taking it onto open roads. Of course, its use is focused on short urban journeys, since given its dimensions, weight and suspension settings, it is not designed for much in the way of excess, but it is true that it has a decent behaviour, absorbs road imperfections well and is extremely easy to handle.

Four versions available

Several versions of the model are planned, all equipped with the same motor, battery capacity and similar technical specifications, differing in equipment level and the finish of some materials. Two of them are aimed at private use, Comfort and Comfort Plus; one is aimed at the car-sharing business, Sharing One, and another version will be for industrial use, as a last-mile delivery vehicle, named Cargo.

The Spring Carsharing variant will be fitted with a specific system that allows geolocation and door opening via smartphone.

There will also be a variant for commercial use, called Cargo (available in 2022), which removes the two rear seats and increases load capacity to 820 litres. It includes a plastic floor covering and interior wheel arches, four tie-down rings and a separation partition with mesh. The loading length is 1,033 mm and it offers a payload of 325 kg.

As for official prices, only those of the private-use versions have been announced, Comfort and Comfort Plus, which will reach the Spanish market from next autumn. For the Comfort, the price is 18,615 euros (the brand applies a discount campaign of 1,265 euros, bringing it down to 17,350 euros). For the Comfort Plus, which has more equipment, the price starts at 20,115 euros and the brand contributes an aid of 1,695, bringing the list price to 18,420 euros, excluding possible Moves III aid.

As for options, the list is limited exclusively to metallic paint (450 €); spare wheel of the same size (100 €) and the Mode 2 charging cable (300 €).