Dacia Spring: From a Bargain from China to a European Electric Car
The name stays the same, but the technical platform is completely overhauled: Dacia is building the Spring on a new platform and transforming the electric compact car—previously known primarily as an affordable import from China—into a more distinct European compact car. The second generation will be built at Renault’s Novo Mesto plant in Slovenia, utilizing the Renault Group’s new small RGEV architecture and sharing its technical platform with the upcoming electric Renault Twingo. This is noteworthy because the previous Spring was essentially a Dongfeng licensed model; while its simple design and low price fit Dacia’s image, its safety and comfort, on the other hand, seemed rather borderline. The new Spring is expected to significantly push these boundaries without sacrificing its strongest selling point: affordable electric mobility.
It’s clear at first glance: The new Spring no longer aims to look cute and as affordable as possible. At 3.85 meters long, it’s 15 centimeters longer than its predecessor—but the increase in width is even more significant. At 1.74 meters without the side mirrors, it’s a whopping 18 centimeters wider. This completely changes the proportions. The Spring now sits much more solidly on the road, looks more robust, and thus takes on more of a mini-SUV look. While its technical twin, the Twingo, relies on rounded retro charm, Dacia is deliberately taking a different approach. The Spring features a short, high-mounted, and comparatively massive hood, steeply raked surfaces, and pronounced wheel wells. The sides have an angular cut, and the rear appears almost vertical. The technical resemblance is not meant to be immediately obvious here.
Typical of Dacia is the focus on robust solutions. Large protective panels on the front and rear bumpers are made of solid-colored, textured black plastic. This is intended to make minor bumps, scratches, or the inevitable marks from a tight supermarket parking spot less visible. The black trim strips between the headlights and taillights also tie the design to Dacia’s current identity. The new Spring doesn’t look luxurious, but it appears significantly more mature than its predecessor.
However, the gain in space isn’t just visual. Dacia promises one of the most spacious interiors in the electric A-segment and cites a trunk volume of 337 liters. That’s quite respectable for a car of this size. With the rear seat folded down—which now splits 50:50—a maximum of 1,283 liters of usable space is available. A adjustable dual-level cargo floor helps organize smaller items. Additionally, an 18-liter “frunk” under the hood is available for an extra charge. It’s primarily intended for charging cables, a safety vest, or accessories—making it a practical complement to the rear compartment. In the A-segment, such storage space has been the exception so far.
The interior has also seen a major leap forward. A 7-inch digital instrument cluster comes standard, and depending on the trim level, a 10.1-inch touchscreen is positioned in the center. The bluish hue of the upholstery echoes the accents on the dashboard and the “Agave” exterior color. Dacia focuses on horizontal lines, intuitive controls, and durable materials rather than flashy features. This is complemented by the numerous storage compartments and “YouClip” mounting points: these can be used to attach items such as bags, smartphone cable holders, eyeglass cases, cup holders, or a portable light.
The higher-trim Journey trim level adds features such as a keycard with hands-free functionality, a rearview camera, two USB-C ports, navigation with connected services, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Eight years of online navigation with real-time traffic data and updated map information are also included. Dacia has also adopted Renault’s “My Safety” feature, which allows drivers to disable the most annoying beeps for speed, attention, or other warnings with just two button presses upon startup. This may seem like a minor detail, but it’s a real convenience in everyday use.
So far, so good. The biggest drawback of the new Spring might still be its powertrain. At launch, the new Spring will be available only with an electric motor producing 60 kW (80 PS) and 175 Nm of torque. This should allow the small electric car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.1 seconds, with a top speed of 130 km/h. For Dacia, this is more than enough to keep up with “city traffic and the flow of traffic on expressways and highways.” This is because the Romanian Renault subsidiary has determined that owners of the first-generation Spring primarily use their vehicles for their daily commute. On average, they drive 34 km per day at an average speed of 34 km/h. And in 75 percent of cases, the car is charged at home.
With this data, Dacia justifies not only the rather small 27.5 kWh LFP battery—which offers a range of just 250 km in the WLTP cycle—but also the fact that the vehicle comes standard with only a 6.6-kW AC onboard charger. Charging from 15 to 80 percent at a standard household outlet takes a full nine hours. At a high-current outlet, the charging time is said to drop to 5 hours and 40 minutes, and at a 7-kW wallbox, to 2 hours and 55 minutes. Anyone who doesn’t own a house or carport and relies on public charging stations—or perhaps plans spontaneous cross-country trips from time to time—will need to order the optional Charge Pack. It combines an 11-kW AC onboard charger with up to 50 kW DC fast charging and also enables bidirectional charging (V2L), which can be used to power small electrical devices such as e-bike batteries, lamps, or a coffee maker.
After all, with WLTP consumption of 12.7 kWh per 100 kilometers, the Spring ranks among the more fuel-efficient electric cars. Its curb weight starting at 1,212 kilograms also contributes to this. This combination makes particular sense for short trips: a small battery, low weight, and manageable costs. The turning radius of 4.95 meters underscores where the Spring feels most at home: between curbs, parking spaces, and narrow residential streets. Rear parking sensors and an electric parking brake come standard, while the rearview camera is only available in the top-of-the-line Journey trim.
Speaking of which: The Spring is offered in two trim levels, Expression and Journey. The former is expected to start under 18,000 euros, including air conditioning and an electric parking brake, while the top-of-the-line version will remain under 20,000 euros, not including subsidies. That may be the key takeaway. The current Spring is still available in Germany starting at 16,900 euros; however, the variants currently on offer still use smaller 24.3-kWh LFP batteries and 52- or 75-kW powertrains. The final German prices for the second generation have not yet been determined. (aum)
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Photo source: Frank Wald via Autoren-Union Mobilität
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Photo source: Frank Wald via Autoren-Union Mobilität
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Photo source: Dacia/Adrien Cortesi via Autoren-Union Mobilität
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Photo source: Dacia/Adrien Cortesi via Autoren-Union Mobilität
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Photo source: Dacia/Adrien Cortesi via Autoren-Union Mobilität
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Photo source: Dacia/Adrien Cortesi via Autoren-Union Mobilität
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Photo source: Frank Wald via Autoren-Union Mobilität
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Photo source: Dacia/Adrien Cortesi via Autoren-Union Mobilität
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