The Dacia Spring represents a significant advancement in the electric car industry. It is the cheapest, the most practical, and the most fun electric car you can buy in Europe right now. And it just got even better with a new facelift, more features, and more options for 2024. I will tell you why the Dacia Spring is the electric car for the people, and why you should consider buying one.
What is the Dacia Spring?
The Dacia Spring is a small, five-door, four-seat hatchback that runs on electricity. It is based on the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s CMF-A platform, which is also used for some Asian market cars. It is produced by Dacia, a Romanian brand that is part of the Renault Group. Dacia is known for making affordable, reliable, and no-nonsense cars that offer great value for money. The Spring is Dacia’s first electric car, and it was launched in Europe in 2021.
How much does the Dacia Spring cost?
The 2024 Dacia Spring is the cheapest electric car you can buy in Europe. In France, it costs less than $18,000, making it cheaper than any other electric car on the market. In the UK, it will cost less than $24,000 when it arrives in mid-2024 after the facelift. That is still a bargain compared to other electric cars, such as the Nissan Leaf, the Volkswagen ID.3, or the Tesla Model 3, which cost between $42,000 and $59,000.
How far can the Dacia Spring go on a single charge?
The Dacia Spring has a real-world range of about 140 miles on a single charge, according to Dacia. That is more than enough for most people’s daily driving needs, as Dacia’s research showed that most people don’t drive more than 20 miles per day, at an average speed of 16 mph. The Spring has a 26.8 kWh battery, which is relatively small and light compared to other electric cars, which have batteries of 50 kWh or more. This means that the Spring is more efficient, more agile, and less polluting than heavier electric cars.
How can you charge the Dacia Spring?
The Dacia Spring can be charged in different ways, depending on your needs and preferences. You can charge it at home using a standard wall socket or a dedicated home charger. This will take about 14 hours to fully charge the battery or about 8 hours to charge it to 80%. You can also charge it at public charging stations, using a Type 2 cable (included with the car) or a CCS cable (optional). This will take about 5 hours to fully charge the battery or about 50 minutes to charge it to 80%. You can also use fast chargers, which can charge the battery to 80% in just 30 minutes. These are usually found on highways or in urban areas, and they use a CCS connector.
What are the features and options of the Dacia Spring?
The Dacia Spring comes with a generous and modern equipment list, which includes:
- A 7-inch touchscreen with smartphone integration, compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, USB, and DAB radio.
- A digital instrument cluster with a 3.5-inch display, showing speed, battery level, range, and driving mode.
- A rearview camera and rear parking sensors, to help you park and maneuver in tight spaces.
- A hill start assist system, to prevent the car from rolling back on slopes.
- An automatic emergency braking system, to avoid or reduce collisions with other vehicles or pedestrians.
- A speed limiter and cruise control system, to help you maintain a constant speed and save energy.
- An Eco mode, to maximize the range by optimizing the power and the air conditioning.
- A remote control app, to check the battery level, the charging status, the location, and the climate settings of the car from your smartphone.
The Dacia Spring also offers some optional features, such as:
- A metallic paint in four colors: white, gray, blue, or red.
- A roof rack, to increase the loading capacity of the car.
- A spare wheel, to replace a flat tire in case of emergency.
- A wireless phone charger, to charge your smartphone without using a cable.
- A CCS cable, to use fast chargers with a CCS connector.