Overview and Key Specs
As fuel prices continue rising across Europe, more drivers are considering electric vehicles. And the new 2022 Dacia Spring is aiming to be that first EV for the masses. As the continent‘s most affordable electric car by far, the Romania-based Dacia Spring starts at just £14,550 in the UK and around €17,000 in most EU countries.
Designed as a city crossover SUV, the subcompact Spring promises up to 140 miles of range from its 26.8 kWh battery – easily enough for suburban and urban driving. It also packs some welcome features like a rearview camera and 7-inch touchscreen inside its thrifty but stylish body.
Let‘s examine if the Spring lives up to the hype as Europe‘s revolutionary budget EV…
2022 Dacia Spring EV crossover shown in Blue Fusion paint
Here are the key specs on the electric Dacia Spring:
- Price: Starts from £14,550 in UK / €16,990 in EU
- Battery: 26.8 kWh
- Range: 140 miles / 225 km
- Recharge Time: 1-2 hours at 7 kW / 4-8 hours at 2.3 kW
- Motor: 33 kW (44 hp), 125 Nm torque
- Top Speed: 74 mph / 120 km/h
- 0-31 mph: 5 seconds
As a compact crossover measuring just 3.7 meters long, the Spring competes with rivals like the slightly larger Renault Zoe and Citroen e-C4. But it significantly undercuts both models on pricing while still including features not always standard for the segment, like hill start assist, cruise control, heated seats, and keyless entry.
Dacia Spring Availability: Where & When You Can Buy
The groundbreaking Dacia Spring EV first arrived in showrooms last March 2021 after being unveiled at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show. Initial deliveries started in its home country of Romania, followed swiftly by Western European markets like Germany, France, and the Netherlands.
Pre-orders proved extremely popular – over 40,000 were placed by September 2021 across Europe. Production currently takes place in Chinese Renault-owned factories before units are shipped to the EU for distribution.
In total, over 70,000 Dacia Springs have been delivered to eagerly awaiting customers so far. As of March 2023, it‘s now available to order in the UK as well with first deliveries from June. However, long wait times are expected due to huge demand.
Sadly for North Americans, Dacia has no plans to bring the Spring EV stateside. The brand fears subcompact models won‘t sell well enough in the US and Canadian markets that favor larger vehicles.
The Dacia Spring electric car can add around 90 miles of range from a 1-hour 7 kW charge.
Charging: Decent Speed for the Price
One hour of charging the Spring EV on a 7 kW home Wallbox yields about 90 more miles. That‘s perfect for overnight top-ups. Slow, overnight charging is best for the battery‘s long-term health anyway.
On a standard household socket, you‘ll need between 8-14 hours to fully recharge from empty. Fast charging at up to 30 kW allows regaining around 125 miles of range in under 40 minutes.
So while not exceptional, the Dacia Spring‘s charging capacities are perfectly reasonable for a bargain SUV meant primarily for urban commuting. The 26.8 kWh battery is small but efficiently optimized for the vehicle‘s affordable purpose.
Performance: Agile City Car
Motivating the plucky Spring EV is an electric motor producing the equivalent of 44 horsepower, allowing a top speed of 74 mph. So while no speed demon, it has enough pep for darting through urban traffic.
Zero to 31 mph acceleration takes a brisk 5 seconds – perfect for making safe merges and turns. Handling leans more towards soft and floaty rather than sharp and sporty, prioritizing ride comfort over cornering grip. The higher driving position and compact size make for excellent maneuverability when squeezing into tight spaces.
It‘s not meant for fast highway cruising, but this little EV crossover was designed mainly for crowded city streets. In that environment, the Spring drives like a champ.
The affordable Dacia Spring provides a comfortable, quiet ride around town.
Design: Cute, Modern, & Friendly
This cheerful little vehicle sports a friendly face with squarish headlamps flanking a gaping grille. Available exterior colors include non-metallic white, gray, and black along with metallic examples like light blue, slate gray, dark orange, and olive green.
Inside, the cabin layout is highly functional rather than fancy. Surfaces feature plenty of hard plastic but it doesn‘t look or feel overly cheap. The absence of frivolous trim allows costs and weight to stay low.
Passenger space is surprisingly good given the 3.7 meter length. There‘s decent leg and headroom front and back, while the 300 liter trunk can swallow a week‘s groceries or luggage for a small family. The rear seats fold down to accommodate bulkier cargo as needed.
If you want lavish luxury this isn‘t it. But if you seek simple, honest transportation the Dacia Spring fits splendidly.
Technology & Safety Features
This bargain EV still comes well equipped on the tech and safety fronts. Highlights include:
- 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay / Android Auto
- Rearview camera
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Hill start assist
- Keyless start
- Cruise control
-Lane keeping alert - Automatic emergency braking
- Speed limiter
- ISOFIX child seat mounts
- Front & curtain airbags
So you‘re covered for the basics like calls, tunes, navigation and device charging without excessive frills. Generally, owners report good touchscreen response and call clarity.
The Dacia Spring keeps controls straightforward and functional on a budget.
Real World Ownership: Excellent Value
Thus far, verdicts from Spring EV buyers across Europe remain overwhelmingly positive. They praise its cute style, nimble driving dynamics, generous standard equipment, and sheer value for money.
Most customers view niggles like the lack of DC fast charging capability as perfectly acceptable compromises. After all this plucky electric crossover costs barely half as much as more mainstream rivals.
In real world use, owners are averaging 3.7 miles per kWh for energy efficiency based on data from tracking apps. That translates to around 100 miles of actual driving range in temperate conditions on a full charge. Cold winter weather can reduce usable range by 20% or more however.
But the Dacia Spring was engineered specifically as affordable urban transport rather than a road trip machine. For short drives around cities and suburbs, it fulfills transportation needs splendidly while saving huge cash over pricier EVs.
2023 Dacia Spring Extreme
In February 2023, Dacia took the wraps off an updated Spring model dubbed the Extreme at the Brussels Motor Show. It promises to build upon the standard version‘s immense success.
So what does the new Extreme variant add? Upgrades and enhancements include:
- Increased motor output: 60hp vs 44hp
- Extended range between charges
- New color options like slate gray
- Additional interior trim selections
- Improved interior sound insulation
Dacia positions the Spring Extreme as a sportier, more "fun-oriented" model tailored to younger urban buyers. Production is slated to commence by early 2024.
Exact pricing remains unannounced, but expect a slight premium over current Spring models. But even if the Extreme costs 15-20% more, it will still retain its crown as Europe‘s bargain EV champion by far.
A more powerful Dacia Spring Extreme (right) joins the lineup for 2024
The Game-Changing Budget EV Arrives
In the affordable Dacia Spring, Europe finally has its long-awaited "people‘s EV" built for the masses rather than luxury. No other mainstream automaker has yet dared follow Dacia‘s lead in making small electric cars truly budget-friendly transport.
For urban Europeans seeking their first EV on tight budgets, no other model comes remotely close the Spring‘s combination of affordability, decent features and chic styling. Compromises exist certainly but seem well worthwhile overall.
Despite its flaws, the pioneering Dacia Spring crucially proves that budget need not equal boring when it comes to EVs. This little vehicle packs an outsized dose of personality along with its revolutionary value.
Early sales success and owner satisfaction bode very well for the Spring‘s long term prospects. And the upcoming Extreme model will only expand the humble EV‘s appeal to more drivers.
When the histories of early 21st century transportation get written, the 2022 Dacia Spring may well stand out as a true game changer. It‘s the EV that finally brought electrification within working people‘s reach.
