Dacia Spring confirmed as Britain's cheapest new electric car with prices from £14,995
Battery included
Dacia has confirmed the new Spring hatchback will be the UK’s cheapest new mass-production electric car when it arrives in the UK in October.
Priced from £14,995 in its most affordable form, the Spring will not only be the UK’s cheapest new electric car, but it will also be one of the cheapest new cars on sale in this country, regardless of propulsion system.
Customers will get a choice of two different trim specifications and two power outputs, but every version will come with the same compact battery, which has a capacity of 26.8kWh.
Just 44bhp for entry-level model
Basic “Electric 45” versions of the Spring, which come with a 44bhp electric motor driving the front wheels, will offer a range of up to 137 miles on a single charge (as with all EVs, that will be lower in the real world, especially during cold weather and on motorways).
The benefit of a small battery, though, other than lower costs, is that weight is reduced (making it more efficient and nimble) and recharging takes less time; taking it from 20 to 100 per cent takes just four hours even on a 7kW “wallbox” home charger. Plug into a conventional 13-amp, three-pin socket (make sure it’s checked for the purpose by an electrician), and that time extends to 11 hours.
Dacia has not yet announced any performance figures for the Spring but it seems unlikely to offer exceptional straight-line speed, even in the more powerful (and £1,000 dearer) 64bhp “Electric 65” form.
Despite the low prices, in the UK there won’t be a no frills version of the Dacia Spring. The entry-level Expression model, offered for both the Spring Electric 45 and Electric 65, will comes with a 7in digital instrument display, a height-adjustable steering wheel and cruise control, electric front windows, manual air conditioning and rear parking sensors. Steering wheel audio controls and a USB port for phone connectivity will also be thrown in as standard, alongside 15in steel wheels.
Copper details for Extreme model
At the top of the range will be an “Extreme” trim, available only with the Electric 65 motor, for with Dacia charges a further £1,000 on top of the Electric 65 Expression.
That car’s still-reasonable £16,995 list price will pay for copper interior and exterior finishes, electric mirrors and electric rear windows, as well as a 10in centre touchscreen, two USB ports and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration. It’ll get navigation, too, and a bi-directional charger that allows drivers to use the car’s battery to power other devices.
Dacia is also promising safety equipment including advanced emergency braking that can stop the car in the event of the driver failing to respond to a hazard ahead, and lane-keeping assistance tech — both of which are required under modern safety regs.
Think of it as a spacious city car
The Dacia Spring may have a raised ride height and blunt SUV looks but its compact footprint (it’s just over 3.7m long), small battery and lack of exhaust emissions mean it’s most at home in a city, rivalling the likes of the Mini Cooper SE, Citroën e-C3 and Fiat 500e.
But while diminutive, Dacia claims that Spring — which has been on sale in other European countries since 2021 — will have the best storage volume in its class, with up to 1,004 litres of carrying capacity when the rear seats are folded away and 31 litres of storage space dotted around the cabin.
“Spring has played a key part in the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) across Europe and, with a price that is even lower than speculated, we’re confident it will continue the success story in the UK,” said Luke Broad, the brand director for Dacia in the UK.
“We have listened to the concerns of UK drivers regarding accessing EVs, ensuring it not only has an unprecedented price but affordability that doesn’t come at the expense of durability, equipment or usability. Quite simply, there’s no other new EV currently on sale that offers so much for so little.”
The Spring is available to pre-order now, with the first customer cars arriving in the UK in October. Early-bird buyers can bag a build slot with a £99 deposit, which secures the launch pricing and a complimentary £250 contribution towards accessories, public charging or a home charger unit.
Related articles
- If you were interested in the new Dacia Spring, you might also like to read about the new Dacia Duster, redesigned for 2024 with rugged look and first use of hybrid power
- Thinking of getting behind the wheel of a new vehicle this year, as a private or company car driver? Check out 11 of the most exciting new models arriving in 2024
- Did you know there are nearly 350,000 privately owned electric cars now on UK roads?
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