Dacia Spring 2024 review
Photo: Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The 2024 Dacia Spring did something no other car could: it made a brand-new electric car cheaper than almost every petrol supermini in the UK. Launching at £14,995 on the road in right-hand drive for the first time, the Spring became Britain's cheapest new EV by thousands of pounds — and, more importantly, a genuinely usable one, with up to 140 miles of WLTP range from its 26.8kWh battery.
Two motors are offered. The Electric 45 delivers 45hp and takes a leisurely 19.1 seconds to reach 62mph, while the Electric 65 ups power to 65hp and cuts the sprint to 13.7 seconds — neither is fast, but both feel sprightly enough around town where the Spring is designed to live. A 78mph top speed and 30kW DC charging (20-80% in about 45 minutes, or 20-100% in around four hours on a 7kW wallbox) confirm this is a city and suburban runabout, not a motorway cruiser. The tiny footprint (3.7 metres long, under a tonne) makes parking effortless, yet five doors, a 308-litre boot and an optional 35-litre frunk keep it practical.
Honesty requires the caveats: the Spring scored just one star in its 2021 Euro NCAP test, and there is no heat pump. But Dacia backs it with a 3-year/60,000-mile warranty and an 8-year/75,000-mile battery warranty, running costs are comically low, and as a second car, a first car or a cheap commuter it simply has no new-car rival at the price.
Related reviews: Dacia Bigster 2025 review · Dacia Duster 2024 review · Dacia Jogger 2024 review
UK price from: £14,995
Specifications
| Motor | Single electric motor, front-wheel drive (Electric 45 / Electric 65) |
| Power | 45 hp (Electric 45) / 65 hp (Electric 65) |
| Torque | 125 Nm |
| Battery | 26.8 kWh usable (27.4 kWh total) |
| Range | Up to 140 miles WLTP |
| 0-62 mph | 19.1 seconds (Electric 45); 13.7 seconds (Electric 65) |
| Top speed | 78 mph |
| Charging | 30 kW DC (20-80% in ~45 min); 7 kW AC (20-100% in ~4 hrs) |
| Boot space | 308 litres (1,004 litres seats folded); optional 35-litre frunk |
| Length | 3,701 mm |
| Kerb weight | 976 kg |
| Euro NCAP | 1 star (2021 test) |
| Warranty | 3 years / 60,000 miles; battery 8 years / 75,000 miles |
Features
- £14,995 on-the-road price — the cheapest new EV in the UK
- Electric 45 (45hp) and Electric 65 (65hp) front-drive motors
- 26.8kWh battery: up to 140 miles WLTP range
- 30kW DC rapid charging; 7kW wallbox 20-100% in around four hours
- 308-litre boot, 1,004 litres seats folded, plus optional 35-litre frunk
- 7-inch digital driver cluster with smartphone docking
- Media Nav Live with 10-inch touchscreen and wireless smartphone mirroring (Extreme)
- Vehicle-to-load (V2L) socket on Extreme trim for powering small appliances
Common parts & prices
| Part | Price (GBP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin pollen filter | £12.99 | |
| Front wiper blades (pair) | £19.99 | |
| 12V auxiliary battery | £79.99 | AGM type |
| Front brake pads (set) | £34.99 | |
| Rear brake shoes (set) | £29.99 | Drum brake type |
| Washer pump | £22.99 |
Pros
- The cheapest new electric car in Britain by a huge margin
- 140-mile WLTP range is genuinely usable for city and suburban life
- Tiny footprint and light weight make it easy to drive and park
- 8-year/75,000-mile battery warranty as standard
- Minimal running costs: cheap insurance, tax and charging
Cons
- One-star Euro NCAP result (2021 test) will worry some buyers
- Electric 45 takes 19.1 seconds to reach 62mph — motorway work is a chore
- 30kW DC charging is slow by modern standards
- No heat pump, so winter range will suffer
