The Dacia Spring is a new electric hatchback set to launch on the Irish market later this year and mooted to be one of the most affordable EVs in the country. Though the Spring has been on sale in left-hand-drive markets since 2021, this is a new generation of the car, with significant improvements.
Dacia Duster-inspired style
The new Dacia Spring's design is clearly influenced by the modern look of the new Dacia Duster, featuring the brand's corporate identity up front that gives the car a distinctive appearance. Though it has plenty of ground clearance, the Spring is very much a compact hatchback. It's only 3.7 metres long, so it sits below the Dacia Sandero in the line-up, yet there's space inside for five people. The boot holds 308 litres of luggage, which can be expanded to 1,004 litres by folding the rear seats.
Dacia's Y-shaped motif is found throughout the exterior and interior of the Spring, from the LED lights front and rear to the colourful air vents inside. Depending on the electric motor fitted, the car wears 14-inch wheels or 15-inch rims, and all are covered with plastic trims. The top two versions of the Spring get contrast-colour bumpers and the range-topper additionally features a design detail on the bumpers calling to mind a city street map.
Low weight thanks to compact battery
Impressively, Dacia has managed to keep the weight of the Spring to below 1,000kg, so it doesn't need a powerful motor or a large battery. Some versions will be available with a 45hp motor, others a 65hp unit, though it's not yet clear if both will be offered to Irish buyers. All cars use the same 26.8kWh battery pack and Dacia is quoting 14.6kWh/100km efficiency for an official range of about 220 kilometres.
Interestingly, though the Spring has 7kW AC charging capability, and 30kW DC charging is available, Dacia also quotes a time of 11 hours to charge up the battery (20-80 per cent) from a regular domestic socket. Supplying this detail indicates that Dacia doesn't expect all Spring buyers to invest in a home charger. To date, the Spring is the first EV for some 93 per cent of buyers.
Three trim levels and lots of tech
Across Europe, the new Spring will be available in three different trim levels - Essential, Expression and Extreme - though it has not been confirmed if all will be offered to Irish buyers. The minimum specification includes a seven-inch digital screen for instrumentation, electric windows and rear parking sensors, along with cruise control and speed limiter, remote central locking and the "Media Control" system into which owners can plug their smartphones to operate as the car's infotainment.
The entry-level Essential model is only available with the 45hp electric motor and 14-inch wheels, while upgrading to the mid-level Expression brings with it air conditioning and 15-inch wheels, plus the option of a 65hp electric motor.
At the top of the line-up is the Spring Extreme, featuring copper accents, electric rear windows, a ten-inch touchscreen system - including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and two USB ports - and bi-directional charging capability.
The latter, referred to as V2L (Vehicle-to-Load), comes with an adaptor that plugs into the car's charging port, allowing the owner to then plug in external devices, such as exterior lighting, a power washer or vacuum cleaner.
Dacia will offer plenty of accessories for the Spring, allowing owners personalise their cars. An insert for under the front bonnet turns that into a usable 30-litre storage space, for example, while there's a range of interior add-ons that slot into the integrated "YouClip" mounting points, including extra lights, cupholders and even a wireless phone charger.
Irish pricing for the Dacia Spring
Dacia Ireland has yet to confirm Irish pricing for the Spring, but it is presumed to start well below €30,000. The first examples of the Spring are expected in the country before the end of the year, in advance of the "251" registration period starting on 1 January 2025.