Dacia took the wraps off a heavily updated version of the Spring, modernizing the affordable urban EV for the masses. The 2024 Dacia Spring adopts the automaker’s latest design language borrowing styling cues from the popular Duster while retaining the generous ground clearance and crossover bits. It also benefits from a redesigned interior with more kit, bringing it on par with newer rivals.
Starting with the exterior, the Spring looks more modern than before, largely thanks to the Duster-inspired grille and LED headlights, plus the SUV-style skid plate and bumper intakes. The tail received a similarly adventurous makeover with a black trim connecting the modern LEDs and a heavy dose of plastic cladding on the bumper.
More: Dacia Updates Sandero, Logan, And Jogger With More Tech To Meet EU Rules
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The profile of the 3,701 mm (145.7 inches) long EV looks familiar, as the greenhouse and the large door handles are carry-over bits from its predecessor. Still, Dacia designers tweaked the fenders, simplified the surfacing, and added a ribbon on the C-pillar in a quest to accentuate the crossover stance. In the same context, there are new options for the wheels measuring up to 16 inches in diameter, and a revised color palette with the addition of the Brick Red and Safari Beige shades.
Moving inside, the old dashboard that looked like it came from the ’90s has been replaced with a modern design. The digital cockpit of the Extreme flagship trim comprises a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-inch free-standing infotainment display, although entry-level models will be limited to a smartphone holder. The climate vents, center console, gearbox selector, and dashboard-mounted tray have been redesigned, looking more in line with the rest of the Dacia family.
The company also added the YouClip accessory mounting system, allowing owners to customize the interior. Equipment includes the basic ADAS package as dictated by the regulations in the European Union, and the “My Safety” button for enabling or disabling them. Finally, there is a 35 lt (1.2 cubic feet) frunk under the hood, in addition to the slightly increased 308 lt (10.9 cubic feet) of available boot space.
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Dacia didn’t feel the need to upgrade the underpinnings of the Spring, citing that the average daily trip by existing owners is 37 km (23 miles) long, at a speed of 37 km/h (23 mph). This means that the carry-over electric motor producing either 44 hp (33 kW / 45 PS) or 64 hp (48 kW / 65 PS) is good enough in terms of performance, despite the notoriously sluggish acceleration figures. The same applies to the 26.8 kWh battery pack which allows a WLTP range of more than 220 km (137 miles) thanks in part to the low weight figure of 984 kg (2,169 pounds). Charging is surprisingly slow, with 11kW AC for the weaker models and 30kW DC for the stronger ones. New for the updated model is the bi-directional charging capability meaning that you can use the small battery to power electric devices.
Pricing for the 2024 Dacia Spring has yet to be announced but the company says it remains “the most affordable full-electric model on the market”. As reported by Autocar, UK deliveries will commence in October 2024, with a price below the £18,000 ($22,732) mark. As with its predecessor, the new Spring will be manufactured in China.
The main rivals of the 2024 Dacia Spring are the new Citroen e-C3 and the upcoming Fiat Panda, as well as future urban EVs like the Renault Twingo and the VW ID.1.