The Dacia Spring has received its second major upgrade in two years. If the MY2024 facelift was largely cosmetic and aimed at ergonomics, the new one brings along powertrains said to be 35% better than the old ones. The suspension, the charging and the battery have all been improved as well, but impressively, the car still starts from €16,900.
Earlier Spring EV buyers had to settle for either 45 or 65 metric horsepower (44 or 64 hp; 33 or 48 kW, respectively). The new version comes with a choice between 70 and 100 PS (69 and 99 hp; 51 and 74 kW). That’s right, the base spec now has more power than the old top spec!
Dacia doesn’t bother with 0-100 times, but points out higher acceleration elasticity where it matters. To be specific, the 70-PS version now goes from 80 to 120 km/h (50–75 mph) in 10.3 seconds. Its 100-PS counterpart manages the same in 6.9 seconds. Their predecessors were downright lethargic in comparison with 26.2 and 14 seconds, respectively. The upgrade should make it possible to drive the Spring EV on the highway performing an occasional overtake when needed.
The old 26.8-kWh battery pack is gone, replaced with a smaller 24.3 kWh pack. It’s the first lithium-iron-phosphate EV battery used in a Renault Group vehicle. Despite the smaller capacity and increased consumption, it actually delivers more range than its predecessor – 225 km (140 miles) per charge. The old one delivered roughly 5 km (3 miles) less than that.
Charging power goes up from 30 to 40 kW in the MY2026 version, meaning you can now top up the battery from 20 to 80% in 29 minutes. Even when charging from a standard home power socket, refilling the pack takes 3 hours and 20 minutes instead of a full 4 hours.
Elsewhere, Dacia points out improved central body rigidity for extra battery safety and an added sway bar – a first for an electric car as cheap as this. Shock absorbers, springs and power brakes have all been reconfigured for efficiency, and those opting for the top trims now get larger wheels. Last but not least, the body has been redesigned once again to reduce drag – this time around from an already-low 0.745 to 0.660.
