Dacia Spring - The BIG review on the small electric car we have all been waiting for.

[@stevemccormack9948]

Great stuff! Well done to Dacia for delivering such a simple car. Free from all the bloated, expensive lumps of electronic lard that's so prevalent nowadays. Even the wheels are nice and small. Love it.

[@iantaylor5618]

i like this car as well, i have driven one and i am impressed and will be getting one soon. thanks for you review.

[@chrisbudge1159]

Looks great - can’t see me trading my 4 year old electric mini in for it anytime soon, but very functional, good value, and would suit a lot of people who just need a small car for those local trips you describe in the video and don’t need a faster or more luxurious car because they don’t spend that much time in it. My daughter is buying a 2 year old corsa-e for a 27 mile commute - the original buyer of that corsa lost more money in 2 years than the top spec Dacia costs new - looks a great new option - good review 😊

[@carlarrowsmith]

Love that it has charge point in best place at the front 👍

[@mrgoodkat3722]

A great informative and thorough review as always.My favourite EV review channel.👍🏼

[@bobsingeton2719]

Looks like a great little car. As you’ve said; no compromises. It’s all I’d ever need these days (shopping and visiting family 15 odd miles away) as a single retiree. Now… where’s my nearest Dacia dealer? 😉

[@13ccasto]

The jogger is incredible. I'd love for them to make it electric (and then start selling Dacias in the US)

[@johnhindson5316]

Looked at in isolation the Spring and the LeapMotor look to be in a class of 2 for sub £20k EVs. It seems to me however that it is possible that they are in wider competition if you care to look. If you are prepared to go down the used route a low mileage Mazda RX30 can be had for much the same price. It will have the same range but a much superior fit and finish. Then there are the Zoe, 500e, MGs etc. The issue the Spring MAY have (I don't know yet) is that the statistics show that 80% or so of new cars are bought on purchase plans. Such plans are commonly used by manufacturers to boost sales by way of finance contributions. My point is that the Spring could easily find itself up against the Citroen EC3, Fiat Grande Panda and the like depending on the PCP value. For a lot of new car buyers (80%) the headline cost is meaningless. The competition is not what else you can buy for £15k but what a monthly payment of £150/£200/£250 etc can get you and how much you are required to put down as deposit.

[@sIightIybored]

In the UK at least, Dacia do terribly in fleet sales, but are number 1 in private sales. So I'm guessing they don't do the bulk deals for the fleets but the private pcp must be competitive.

[@e-trippingwithadamgebbett8024]

Great Video. Great young and older person car. Spoke to Dacia about a test drive last week. They suggested cross shopping with a Renault 5. Now that is Confidence in their product.

[@TeoSluga]

This is a very very small car... It's quite a bit narrower than Hyundai i10. Perhaps your expectations were to high?

[@davidspencer7254]

Because they make money from either.

[@fastfreddy19641]

Looks to have good ground clearance. I drove a panda across the unpaved roads of Fuertaventure desert and it was better than some big cars. I bet this would be the same.

[@gavjlewis]

Its cheap and cheerful and thats acceptable. So would make a great second car. But for many like us we only have one car and it needs to do all journeys. To drive to my family its 150 miles away. That currently takes about 2h20min in the current Citroen C1. The spring would likely need two stops on the way and make the journey about 3h30min. Thats a substantial amount more. The leapmotors T03 should in theory manage it with a single shorter stop due to its bigger battery and faster charging. Maybe in a few years when battery prices drop further they will offer a bigger battery with faster charging which will give the car its edge back. I prefer the car but its not quite usable in its current form, for me at least. But i thought it was a good balanced review. 👍

[@PB-fj5lh]

I really like it. I think it will sell really well. It looks really good and i would imagine most sales will be the top model. Glad Dacia brought it to the UK.

[@ISuperTed]

Was hoping you’d review this Bryan. It’s a possible for my next company car as I’ve found 95% of my daily use on my current EV is under 100 miles and this will easily charge up overnight, even with a 3-Pin plug. May ultimately be a little small for me, but have to commend Dacia for bringing out a city car that truly does compete in every way with ICE city cars.

[@sussexbikerpillion]

A great option simple nice to drive and fairly practical. Funny i thought exactly the same when i sat in it its a 80’s Fiat panda!

[@jakeroadtonowhere4070]

I’ve got one year left on my lease and I can’t wait for my EV to go back. I’ve had the worst two winters I’ve ever had in a car freezing you do 2 miles and it takes 15 off you just having the heating on. And when you’ve only got 100 miles to play with and worse of all I’m wrapped up in 2 coat 🙈 I get annoyed when people say precondition your car but that doesn’t keep you warm on a journey

[@mikegipson1224]

The Car Park section shows how most UK car parks were always and still are built and marked up too small - as even your standard supermini has grown mainly due to safety feautures installed - the only way around this is that they should be forced to make spaces at least 18 inches (45 centimetres) wider - only most of the ramps should have to be the same additional width as they usually have the same issue - sorry to go off the main subject of the car (Great review by the way) but it has always been a gripe of mine when it comes to car parks even back in the late 80's before cars got wider and longer.

[@nottooherbal]

I agree, it’s very nice . Not quite sure what those plastic patches at the bottoms of the doors do for you .

[@simonevans8979]

Tempted as a replacement for my E-208, as my other car is a diesel Peugeot 308 Estate, used for tip runs and the like. Would like to replace that as the next step, but if it could replace BOTH..? Will look at my local dealers, as never considered a Dacia, not even as a `French` car? Shurely shome mishtake..! Will look at insurance costs too. A manual hand brake? Bloody marvellous!

[@Ingineru.24]

Nice review

[@andyw6026]

loads of great used EV's for 15k, even 2 or 3 year old, low to normal mileage Kona's, Mokka's etc....

[@simonevans8979]

Its the real simplicity I look for, Hence the E-208... And my `coffee stops` are always around 45 minutes so I don't need a `thirty minute charge time`.

[@richardjohnson5529]

if i had not owned an ev already as my first i would buy the spring.

[@TeoSluga]

It's not exactly "Kia Piccanto-Hyundai i10" size of a car. It's quite a bit narrower than i10.

[@Nexus6Variant]

Wonder how this car will compare to the Leap Motors T03 (£15,995) which is more powerful, has more safety equipment and is also made in China (was this mentioned?) like the Spring. The Spring also only got a 1 star euroncap result. As for price, you can get a Mazda MX30 pre reg for 16k or a Fiat 500e which I would argue are way better quality and safer than the Spring. The Spring is actually a quite dated Chinese EV in euro drag that originally sold for around £7000 in China but is now not competitive so it really isn’t the bargain it’s being built up to be. The Dacia Spring was awarded a one star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test published in December 2021. Euro NCAP said the testing highlighted "a high risk of life-threatening injuries for driver chest and rear passenger head in frontal crash tests and marginal chest protection in side impact. Dacia are not intending to re-test the Spring as no structural changes have been made. The Dacia Spring is based on the Renault City K-ZE, an electric car that was originally designed for the Chinese market. The Spring is a rebadged version of the City K-ZE, which is based on the Renault Kwid, a combustion-engined car originally designed for India.

[@narvuntien]

I think the Leapmotor T03 is the other competitor, but that looks really bland on the outside. You are probably going to want a driveway to park this thing in but otherwise the perfect EV for short range drivers. It has front sensors! My MG4 doesn't have front sensors!

[@somnambulist1965]

I can't get over how it looks. Good deal aside

[@roberthartley6629]

When I go to Waitrose in Byres Road in Glasgow I never take my E-nero because the size, the space of the parking bays and the massively high kerbs. I take my Wife's Zoe. I know exactly what you mean.

[@chas9183]

What was the overall efficiency,I can’t remember you mentioning it

[@mueslicamel]

I think the potential elephant in the room is going to be the Euro NCAP tests. If they are good then I will buy one, if they aren’t then I won’t.

[@AutoEV]

My only reservation about Euro NCAP is they are all about driver assistance systems now, not really about passive safety. I’m not saying the Spring is a tank, but I wouldn’t put too much emphasis on them.

[@LeRouxBodenstein]

​@@AutoEVI wish more people would talk about this. And that there would be a gold standard crash safety test.

[@ziggarillo]

Dacia doesn't plan to NCAP this model. So you'd better look elsewhere .

[@anton_grahn]

£15k will get you a lot more than an old Zoe or an e-Up! It is Niro/Kona/Model 3 money!

[@LeRouxBodenstein]

You're comparing a new car with a used car. Wait a couple of years and then try a comparison.

[@anton_grahn]

@@LeRouxBodenstein Ehm yes, commenting on the comparison he did in the video

[@Hell-Hound1]

A new/pre-registered smaller battery KIA Soul is comparable on price. Has a better Ncap score, more range and a 7 year warranty. Or a 2-3yo 64kwh Soul is also about the same price. Still with a longer warranty left to run.

[@grahamcastle8189]

The one star crash rating puts me off and I think the Leepmotors t-03 is probably better value for money. It will be interesting to see the t-03 crash rating in due course. Non the less what you will save on petrol with both cars will go some way to them paying for themselves.

[@ziggarillo]

It hasn't got a NCAP rating at all. You're confusing this with the previous model, with which it only shares a roof panel.

[@chrisk4108]

The windshield looks really small and the seat looks to be really high up. Is the visibility good enough? I am about 1.80cm. will half of my view be the roof? Because this is what it looks like from the video

[@AutoEV]

Visibility was fine for me. Can’t see it being an issue for most people.

[@chrisk4108]

​@@AutoEV Thank you! We have ordered the 65hp one. Hopefully it proves to be reliable in the long run!

[@alanmole7292]

It is ideal as a second car. We are very happy with ours. It does everything we need very well. It’s everything you said it is. For long journeys we use my 24 year old Saab 9-5 V6t, which is a bit thirsty on short journeys, and much more difficult to manoeuvre in a tight car park. My wife loves the Spring. I don’t care what it was developed from, it’s not just a re-badged Chinese cast-off. It’s backed by one of the biggest car groups in the world. I think like all Dacias, it will be very successful. It’s cheap on a PCP, too.

[@ccdd24]

How tall is the car.

[@kelvinelsworthy1603]

Can you get them on mobility??.

[@ziggarillo]

Probably

[@Gazmaz]

A ‘normal’ sized car!

[@stumpywest1652]

I find hard to think about this car when you can get a great used hyundai ioniq electric

[@ziggarillo]

Second hand cars are cheaper, that's why most people buy them😂 But they all have to start out new.

[@rickypeacock659]

👍

[@jbmaru]

The Spring is still competitive in the UK (being made in China it has lost that advantage in the EU, while local cars can still get a purchasing bonus). Common advice I read for Spring buyers is to get the Chinese tyres changed to improve safety, especially if you drive outside cities and in wet weather.

[@michaeledwards8079]

what is their resale value, is it the same as other EV's

[@AutoEV]

They've just gone on sale, so a little early to tell. But Dacia have good form here.

[@ziggarillo]

It'll be the same as other cars.

[@MrProthall]

3 years 50% off probably, like most cars.

[@stevemcgowen]

@@AutoEV These have been available in France for several years and now very low mileage ones can be found for 8k euro.

[@rossbennett76]

Dude, where’s you review of the ford explorer ev.

[@AutoEV]

That’s a good question. Still waiting on Ford getting one to us……..🤔

[@Bob-_-Smith]

I really like this car after having a look at one at a Renault dealership, I just wish they’d made one with a little 1 ltr engine as being electric doesn’t suit my use.

[@ziggarillo]

There are plenty of cars with little petrol engines, buy one of those 😂

[@JustmeandB]

As with all electric cars at this moment in time, it’s only cheaper if you can charge at home and don’t need long range…..otherwise I would consider one to compliment my 9 yrs old sandero…..p.s. the sandero was only £6890 when new in 2015, same spec sandero now is nearly £21,000…..

[@2011ppower]

The media always claims that what people want is a small cheap car, when in reallity they want is a large posh car for small car money!

[@toyotaprius79]

The media always claims that people want big, posh "good value for money" SUVs, when in reality they want is a good and honest car in the variety of fuel type that costs the same to build as a profitable SUV but priced at the fraction of one.

[@davidspencer7254]

The media always claims the public want sporty cars when in reality it's only a tedious sub section. The majority want to have a comfortable ride.

[@bellshooter]

Sorry I have a bit of an issue here, you can get way better cars less than 2 years old and 10k miles. Corsa-E, Peugeot 2008 , EC4, Mokka , Kona. I know what I'd choose...

[@ziggarillo]

The same goes for any new car, how is this different? The majority of people buy used cars, but they all start out as new cars, you understand that?

[@MrProthall]

The Corsa E starts at 30k€, the Dacia at 18k€. MIGHT be a factor for people. Brandnew car for the same price as a few years old Corsa. Plus, going be EV Clinic numbers, you should NOT buy a Peugeot. They've always bee unreliable for the past 20 years, apparently that didn't change for EVs.

[@theanswer1993]

Who wants to buy a used car? You buy used only if you're poor.

[@ISuperTed]

You can and as these are a car size up some people may do this. As a Peugeot e208 driver (company) I’ve had quite a few issues with mine, so can’t say I’d recommend a used Stellantis EV (Corsa, Mokka, e-C4, 208, 2008 are all the same car underneath). Some people just like a new car with its full warranty and for a city car this looks great.

[@ukman9797]

Always bought new, and then went used. Had it for 6 months, nothing but problems. Hand always in pocket. Just traded it for the new Duster, yeah may be cheap. But it's new, 5 year warranty, no MOT for 3 years, I'm the only one to drive it. Does what I want it do do.

[@leonthompson5885]

Nooooo leap motors to3

[@palusisko]

To be honest the Spring is Chinese car Dongfeng, the main problem is not only safety(crash test) but missing cooling and heating of battery. There are two reports about Spring I how got fire when parking and maybe someone know how danger is fire from NMC battery..

[@davidspencer7254]

2/150000=?

[@ziggarillo]

It's definitely Chinese, the rest is irrelevant 😊. It's good enough.

[@ZZR1200ZX]

Range 139 miles claimed, top speed 78 mph, 0-62 mph 20 seconds. I’ll say no more.

[@davidspencer7254]

For the 45hp model. Now try again.

[@ziggarillo]

Yes that's true of the 45 hp version. Pretty good 😊

[@simonpaine2347]

The rear wheels look like they're the wrong size or they're the undersized spare tyres! Kinda spoils the whole side view.

[@toyotaprius79]

I was gonna say that about the Spring but in juxtaposition to your issue of small tyres (if you want +18" alloys with low profile tyres and then whinge with the chorus that new EVs are too expensive). Not just for looks but with the tired SUV styling the rear wheel arches have massive gaps exposing the inside of the rear bumper, it's not just tacky it's a parachute. That's terrible for aerodynamics and efficiency at speed. Inner wheel lining could've been used, hell wheel skirts would actually be cool like an 80s Citroën Visa/AX compared to the fake-offroading look. For such a small battery efficiency is paramount sacrificed for Dacia's not-so-cheap-but-low-effort SUV brand styling which is unfortunate and old hat. But every automaker thinks that customers want what they want (more profit) and keep oversaturating the market with crossover-SUVs of some description

[@stevemcgowen]

It's made in Chyna mostly for developing nations, like India.

[@simonpaine2347]

@@stevemcgowen He said, typing on his Chinese phone, while sitting on his Chinese sofa, in front of his Chinese TV.

[@stevemcgowen]

@@simonpaine2347 My iPhones are assembled in Chyna, as well as Mac minis- there are no alternatives. Nothing else I own is. My eGolf is assembled in Germany and the Skoda Elroq I have on order made here in Czech Republic. Some of us care where things are made and try to support the country we live in and avoid made in Chyna whenever possible. Given how the Uk has sold pretty much everything to foreign investors, I'm not surprised Brits simply don't care whether they support the CCP or not.

[@ziggarillo]

​@@stevemcgowenit's made in China, but the rest is nonsense 😂

[@Gary-gt1wi]

Dacia no euro crash rating 👎👎👎👎👎

[@LeRouxBodenstein]

Are there still pure crash test ratings, though? Or do cars fail because they don't have things like speed limiters, auto-braking, lane holding, blind spot and reverse cameras.. ie. All the things that have made cars so expensive, complicated and unrepairable in recent years.

[@ziggarillo]

It's not a " crash rating "