Dacia Spring second generation: Slovenian-built electric car starts at 17,900 euros

A new car under an old name

Dacia's second-generation Spring keeps only two things from its predecessor, the name and its price positioning. Everything else is new, and the electric city car is now assembled at Novo Mesto in Slovenia, while the first series was built in China. The new model rides on the RGEV Small platform it shares with the Renault Twingo. The first generation, launched in 2021, sold more than 210,000 units. Dacia promises running costs 20% below the segment A average, while the interior offers space closer to segment B.

Design and colours

The look is modern and clean, with front and rear sections framed by black bands, although it does not reach the stylistic finesse of the Twingo. The colour palette is deliberately low-key, with Agave as the launch colour alongside Grigio Scisto, Nero Etoilé and Bianco Ghiaccio. Il Sole describes a squarer design with vertical front and rear ends and black plastic protection on the bumpers, meant to resist scratches. The resemblance to the Twingo is limited, apart from the rear door line.

Longer body, more room inside

The Spring measures 3.85 metres long, 15 centimetres more than before, and 1.74 metres wide, 18 centimetres wider. Height stays at 1.52 metres and the wheelbase is 2.49 metres. The wider body makes the cabin more usable, and ANSA cites 1.4 centimetres more knee room for rear passengers. Boot capacity is 337 litres, rising to 1,283 litres with the 50/50 split rear bench folded.

Rear seats up337

Rear seats folded1,283

Rear seats up

337 litres

Rear seats folded

1283 litres

Data from the article text

An optional 18-litre front trunk under the bonnet is meant for the charging cable, and La Razón lists it at 150 euros. The interior is simple, with a 7-inch digital instrument cluster in front of the driver. The Journey version gets a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Media Nav Live, navigation, connected services, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Expression version relies on steering wheel controls and the Dacia app for media functions, and Il Sole notes the front left pillar partly reduces visibility.

Powertrain and road behaviour

A single electric motor delivers 80 hp and 175 Nm, fed by a 27.5 kWh usable LFP battery. Dacia quotes a range of up to 250 km WLTP, and ANSA says the figure held up on a mixed route around Lisbon. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 12.1 seconds, compared with 13.7 seconds for the previous 65 hp version.

New Spring (80 hp)12.1

Previous Spring (65 hp version)13.7

New Spring (80 hp)

12.1 s

Previous Spring (65 hp version)

13.7 s

Data from the article text

The car also covers 80 to 120 km/h in 10.3 seconds and 0 to 50 km/h in 3.85 seconds, with a top speed of 130 km/h. On the first drive in Portugal, the Spring felt more precise, more comfortable and quieter than the previous generation, and its brakes were effective and well modulated. La Repubblica reports a DC fast charge at 50 kW that takes the battery from 15% to 80% in 28 minutes. Dacia says owners of the previous Spring drove an average of 34 km per day.

Price, aid and the Spanish rollout

The Expression version starts at 17,900 euros before public aid, and the Journey version stays 300 euros below 20,000 euros, according to ANSA. Because the car is now built in Europe, La Razón says it qualifies for full aid under the Plan Auto+ and could fall to about 13,500 euros. El Periódico puts the price with aid at around 12,000 euros. La Razón says the car reaches Spain in January. La Repubblica reports that Dacia plans four electric models by 2030, with the Spring opening that offensive. The international presentation took place in Lisbon, where journalists drove the car.