Will Dacia Spring cost less than £20,000 in the UK next year?

Dacia has been the economy division of the Renault Group since 1999 and it has a strong reputation across Europe for delivering straightforward cars, with few frills, at a very attractive price point. That is set to continue in 2024, with the UK arrival of the Dacia Spring. Billed as the cheapest ‘true electric car' in Europe, the starting point in France is under £15,000 with a Government ‘Ego-Boost' grant (under £20k without). How much will the Dacia Spring cost in the UK and will we see both the ‘Essential' and ‘Extreme' versions?

Widely credited with making electric mobility accessible in Europe, the Renault group has sold over 120,000 customer orders since Spring’s introduction in 2021. According to Dacia, over 75% of those sales have been direct to individuals – with retail car buyers saying that they find the Spring’s simple, fun and efficient formula makes it the perfect companion for everyday travel. Often purchased as a household’s second car, this Dacia is the main means of transport during the week for 90% of multiple-vehicle households who own a Spring.

Data collected from the Spring’s connected services, has provided insight into how the full-sized, four-seat hatchback has been meeting European customers’ requirements – and how it could fit the needs of UK drivers whose travel is mostly in urban areas. On average, customers’ daily commutes last under 20 miles and are covered at 16mph, while in 75% of cases, the Spring is charged at home for an average duration of 3.5 hours per session. That's well inside the time most ‘discounted at night' electric supply packages offer – so prospective customers with a home charger will hardly notice their transportation fuel bill.

As mentioned, there are two versions in Europe, the Essential and Extreme. They both come with a 26.8kWh battery that delivers a maximum of 143 miles of WLTP range. Here is how they line up:-

Countries like France offer a €5,000 grant to help drivers move across to EV. That allows Dacia to create a long-term rental package with a €7,500 advanced payment (of which the Government pays €5,000), leaving a monthly payment of less than €99.

Translating for GBP, that would be a £2,200 deposit and you can drive the Dacia for £85 a month. Hard to estimate how many Springs could be sold in the UK if a similar offer were made.

Luke Broad, Dacia Brand Director for the UK, said: “We are thrilled that Dacia Spring will come to the UK in 2024. It will certainly be worth the wait! It will literally plug a gap in the UK electric car market for a highly usable, quality EV that won’t break the bank and which makes electric vehicle ownership more realistic than ever. With over 120,000 customers already sold on the Spring’s unbeatable, ‘no-nonsense’ blend of value, efficiency and durability, UK car buyers can look forward to an EV that’s perfectly aligned to their mobility requirements and, importantly, is done the Dacia way.”

Xavier Martinet, Dacia SVP Sales, Marketing and Operations added: “The UK is an important market for us, so we are delighted to strengthen our range with the Dacia Spring. With UK sales surging year-on-year and many British car buyers having a recognised appetite for the brand, it is now the right time to introduce a pure electric vehicle. Spring has democratised electric vehicle ownership in Europe, offering people the chance to enjoy sustainable driving without the often-associated price premium. I’m confident that Spring will we be as popular in the UK as it has proved throughout the rest of Europe.”

Here at WhichEV, we have been waiting for a car company to announce a full-sized electric car that can deliver 200 miles of range and cost close to £15,000. Our estimate was that this would happen by 2025. As long as you were driving ‘urban cycle only' – the entry level Dacia Spring is pretty close to achieving that goal.