Dacia Spring review

Overview

The first UK Dacia Spring makes a straightforward offer: a short electric car for daily errands, where there is somewhere dependable to charge it. This review is for the right-hand-drive 2024–25 Extreme Electric 65 with the 26.8 kWh usable battery. It is not the earlier European Spring, the two-seat Cargo or the later Electric 100. The reason to buy this trim is its combination of the stronger launch motor and a usable screen, not a claim that it behaves like a much larger EV. RoadMatch has not personally tested it. Our buying assessment uses Dacia's period UK documentation and the experiences reported by independent reviewers, with separate assumptions for price and running costs.

Exterior and interior

The Spring takes up roughly 3.7 metres of road length, which is a more practical advantage in town than its high-sided styling. Its copper-coloured trim accents help identify an Extreme, but a photograph is not proof of its motor or charging options. In the cabin, the 10.1-inch central display sits alongside a separate instrument screen. Check whether you can adjust the seat and steering wheel to a comfortable position before drawing conclusions from a short drive. The simple materials are part of the price trade-off; assess for cracked trim, damp carpets and scuffed door edges rather than paying extra for a freshly cleaned cabin. Open the front charge flap and check that it closes securely.

Practicality

There are four seats, not five. Dacia's 308-litre headline boot figure is accompanied by a 288-litre VDA block measure; we use the latter with the rear seat in place. The rear bench folds in one piece, so an unexpectedly bulky load can mean giving up both back seats rather than just one. Keep your usual charging cable in the car when assessing usable space. A front storage tray is an accessory, not included in the quoted rear boot volume. If children regularly travel with you, test their restraints and front-seat clearance in the actual car. People needing a fifth seat should compare other small EVs rather than treating five doors as evidence of five places.

Driving experience

Contemporary UK reviews make a better case for the Spring in town than on fast roads. A compact body, a single-speed drivetrain and a small turning circle help with frequent starts and parking. The reviews also report a less settled ride and more noise on faster roads, so judge it on the route you actually drive, not just a quiet circuit around a dealership. Try your normal hill, a bumpy section and a junction requiring you to join moving traffic. The stronger launch motor does not eliminate the compromise when carrying passengers or accelerating at higher speeds. If a motorway is part of your daily routine rather than a rare exception, compare a longer-range hatchback for that journey.

Performance

Dacia's UK brochure records 48 kW, about 64 bhp, for the Electric 65 and a 13.7-second claim from rest to 62 mph. Electric 65 is the version name, not 65 kW, and the lesser Electric 45 and later Electric 100 have different figures. The brochure's claimed 3.9 seconds to 31 mph explains why a short urban test and a faster-road test can tell you different things. The car has one forward ratio and no manual clutch, so the matcher treats it as automatic. Test whether it accelerates predictably when warm and charged, and leave enough space in normal traffic rather than treating any launch specification as a passing guarantee.

Fuel economy

Dacia's period UK brochure lists 140 miles on the combined WLTP cycle and 135 Wh/km for the Electric 65, equivalent to about 4.6 miles per kWh on that test. Neither number promises a winter motorway range. The 26.8 kWh usable battery leaves little spare distance if your plans depend on reaching a single public charger. Plan with a reserve and confirm charging alternatives. The brochure describes up to 7 kW AC and a 30 kW DC facility for equipped 65s, with a quoted 45 minutes for 20–80% in suitable conditions. Its DC fitment descriptions vary, so confirm the actual connector rather than assuming every Electric 65 can rapid-charge.

Reliability

We have not identified a representative long-term failure dataset for this exact UK version, so the editorial reliability score has limited confidence. Check the service record and ask for an EV-capable inspection and battery diagnostic report. Ask the seller to demonstrate a charge on a suitable unit: a displayed state of charge alone cannot establish battery health or reliable charging. Examine cable condition and the charge flap, and ask for repair documentation if the underside has been struck. Do not touch high-voltage components. Check what remains of the vehicle and battery cover, who can carry out work locally and which maintenance is needed to preserve eligibility. A low purchase price is not a reason to overlook an unresolved warning.

Safety

No exact Euro NCAP assessment of this UK right-hand-drive 2024–25 Extreme 65 has been verified. The official 2021 result is for a left-hand-drive 33 kW Spring, with no right-hand-drive applicability shown in the authority's table. It raised important occupant-protection concerns, but is not a fresh test of this UK car. The later brochure lists emergency braking and lane support; additional driver aids do not establish better crash protection. If independently demonstrated crash performance is a priority, compare alternatives with relevant current results. Check belts, warning lights and the fit of any child restraints, then use the government recall check and obtain VIN-specific completion confirmation before treating a car as cleared.

Technology and features

The Extreme's Media Nav Live display is the reason to pick it over a launch Expression if you want built-in smartphone projection. Dacia's trim table lists conventional cruise and parking sensors, with the rear camera added on Extreme. There is no need to assume adaptive cruise or heated seats from the top-trim badge. Pair your own phone while stationary, check the rear camera and make sure you can read the display in daylight. The ability to power an appliance from the car is separate from how quickly the car itself can charge. Ask the seller to show any vehicle-to-load adapter and its handbook instructions; do not value a feature whose necessary hardware is missing.

Running costs

Treat £6,500–£10,000 as a November 2026 used shopping envelope, not live listings or a guaranteed valuation. Compare any used price against a written new-car offer, particularly now that later motors exist. At 6,000 miles and a planning efficiency of 4.0 miles per billed kWh, allowing for charging losses and everyday use, you would buy about 1,500 kWh. At 26p per kWh that costs £390; at 70p it costs £1,050. Add a £220 tax allowance and £350–£650 for routine service, MOT and consumables to the home scenario. The resulting £950–£1,300 estimate excludes insurance, charger installation, depreciation and major repairs. Check your actual tariff, tax and insurance before deciding.

Advantages and disadvantages