When Dacia introduced the Spring last fall, it promised the cheapest electric car on the market. Even when the prices on the French market were revealed, it was clear that, given the size and limited power of the propulsion system, they would do well. And this also applies when looking at the Czech price list, however new to the petrol Sander, the novelty is still very far away.
A lot has been written about the electric Dacia Spring. Based on the Chinese electric Renault K-ZE, a mini-car will also be produced in China. Its electric motor has an output of 33 kW, which in combination with a 27.4 kWh battery is enough for a paper range of 230 km in combined or 305 km in city mode. Activating the Eco mode with reduced power can extend it a bit. But the first test of the French magazine L’Argus has already shown that it will not be so famous in real operation.
Much has also been written about the dynamic parameters of the car, which accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in 19.1 seconds, which is a value at the level of many models of the former Eastern bloc. Nevertheless, the 3734 mm long model with a wheelbase stretched to 2423 mm kept one trump card. And that was the price, at least the Czech one.
In France, the car starts at about 330 thousand crowns due to generous incentives. It is still more than with the petrol Sander, but with an overview, it is enough for the title of the cheapest electric car on the local market. There are no incentives to buy an electric car in the Czech Republic, so the cheapest Dacia Spring in Comfort equipment costs 449,900 crowns. By the way, this is almost the same amount as in France without subsidies.
In addition to the above-mentioned electric drive, the customer will also receive a 290-liter suitcase for it. The equipment includes six airbags, manual air conditioning, radio with MP3 player, Bluetooth, electric windows front and rear, remote central locking, automatic lights or daytime running lights.
The wheels are 14 inches, while they are Flexwheel discs that look like cast, but in reality they are steel wheels with decorative covers. The only color at no extra charge is white, and the roof rails also add robustness. There are only three surcharges – a reserve for two thousand, metallic for 9900 crowns and a charging cable for Wallbox or a public charger with an output of up to 6.6 kW for eight thousand crowns. Other charging cables with different lengths are, like the Wallbox itself, part of the original accessories.
By the way, the basic Spring does not support fast charging with direct current even for an additional 30kW, which can get from 0 to 80 percent of the battery capacity in less than an hour. It is enough to make do with a 2.3kW home socket, where one hundred percent of the capacity will be obtained by the car in less than 14 hours, or the already mentioned public network or Wallbox. At 6.6 kW, a full battery is available in less than five hours.
The higher Comfort Plus model for 489,900 crowns can already charge fast, only for an additional fee of ten thousand crowns. It also pays to pay for the mentioned cable for faster charging. The more expensive variant also includes a multimedia system with navigation, which can also interface Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear parking sensors, reversing camera, faux leather upholstery, orange interior and exterior elements, a reserve and at no extra charge is offered as a white body. alternatively also metallic.
With a price of 449,900 or even 489,900 crowns, the Dacia Spring is safely the cheapest electric car on the Czech market. It can be compared to Renault Twizy for 349 thousand crowns, which is practically a scooter with a covered interior, which has nothing in common with a classic car except four wheels, or cars for teenagers of the Aixam e-City type with a price of 435 thousand crowns. However, it has an even shorter range, significantly lower performance and zero usability outside the city. The Dacia, on the other hand, is a full-fledged passenger car for four passengers.
If we aim among the classic passenger cars, then the cheapest electric models currently include the two-seater Smart EQ fortwo or its four-seater sibling EQ forfour for the same price from 591,690 crowns. Compared to the Dacia, both models have a higher output of 60 kW, but also a much lower paper range of a maximum of 159 km.
The Fiat 500e is also significantly more expensive, starting at 629,900 crowns with an output of 70 kW and a range of 190 km. Models such as the Renault Zoe for at least 745 thousand crowns, the Opel Corsa-e for at least 759,990 crowns or the Peugeot e-208 for at least 810 thousand crowns are already a class larger than the Dacia and will also go significantly further.
Even so, the Dacia Spring is still miles away from classic petrol models. A larger class Sandero, although without air conditioning, but with a larger trunk, for example, comes with a liter three-cylinder with an output of 49 kW to 239,900 crowns. And the basic price of the electric car will even fit in the highest Comfort equipment with a one-liter supercharged three-cylinder and a CVT automatic machine for 339,900 crowns. So there is still a difference of 100,000 in favor of a conventional model with better equipment and more interior space.
The basic price of the electric mini will also include the Dacia Duster, in several variants, including, for example, the one with a 15-diesel diesel engine and decent Celebration equipment for 440,900 crowns. Let’s also remind you that the Duster is at least two segments higher than the Spring and is a full-fledged compact family SUV.
The Dacia Spring is undoubtedly the cheapest new electric car on the Czech market, but it still cannot compete with its combustion competitors – either in terms of price, technical parameters or interior space. The Czech importer promises to launch the Business version, which is intended for companies, rental companies or car sharing, later this year, and next year it will be the two-seater utility version of Cargo.
It is possible to order Dacia Spring from today, but so far only the Comfort Plus variant is available. Cheaper Comfort will be available later. The first pieces will actually reach customers in the autumn of this year.
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