Is there a proper AM/FM radio available to the driver inside the main gauge cluster? A car without an obvious stereo head unit is an interesting idea, but some folks do still like their radio.
Agreed. I would much rather have a phone mount, albeit a little more integrated than this, rather than a ginormous screen and no climate control buttons.
Thank you Ian. I have been pondering what to do when my diesel Zafira gives up the ghost and had been considering the Spring . At my age a town runabout is all I want but again at my age I want it for the least money possible. This seems to fit the bill excellently. This is by far and away the best and most useful review I have seen. Others should take note - HubNut for the win !
I don't really understand why anyone would buy a new car. Go in to any manufacturer showroom and you can get a used with warranty car for a fraction of the price. It's not everyone's cup of tea I admit, but how about a 4 year old FIAT Tipo for less than £5,000? Forget a £15,000 EV.
@I bought my current VW Golf used at a VW specialist in 2019. It’s a 2.0 TDi, full VW service history that now has 128,460 miles on the clock. It cost me £7,400 back then. I did a run to Southampton and it returned 69.4mpg at a cruise controlled 70mph. I cannot think for one second why I would want to change what is now probably a sub £5,000 car for a new EV costing £15000 - £80,000 new.
@@PenryMMJ Exaclty. I still think a more extreme cheaper version could be done. This size of EV is interesting. Not too small where battery weight is an issue not too big and luxurious where tech over bears. Still has separate dash dials dash display and buttons and your mobile can be the infotainment. I can cope with that. I really like some of the pragmatism this is rare. That little phone holder. Rather have that than huge built screen that needs updates etc. The mobile is updating. I get so overwhelmed by car software computer updates.
I don't think £15,000 is a very cheap car I could get a much better second hand Diesel or Petrol for that price with no milage restrictions. EV's are just not selling.
@Turnbull50 not quite the same market though is it? You can buy a Porsche for £5k, that’s not the point being made here. The cheapest corsa is about £2k more than this- those who want a new car with the warranty etc, could now consider an EV if it fits their need.
I think that phone holder is absolutely fantastic, and so simple! All modern cars should have this instead of the ridiculously distracting, large, complicated screen they all seem to feature!
No car needs a phone holder or multipurpose screen. Real drivers want buttons, sliders and rotary controls. Lear where they are in 10 minutes, in your mind for life.
@@terryatkinson899 I bought a new Maestro 1.6 HL back in 1984. It began to rust in the body seams within 3 Months. I quickly ditched it for an ex demo Golf.
Shockingly, in 1967, the UK had the highest number of EVs on the road in the world-they were, of course, mostly milk floats, chosen for morning quietness, the stop-start nature of a milkman's job, and less rattle from the bottles when he pulled away. They were obviously quite capable of pottering around town, handling snow, etc.
I was telling my 12 yo daughter about milk floats the other day. ICE warriors think it's a clever insult to EVs, but milk floats were ideally designed for the job they did, quiet for those early morning hours, and efficient for start-stop suburban deliveries.
@@ziploc2000 I never thought milkfloats were particularly quiet - the whine was quite audible early in the morning. Still probably quieter than a '70s diesel Transit or Sherpa though to be fair.
Haha, I was thinking that too! What? You've put the wiper on and even mentioned the noise it makes and still taken another couple of minutes before noting that it's a pantograph system?!
Excellent review (as always) Ian! Dacia's whole range seems to have a hell of a lot of appeal at the moment, I think perhaps because they aren't trying too hard to out-tech anyone, but rather they are simply concentrating on producing good value, simple cars.
Absolutely bob-on with the rural use. I do 60-100 miles six days a week and my Leaf 40 covers it perfectly. The three year old Leaf cost three years of petrol to buy so like my previous one, earns back its purchase price in savings.
I love that phone holder - yes you can buy them for cars but they are not all universal to either so changing phone can make the holder redundant and changing cars can mean you have to change its location so 2 years of being used to looking in one direction means you have to learn to look somewhere else. Well done to Dacia for a simple solution.
This is why I watch hubnut showing us the real cars not the all singing all dancing top of the range cars. A real road test what I like to watch by real people. On the car I like it if I had the money I would buy one straight away as it ticks all the boxes for me. Thanks hubnuts for the videos
As a driver of a Peugeot 107, I applaud Dacia for the pared down look inside the car. And as others have said, the phone holder is impressive and much better than a massive centre screen which you have no control of (software and features wise).
Fantastic styling on this thing, car companies need to remember that they're allowed to give cheap cars a sense of identity and design every now and then and it feels like that's finally happening (or at least the Renault group appear to be trying)
@@geoffwoodgate7450 yeah but they also did the Zoe, which truly inspires nothing in me no matter how much I try to like it. Lots of early EVs suffer from that though and I don’t really know what changed, I’m just glad Renault are finally “trying” again.
Great video as usual. As someone who also lives very rural, the common assumption that "EVs wouldn't work up here" is always an odd one to me. Average distances driven still aren't massive, most people have two cars and most importantly plenty of space to charge at home. My island only has a few miles of roads and no fuel station - an EV with even 60 or 70 miles range would be perfectly suited here for most people whose longest journey is 12 miles to the Coop and back!
@@NeilBarratt He'll get the ferry over to Skye and probably drive to Portree if his username is his home island. If you live on an island you still need to travel to get the same stuff that we all use like big food shops, clothes and household items and for that you need a vehicle that is legal to drive on the road.
I would say that in some ways EVs are even more suited to rural life than city life. I live in a first floor flat in a city which means that home charging is out the window (Literally, I would need to run an extension cord across the car park) which means every trip would involve a detour to the charging point at a nearby shopping mall. People in the country are way more likely to have off street parking close enough to the house for home charging. For now my only EV is an e-bike as I can carry that up the stairs, charge it in my hallway and keep it out of sight of the local bike thieves.
I wish we in the US would have an affordable EV like this Dacia. To reduce glare from the white IP surround I would purchase an IP pad over the surround IP. To me, this is a great all round vehicle. I would call the gear selector a toggle switch, it reminds me of one.
Great review of an efficient little car. I love the stripped-down aesthetic and it just does what you need. I run a Nissan Leaf in rural Cornwall with a 30kWh battery and it's perfectly adequate, the short-range isn't a problem for most journeys. As you say if you are a motorway warrior it's not the car for you but for most folk the Spring is the ideal runabout. I have seen some amazing deals online too, one PCP offer was for £160 a month!
Plus deposit, plus balloon payment at the end, and a tight yearly mileage allowance, plus the cost of a second car that can do all your other trips, surely its cheaper to just get one car that does all that without needing a second car really, maybe I'm wrong, just doesn't seem cheap to me. If the buyer does such a small annual mileage, surely an older super reliable Leaf like yours makes sense and leave 10k plus in the bank.
We bought a Spring in 22, it was the well equipped version, but that's relative. It does have a fast charger, which I would absolutely recommend. We almost never use it, but on the one or two occasions we used it, it certainly was nice to get going again in 20 minutes rather than sitting there for hours. It has the backup camera, collision warning, "big" screen with Android Auto, power windows, power mirrors, aircon, remote central locking, but again, luxury is a relative term. For example it hasn't got cruise control, but rather a speed limiter. Still handy for long 30 or 50 km/h roads. We don't bother with the app and I cannot stress enough how important Android Auto is for us. Because the built-in satnav is absolute garbage. The radio is nice, because DAB. Ours has the 45 HP motor, claimed theoretical range of 230 km, but since all we do is potter about locally with it we don't really use the full range. It just gets plugged in every couple of days and one unexpected side effects is not having to fill up at the petrol station, which I now regard as a nuisance and annoyance with our petrol Dacia (a Lodgy). It's been flawless so far, we did 30000 km in it with zero problems. I absolutely love it, it's great for pottering about. No smoke, no noise, no fuss. We're not some kind of eco warriors, we bought it because it's cheap, practical and only my E-Bike is cheaper to run. I can only recommend getting a charger installed, because the loading brick takes absolute ages to charge.
@bdeithrick ah, I think you mean the fast charging. The Spring can be bought without CSS charging, so no matter where you charge it, it will take bloody ages. Wie did get the CSS charging option, it did cost extra, but IMO it's totally worth it, even if you hardly ever use it. And it will help the resale value.
@@jochenstacker7448 Interesting that you were able to get the fast charging option with the 45bhp motor. That isn't available here - you can only get fast charging with the 65.
@imbethondion4572 it's been available right from the start here in Germany. I think this is the Gen 2 Spring, we have the Gen 1 (bought in 22), there wasn't a 65 HP engine, only the 45. You had to buy the "nicer" model. The Gen 1 wasn't on sale in the UK if I understand correctly.
I'm not an ev fan but I always said if I was forced to have one then it would be a Spring. I like Dacia's anyway especially the Duster diesel and currently run a 2.0 diesel Yeti which I think is a similar size. But as someone else said, as far as ev's go this is what we need at a 12-15 grand price point not some 100 grand rocket ship that the average person can't afford. So thankyou that was an interesting and fair review.
I wasn't looking forward to this review, but I am surprised and amazed that it does everything that most normal people could want. It gets to 60 or 70mph depending on the road, nothing is allowed to go faster than that, legally, so a car that can go 120mph is a waste of time., you can overtake once in a while, it is cheapish and uncomplicated. Brilliant car, 80% of families should have one as their second car instead of a Hummer sized SUV, and all old people who want a runabout. Well done. Good evaluation of a good car, I enjoyed it.
Like these a lot since I had a good nosy around one at a mobility scheme car show in Edinburgh back in September. An excellent Review as always Ian and Carly.
Good review Ian, you're the right man to test a modest 'real world' car like this. It seems many other YT reviewers are swayed by the Bentley or Lambo' they were testing previously... The Spring is cheap new, but give it a year of depreciation, and these are going to be very cheap motoring, if you can charge at home.
You can turn off the speed limit warning. It's one of the first things people tend to do when getting into a car new enough for it to be mandatory on by default. As you've noticed, cars tend to be not very adept at knowing what the speed limit actually is :)
Imagine how long you'd put up with a mate constantly telling you that you're doing 21mph in a 20mph before you smacked him in the mouth. You can guarantee that at some point you won't be able to turn off the speed warnings and the data will be black boxed and used during insurance claims. I don't think I'll ever buy a new car again.
@@luviskol Partly. In my car, it's based on the car's position relative to whatever data it's received in the navigation system about the current speed limit. The GPS is highly accurate. Unfortunately, the speed limit data in the navigation system isn't always entirely accurate, and that's where the fun begins. Things like overpasses with a different limit than the road you're actually on, can also cause confusion. Thankfully, the speed limit warning in my car can be turned off permanently, so I don't need to do it at the start of every trip.
What worries me is the sense of entitlement in society.I genuinely think there is a shift in the social dynamic and it's all about status and performance at any cost. Hope I'm wrong
Great little car. probably go for the main top spec at the price point if buying one. really refreshing to get a review that actually review. most of the others just comment on the cheapness and complain it is not a 30k competitor. which is pointless. The only luxury i would want as an option which they do not do is heated front seats. but not a big problem.
Oh yes, you went for the base model! So many of these reviews take the top-spec one, like you said. I really, really like basic vehicles - I know that 80's basic and 2025 basic are two different things, but still, as few bells and whistles for me, please. I think Dacia have played a blinder with the Spring.
I love the phone holder Sat nav on the phone music the lot. I love hints of pragmatism in the design. I hate EVs because of complexity and the weight of seats and door apertures. But I like this the van sounds appealing. Narrow wheels and tyres yes.
@HubNut 😮 I don't want luxury I want pragmatic design. If I owned that I'd unbolt the rear seats. Remove reduce weight. So the van is ideal. I like the look of it. I don't do silly milage. Range at 150 miles would be perfect.
@@HubNut are the foot pedals well spaced, I have 13s and my memories of Renaults foot pedals are quite narrow. My feet would always slide off and and rub against the steering column. Especially clios etc I'd have to reset feet.
I own a 24kwh leaf which cost me £3500 last year. I did think about one these but givin how the ev used market is at the moment it doesn't make financial sense.
I was already contemplating buying one as my next car. Thanks for the review. Obviously I will go for a test drive first but by your opinion it seems even better than I expected
20:07 - A refreshing delivery on the issue of EV range, thank you: Some motoring journalists try to patronise the viewer / reader / listener by stating that "ordinary people" (read: "you little people") don't need anything more than X miles of range. Your simple prompt of accept it or reject it is what's needed in this space.
Since you have (had) so many Citroëns of all kinds from 2CV to hydropneumatic ones, I'm curious what you think of the new (e)C3. Some reviewers claim it's very comfortable with great handling, others say it's neither, but we all know how biased reviews can be. The Dacia Spring is a bit too "not quite" for me: not quite the performance, not quite the range, not quite the size, not quite the fast-charging speed... and if you check a few things on the options it's not that much cheaper than the electric C3, which on paper does meet my expectations in range, performance, size. I wonder if you could get hold of one to test, as I would trust your take on it more than the big name reviews.
Nice little thing, but I think the Leap Motor T03 is a much better proposition. Similar size, same price, but 94bhp and a much bigger 37.3kWh battery which just offers much more flexibility in terms of how the car can be used
Nice one Ian, the spring in this trim is a good honest car. Being basic has its advantages, less to worry about or to go wrong in theory. 13A over night charging is a boon for those of us who have power in the garage but no way to add a wall box. The flip top phone holder is also a great idea with a charge socket nearby. If most of my driving was around town it would be worth considering but right now I have regular distance driving on motorways but in the future it would be worth considering by which time there will be some used examples available. Thanks for sharing.
Seems Dacia have gone the right way with creating an EV that isn't all touchscreens, bells and whistles, just a car with buttons & switches that goes A to B that just happens to be electric, a "car of the people" as it were, given we're all supposed to be making the switch to them this is the sort of car that ought to be available versus the other, expensive, options...
Looks very smart, thank you for a cool review. Perhaps a new 'living with' video series is on the cards with DACIA UK around Spring time for HubNut road trips/reviews, following on from this review? Also, this car, could very well become the new C1/Aygo (when they first came out). Interesting to learn if a Renault version will be offered to the market aswell. Thank you very much, good fun video.
finally a comon sence electric car without all the extra stuff you dont really need. I like the fact its low powered so is more sensible. The range is still low but that all depends on battery size so to keep the cost low you get a smaller battery. thanks as always for an honest review Ian and Carly
Good to see EV's getting more affordable without having fitted the really daft touchscreen in the centre, looks ok for a daily commute if you can charge it back up at home which sadly I can't so wouldn't work for me.
I wouldn't normally watch an EV video but I'm currently considering buying a Sandero of 2016ish vintage. I had previously assumed that Dacias were cheap junk but I've been hearing good things about them.
Thanks for the review, pretty good VFM. I did drive a Twizy and it was fun, like a go kart for public roads. Very uncomfortable and basic though, and doing over 30 MPH eats up the range.
Correction: The first generation has the 1 ncap star, this facelift hasn't been tested yet, and it added a lot of new safety features, so it's rumored to have 2-3 stars
We have had our Spring (in France) for two years now, it is the pre face-lift version so very little in the way of luxury, though there is a screen, the bigest plus; there is no anoying white trim, we would have avoided the car if it had it, as we disliked the reflection we had with our Smart. we charge at home and we have a motorway close which we travel for around 20 to 30 K our top speed is 130 KPH the same as the speed limit. We love our Spring and would buy again in a heart beat. A great review thank you
It looks like a great little city car. No more scalding oil, boiling water and explosions under the hood but most of all owners can wave goodbye to the Saudi oil and HMG road fuel duty. That alone would give an owner a little warm feeling,
I bought My Dacia Logan new in 2014 I'm getting on for 80,000 miles on it and have not had any problems with it. I'm thinking this would be a good replacement now I'm retired and not carting tools around. The only thing is I'm wondering if the constant having to charge it will be a pain . At least I wouldn't have to go into a petrol station I suppose.
It takes me 12 seconds to charge my Kia EV David. Six seconds to plug it in, and a further six seconds to unplug it in the morning. I sleep for the middle part, and haven't set foot on a petrol station forecourt for over 3 years.....As you are retired, I can't see you needing to charge the Spring more than twice per week at the most. I charge my Kia about every 8 to 9 days.
I'm rejoicing. Finally a proper, practical, value for money EV comes to the market. I suppose the early EV cars, in the main focused on the tech a lot more as they knew that tech Savvy buyers with money were likely to be a big target market while the more budget conscious were likely to wait a little longer to adopt but this just makes so much sense. I could see them fitting right in to our local authority pool car fleet. Styling works well too. Hints of Sandero and Twingo. I'm also delighted to see a proper handbrake
I think, like many cheap cars, it will become a sought after classic if looked after. Most won't be looked after as they will be treated as disposable so the few that are left will be like 2CVs today.
I saw an overseas review of the Spring and worked out via the exchange rate at the time that it was £10,000! Which seemed curious. When I first saw it, the dumpy , but cute, styling made me think that it would make a modern Austin Allegro - and I'm really not being sarcastic! (and nothing to do with that quartic steering wheel honest!) I like them. Small EV's have been a long time coming unnecessarily so! Thanks.
That's just what most folk want, we don't need massive touch screens and auto this and that, we just need to get in and go, simple. Oh by the way nice trainers too. Keeping it hip and happening 😊
Really very promising! All it needs is a heat pump, a gear lever that doesn't look like it should be on a Hoover and a can of matt black paint to sort out the dash!😊
Love your family's you tube content and getting a bulb to stay in a rear light cluster, god old Ford AU. fitting but also your happy to show the way ahead with the all electric motor car and should we know call you hub spark. We drive a electron powdered car that was built in 2020 so can switch off the spaceship sounds they make below 20mph that's a godsend when going out early or home late as I know when neighbours turn up in theirs, the only down side of EV's.
Good review of a 'everyday' EV reminds me a lot of my EV a Seat Mii (E-UP clone) that I bought around 6 months ago. Then and now they are around £10-9K for 3-4 yrs old, they started at a lot higher price than the Spring inflation adjusted around £25K. I'd get that white dash surround covered in black to stop the reflections. If it has to be new with the warranty advantages can't be beaten - strongest competition is used EV - Spring will also be good value as a used buy in few years.
The most relevant test I've seen for my needs in South Somerset on this. I much prefer this base model spec Thank you. When it's being built in Europe we probably will put our Mk5 Fiesta into casual use.
What a great little car, trouble is theres too many people out there who say they dont want a big, expensive, complicated tesla, who then say this is too basic! U cant please everyone, sum ppl are just impossible!
Thank you both for a very interesting intro to the e v world. Nice little car though I would classify myself as a “ never in worst nightmare” category for purchasing an electric car 😂👏🏻👍🏻👌🏻
I had been patiently waiting for these to be on sale here in the u.k. looked at one in our Local Dealer, was told towbars can not be fitted. Test drove a used Sandero Stepway 0.9 TCE, outstanding value car - i bought it.
On my 2017 Mazda you can switch the speed warning limit beep off and it just flashes a small warning on the speed sign display by brightening it temporarily which is the option I choose. Also you can set the system to only warn you when you're 5mph or 10mph over the limit if you prefer. Maybe worth delving into the manual if you haven't already done so.
Love it. Suprised, really. Refreshing simple EV. Just what we need. Sort of feels like an electric 90s supermini! As someone whose car enthusiasm is based on sound and gears, etc. I really like electric cars. We had a Toyota BZ4X on loan last year, and I thought it was a lovely drive. This seems great. The other benefit is short journeys. Currently using a 2012 TDCI Focus. Love it, but most of my journeys aren't far enough to even slightly warm it up. No issue for electric. I do worry about range over time but apart from that I'd happily drive an EV. 😊
I’m not generally a fan of EV’s (still do long trips and don’t want to stop), but this review almost makes me want to own one of these! Finally, a sensible, clever (love that phone holder) cheap car that you can use, and not some bulky, ugly overpriced lump of lard. The other manufacturers need to take note, this is the sort of thing that will push uptake of EV’s, not the rubbish they are forcing on us. Great review Ian
Love the Spring, wish it was more aerodynamic less SUVish but the decent ground clearance is appealing. It's the right EV Formula that we've been waiting too long for! VW eUP, Citroen CZero territory, small-medium battery with high efficiency, and if Stellantis had any sense we would have a Panda EV based on the 500e built in Poland or Bulgaria. It's the most effective and competitive way out of Europe's current market malaise/meltdown.
About that style-over-function white instrument binacle: sometimes I wonder if all the ergonomy specialists have been sacked form car companies these days. Since I wanted the Bose soundsystem ( it is epic!) in my Zoe, I had to go with the top spec Intense edition, which have a lot of shiny chrome on the dashboard. Looks super fancy in the broshure, but in reality it is a real pain, with sun reflexions constantly blinding you, especially if you - like me - have had laser eye surgery, that makes me more sensitive to intense light. Did no-one think of that? In the end I wrapped the damn trim pieces in satin gunmetal grey vinyl which improved things 100%. There was a reason car interior was a sea of grey or dark plastic... Anyway - apart from the style-over-function binacle, the Spring looks like a very nice little car - hope to see many of them on the roads soon!
These might respond to a little tuning, once the warranty's up. I'd bet it's only software restricting it to 64bhp to give the motor an easier time and make the range acceptable. I wouldn't be surprised if a good EV hacker could get at least 100bhp out of it!
Looking at the Dacia website the small battery with the little motor also gives 120mile range Given it's a basic model it makes a lot of sense, and it's nice to see the review of the basic model definitely hubnut style
Nice review as always. I like the car a lot- its kind of like a modern day Morris Minor. During closeups I note that your mic is sporting a very 'HubNutty' hairstyle to co-ordinate with your beard. Very fetching!
What a great little car for the low-mileage user! No bells or whistles, simple and easy to drive. My only criticism is that the hatch aperture looks very narrow at the lower half. I'd have one if I'd retired but sadly, as a second car at Chateau Le Vert heads off to the car park in the sky (this time, It's Kiki the Ka) I don't have the finances to buy one. BTW - you should be able to turn off the annoying beeps for lane departure and speed limits in a menu... somewhere.
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The phone holder idea is fantastic 👌
Is there a proper AM/FM radio available to the driver inside the main gauge cluster? A car without an obvious stereo head unit is an interesting idea, but some folks do still like their radio.
Agreed. I would much rather have a phone mount, albeit a little more integrated than this, rather than a ginormous screen and no climate control buttons.
VW Up! started this trend
@@TassieLorenzoYes, there's a normal radio. You can see the station on the driver screen and you control it with the usual Renault stalk.
VW Up had this too, and a usb outlet hidden behind so you could charge without dangling cables
Thank you Ian. I have been pondering what to do when my diesel Zafira gives up the ghost and had been considering the Spring . At my age a town runabout is all I want but again at my age I want it for the least money possible. This seems to fit the bill excellently. This is by far and away the best and most useful review I have seen. Others should take note - HubNut for the win !
For similar money, you could also consider the Hyundai Ioniq Mk 1.
For £15k you can buy a new pre-reg Vauxhall Corsa electric. A better car in every respect and 4* NCAP instead of the Spring’s 1*
I don't really understand why anyone would buy a new car. Go in to any manufacturer showroom and you can get a used with warranty car for a fraction of the price. It's not everyone's cup of tea I admit, but how about a 4 year old FIAT Tipo for less than £5,000? Forget a £15,000 EV.
@TakeResponsibilty because combustion cars are rubbish and will cost you a fortune in fuel and maintainance
@I bought my current VW Golf used at a VW specialist in 2019. It’s a 2.0 TDi, full VW service history that now has 128,460 miles on the clock. It cost me £7,400 back then. I did a run to Southampton and it returned 69.4mpg at a cruise controlled 70mph. I cannot think for one second why I would want to change what is now probably a sub £5,000 car for a new EV costing £15000 - £80,000 new.
It's exactly what the EV market needs, a simple, basic, cheap car. Well done Dacia
@@PenryMMJ Exaclty. I still think a more extreme cheaper version could be done. This size of EV is interesting. Not too small where battery weight is an issue not too big and luxurious where tech over bears. Still has separate dash dials dash display and buttons and your mobile can be the infotainment. I can cope with that.
I really like some of the pragmatism this is rare. That little phone holder. Rather have that than huge built screen that needs updates etc. The mobile is updating. I get so overwhelmed by car software computer updates.
Hear hear. For those doing school and Tesco runs, it’s ideal. Dacia are leading the way with this
Looks like a winner to me
I don't think £15,000 is a very cheap car I could get a much better second hand Diesel or Petrol for that price with no milage restrictions. EV's are just not selling.
@Turnbull50 not quite the same market though is it? You can buy a Porsche for £5k, that’s not the point being made here. The cheapest corsa is about £2k more than this- those who want a new car with the warranty etc, could now consider an EV if it fits their need.
What a wonderful review of what the EV market needs. It costs about the same as the depreciation on a Porsche Taycan in a year!
No, this is a lot cheaper than that. Nothing is costlier than the depreciation of a posh ev.
Taycan owners wish this was the depreciation.
Depreciation doesn't bother wealthy people. Its a tax claim.
@@AdrianoCasemiro Has nothing to do with ev, just look at any high-price but higher volume car. and its not a new thing either...
I think that phone holder is absolutely fantastic, and so simple! All modern cars should have this instead of the ridiculously distracting, large, complicated screen they all seem to feature!
No car needs a phone holder or multipurpose screen. Real drivers want buttons, sliders and rotary controls. Lear where they are in 10 minutes, in your mind for life.
People laughed when the Allegro had a steering wheel that shape. BL ahead of their time.
Beat me to this comment!
Rusting on the forecourt didn't help and there were cases of brakes on one side not necessarily having matching ones on the other side 🙄
I don't think that the square steering wheel was the
Allegro's most compelling feature.
@@terryatkinson899 I bought a new Maestro 1.6 HL back in 1984. It began to rust in the body seams within 3 Months. I quickly ditched it for an ex demo Golf.
@@terryatkinson899 My Renault 18 had that...! Girling one side, Bendix the other.
Shockingly, in 1967, the UK had the highest number of EVs on the road in the world-they were, of course, mostly milk floats, chosen for morning quietness, the stop-start nature of a milkman's job, and less rattle from the bottles when he pulled away. They were obviously quite capable of pottering around town, handling snow, etc.
There are still electric floats in use near us. However out milk man has a diesel and turns up at 2AM.
I was telling my 12 yo daughter about milk floats the other day.
ICE warriors think it's a clever insult to EVs, but milk floats were ideally designed for the job they did, quiet for those early morning hours, and efficient for start-stop suburban deliveries.
They came in diesel too.
@@ziploc2000 I never thought milkfloats were particularly quiet - the whine was quite audible early in the morning. Still probably quieter than a '70s diesel Transit or Sherpa though to be fair.
The three wheeler versions suffered like Reliant Robins did.
Can't believe it took you so long to mention that pantograph wiper!
Haha, I was thinking that too! What? You've put the wiper on and even mentioned the noise it makes and still taken another couple of minutes before noting that it's a pantograph system?!
I kept thinking- when is he going to say something!
It's refreshing to see a small EV for a change.
Small? Its not massive, but it certainly isn't small. Everyone's perceptions of car sizes seem to have shifted, unfortunately.
an actual affordable ev that doesnt charge 5000 extra for fitting a 500 quid pc into it,and it looks normal,well done Dacia.
Excellent review (as always) Ian! Dacia's whole range seems to have a hell of a lot of appeal at the moment, I think perhaps because they aren't trying too hard to out-tech anyone, but rather they are simply concentrating on producing good value, simple cars.
Absolutely bob-on with the rural use. I do 60-100 miles six days a week and my Leaf 40 covers it perfectly. The three year old Leaf cost three years of petrol to buy so like my previous one, earns back its purchase price in savings.
At last, a review of the basic spring. Thanks for that,just what we needed ,fantastic review honest,for the real world. Keep up the good work 👍
I love that phone holder - yes you can buy them for cars but they are not all universal to either so changing phone can make the holder redundant and changing cars can mean you have to change its location so 2 years of being used to looking in one direction means you have to learn to look somewhere else. Well done to Dacia for a simple solution.
This is why I watch hubnut showing us the real cars not the all singing all dancing top of the range cars. A real road test what I like to watch by real people. On the car I like it if I had the money I would buy one straight away as it ticks all the boxes for me. Thanks hubnuts for the videos
As a driver of a Peugeot 107, I applaud Dacia for the pared down look inside the car. And as others have said, the phone holder is impressive and much better than a massive centre screen which you have no control of (software and features wise).
Fantastic styling on this thing, car companies need to remember that they're allowed to give cheap cars a sense of identity and design every now and then and it feels like that's finally happening (or at least the Renault group appear to be trying)
Renault know all about this. The original Twingo is the best example.
Agreed but more attention given to aerodynamic efficiency would be peak
@@geoffwoodgate7450 yeah but they also did the Zoe, which truly inspires nothing in me no matter how much I try to like it. Lots of early EVs suffer from that though and I don’t really know what changed, I’m just glad Renault are finally “trying” again.
@Munkenba The Zoe was a great little car. Nothing wrong with at all.
@@Munkenba Have you seen the new R5 electric? It is really special.
There are loads of them in the Dacia compound at Portbury Dock. Nice to see one on the road! We need more of these entry level cars on the road.
Great video as usual. As someone who also lives very rural, the common assumption that "EVs wouldn't work up here" is always an odd one to me. Average distances driven still aren't massive, most people have two cars and most importantly plenty of space to charge at home. My island only has a few miles of roads and no fuel station - an EV with even 60 or 70 miles range would be perfectly suited here for most people whose longest journey is 12 miles to the Coop and back!
How do you get your fuel?
Tbh if I lived on an island with no MOTs and a few miles of lanes I'd be inclined to buy an MOT failure and save £15,000.
@@NeilBarrattI’m not saying anyone need to buy a 15k car, I’m saying EVs on the island/rural places have a useful part to play.
@@NeilBarratt He'll get the ferry over to Skye and probably drive to Portree if his username is his home island. If you live on an island you still need to travel to get the same stuff that we all use like big food shops, clothes and household items and for that you need a vehicle that is legal to drive on the road.
Any 24 kWh leaf at 5k is now perfect for island life.
I would say that in some ways EVs are even more suited to rural life than city life. I live in a first floor flat in a city which means that home charging is out the window (Literally, I would need to run an extension cord across the car park) which means every trip would involve a detour to the charging point at a nearby shopping mall. People in the country are way more likely to have off street parking close enough to the house for home charging. For now my only EV is an e-bike as I can carry that up the stairs, charge it in my hallway and keep it out of sight of the local bike thieves.
Mrs n Mr Hubnut are the kind of aware car ppl we need more of on YT
The steering wheel has the same square shape as the original Austin Allegro
(Screams offstage).
Quartic
Well, actually, not quite. This is more rectangular, whereas the Allegro's was a squircle.
@@michaelwright2986 Looks the same shape as the Berlingo van I rented at the end of last year.
@@HowardLeVert Must be an effect of perspective--it looked to me as though it were longer on the horizontal axis than on the vertical.
I wish we in the US would have an affordable EV like this Dacia.
To reduce glare from the white IP surround I would purchase an IP pad over the surround IP.
To me, this is a great all round vehicle.
I would call the gear selector a toggle switch, it reminds me of one.
I'd paint it dark grey.....
@@frothe42 or mask it off and rattle can some satun black over it...
Great review of an efficient little car. I love the stripped-down aesthetic and it just does what you need. I run a Nissan Leaf in rural Cornwall with a 30kWh battery and it's perfectly adequate, the short-range isn't a problem for most journeys. As you say if you are a motorway warrior it's not the car for you but for most folk the Spring is the ideal runabout. I have seen some amazing deals online too, one PCP offer was for £160 a month!
Plus deposit, plus balloon payment at the end, and a tight yearly mileage allowance, plus the cost of a second car that can do all your other trips, surely its cheaper to just get one car that does all that without needing a second car really, maybe I'm wrong, just doesn't seem cheap to me. If the buyer does such a small annual mileage, surely an older super reliable Leaf like yours makes sense and leave 10k plus in the bank.
@@rickbaines8262 true but lots of people do like owning new cars, I'm very happy with my 7 year old Leaf though!
We bought a Spring in 22, it was the well equipped version, but that's relative.
It does have a fast charger, which I would absolutely recommend. We almost never use it, but on the one or two occasions we used it, it certainly was nice to get going again in 20 minutes rather than sitting there for hours.
It has the backup camera, collision warning, "big" screen with Android Auto, power windows, power mirrors, aircon, remote central locking, but again, luxury is a relative term. For example it hasn't got cruise control, but rather a speed limiter. Still handy for long 30 or 50 km/h roads.
We don't bother with the app and I cannot stress enough how important Android Auto is for us. Because the built-in satnav is absolute garbage. The radio is nice, because DAB.
Ours has the 45 HP motor, claimed theoretical range of 230 km, but since all we do is potter about locally with it we don't really use the full range. It just gets plugged in every couple of days and one unexpected side effects is not having to fill up at the petrol station, which I now regard as a nuisance and annoyance with our petrol Dacia (a Lodgy).
It's been flawless so far, we did 30000 km in it with zero problems.
I absolutely love it, it's great for pottering about. No smoke, no noise, no fuss.
We're not some kind of eco warriors, we bought it because it's cheap, practical and only my E-Bike is cheaper to run.
I can only recommend getting a charger installed, because the loading brick takes absolute ages to charge.
Charger is uber the bonnet
@bdeithrick ah, I think you mean the fast charging.
The Spring can be bought without CSS charging, so no matter where you charge it, it will take bloody ages.
Wie did get the CSS charging option, it did cost extra, but IMO it's totally worth it, even if you hardly ever use it. And it will help the resale value.
@@jochenstacker7448 Interesting that you were able to get the fast charging option with the 45bhp motor. That isn't available here - you can only get fast charging with the 65.
@imbethondion4572 it's been available right from the start here in Germany. I think this is the Gen 2 Spring, we have the Gen 1 (bought in 22), there wasn't a 65 HP engine, only the 45. You had to buy the "nicer" model.
The Gen 1 wasn't on sale in the UK if I understand correctly.
@ That's right, I don't think they ever bothered to convert the Gen 1 Spring to RHD so it wasn't sold here. Same as the Gen 1 Sandero for that matter.
I'm not an ev fan but I always said if I was forced to have one then it would be a Spring. I like Dacia's anyway especially the Duster diesel and currently run a 2.0 diesel Yeti which I think is a similar size. But as someone else said, as far as ev's go this is what we need at a 12-15 grand price point not some 100 grand rocket ship that the average person can't afford. So thankyou that was an interesting and fair review.
I always like your EV videos. Much more realistic and balanced than most.
Lovely jubilee... I like how you used words and that to describe the benefits of owning this car. Great stuff. Thank you, just what I need 😊
I wasn't looking forward to this review, but I am surprised and amazed that it does everything that most normal people could want. It gets to 60 or 70mph depending on the road, nothing is allowed to go faster than that, legally, so a car that can go 120mph is a waste of time., you can overtake once in a while, it is cheapish and uncomplicated. Brilliant car, 80% of families should have one as their second car instead of a Hummer sized SUV, and all old people who want a runabout. Well done. Good evaluation of a good car, I enjoyed it.
Like these a lot since I had a good nosy around one at a mobility scheme car show in Edinburgh back in September. An excellent Review as always Ian and Carly.
Good review Ian, you're the right man to test a modest 'real world' car like this. It seems many other YT reviewers are swayed by the Bentley or Lambo' they were testing previously... The Spring is cheap new, but give it a year of depreciation, and these are going to be very cheap motoring, if you can charge at home.
You can turn off the speed limit warning. It's one of the first things people tend to do when getting into a car new enough for it to be mandatory on by default. As you've noticed, cars tend to be not very adept at knowing what the speed limit actually is :)
At a guess it's running off GPS, and on a crappy day like that they can go a bit wide on the accuracy
They also run off cameras spotting speed limit signs, which is fine until you pass a 20 ton weight limit!
Can insurance companies access this data to assess risk based on the amount of speeding the car's computer might be logging?
Imagine how long you'd put up with a mate constantly telling you that you're doing 21mph in a 20mph before you smacked him in the mouth. You can guarantee that at some point you won't be able to turn off the speed warnings and the data will be black boxed and used during insurance claims. I don't think I'll ever buy a new car again.
@@luviskol Partly. In my car, it's based on the car's position relative to whatever data it's received in the navigation system about the current speed limit. The GPS is highly accurate. Unfortunately, the speed limit data in the navigation system isn't always entirely accurate, and that's where the fun begins. Things like overpasses with a different limit than the road you're actually on, can also cause confusion. Thankfully, the speed limit warning in my car can be turned off permanently, so I don't need to do it at the start of every trip.
Very impressive and practical! I might even visit a Dacia dealership! Best wishes!
Love it. Much more than the new Renault 4 I think this is the modern equivalent to a R4 or a 2CV .
What worries me is the sense of entitlement in society.I genuinely think there is a shift in the social dynamic and it's all about status and performance at any cost. Hope I'm wrong
Lovely review Ian, like that car very much, could see myself owning one, great camera work by Miss Hubnut.
Excellent video. All my questions answered plus much more.
What's this? Ian reviewing a cheap electric car? Yes please!
Try his first video
Great little car. probably go for the main top spec at the price point if buying one. really refreshing to get a review that actually review. most of the others just comment on the cheapness and complain it is not a 30k competitor. which is pointless. The only luxury i would want as an option which they do not do is heated front seats. but not a big problem.
Oh yes, you went for the base model! So many of these reviews take the top-spec one, like you said. I really, really like basic vehicles - I know that 80's basic and 2025 basic are two different things, but still, as few bells and whistles for me, please. I think Dacia have played a blinder with the Spring.
My uncle is a big fan of Dacia, I fully expect him or my auntie driving one soon
Thanks for sharing that with us, much appreciated sir.
Another great video. I've been waiting for a review of Dacia Spring for ages. I was extremely impressed.
I love the phone holder Sat nav on the phone music the lot. I love hints of pragmatism in the design. I hate EVs because of complexity and the weight of seats and door apertures.
But I like this the van sounds appealing. Narrow wheels and tyres yes.
This one weighs under a ton! A welcome development.
@HubNut 😮 I don't want luxury I want pragmatic design. If I owned that I'd unbolt the rear seats. Remove reduce weight. So the van is ideal. I like the look of it. I don't do silly milage. Range at 150 miles would be perfect.
@@HubNut are the foot pedals well spaced, I have 13s and my memories of Renaults foot pedals are quite narrow. My feet would always slide off and and rub against the steering column. Especially clios etc I'd have to reset feet.
Evs are less complicated than ICE.
Modern cars are more complex than older cars.
Narrow tyres cut through deep puddles without aquaplaning... little known fact!
I own a 24kwh leaf which cost me £3500 last year. I did think about one these but givin how the ev used market is at the moment it doesn't make financial sense.
That phone holder needs some of design award! Why cant all cars / vans ( ev or not), expensive or cheap, just have one?
I think I saw the phone-as-stereo idea on Citroen concept car a few years ago
@spankeyfish It's in tge Citroen Ami, but then that's not really a car it's a quadricycle.
I was already contemplating buying one as my next car. Thanks for the review. Obviously I will go for a test drive first but by your opinion it seems even better than I expected
Trust Ian to deliver a level-headed real world appreciation of a car without the usually smarminess typical of road-testers.
Can you believe you are product testing new cars. Well done hubnut
Very first video on the channel was a brand new EV!
been and watched the video. Well done hubnut
I don't know if electric is the future in the end, so I might never end up with one of these. But I really like it, charming little thing.
EV are here in the present.
@ yes but I don't think it's the future so I probably won't end up with one as I don't buy new cars 😁
@@rollingtroll There are plenty available on the used market and at pretty goon prices.
@ not at the prices I buy cars at. And even the current ones don't do enough miles on a charge for me
@@rollingtroll bro driving a Scania
20:07 - A refreshing delivery on the issue of EV range, thank you:
Some motoring journalists try to patronise the viewer / reader / listener by stating that "ordinary people" (read: "you little people") don't need anything more than X miles of range.
Your simple prompt of accept it or reject it is what's needed in this space.
Since you have (had) so many Citroëns of all kinds from 2CV to hydropneumatic ones, I'm curious what you think of the new (e)C3. Some reviewers claim it's very comfortable with great handling, others say it's neither, but we all know how biased reviews can be.
The Dacia Spring is a bit too "not quite" for me: not quite the performance, not quite the range, not quite the size, not quite the fast-charging speed... and if you check a few things on the options it's not that much cheaper than the electric C3, which on paper does meet my expectations in range, performance, size.
I wonder if you could get hold of one to test, as I would trust your take on it more than the big name reviews.
I'll have to try one.
Nice little thing, but I think the Leap Motor T03 is a much better proposition. Similar size, same price, but 94bhp and a much bigger 37.3kWh battery which just offers much more flexibility in terms of how the car can be used
Infinitely better looking than many of the styling horrors coming from the Chinese manufacturers. Thank you for this informative review.
It's actually a Chinese car. It's made by Dongfeng.
@jochenstacker7448 sure, but it's based on the Renault Kwid.
Well done Ian, Great review as always
It looks good. 😃
In white even better! 🤩
Nice one Ian, the spring in this trim is a good honest car. Being basic has its advantages, less to worry about or to go wrong in theory. 13A over night charging is a boon for those of us who have power in the garage but no way to add a wall box. The flip top phone holder is also a great idea with a charge socket nearby. If most of my driving was around town it would be worth considering but right now I have regular distance driving on motorways but in the future it would be worth considering by which time there will be some used examples available. Thanks for sharing.
Seems Dacia have gone the right way with creating an EV that isn't all touchscreens, bells and whistles, just a car with buttons & switches that goes A to B that just happens to be electric, a "car of the people" as it were, given we're all supposed to be making the switch to them this is the sort of car that ought to be available versus the other, expensive, options...
Dacia is the new people's car. Now that most other so called peoples car have gone up market
Looks very smart, thank you for a cool review. Perhaps a new 'living with' video series is on the cards with DACIA UK around Spring time for HubNut road trips/reviews, following on from this review? Also, this car, could very well become the new C1/Aygo (when they first came out). Interesting to learn if a Renault version will be offered to the market aswell. Thank you very much, good fun video.
finally a comon sence electric car without all the extra stuff you dont really need. I like the fact its low powered so is more sensible. The range is still low but that all depends on battery size so to keep the cost low you get a smaller battery. thanks as always for an honest review Ian and Carly
At last a car review of something that’s well within reach of the masses . Brilliant to see and well presented as ever by HubNut . Bravo .
Good to see EV's getting more affordable without having fitted the really daft touchscreen in the centre, looks ok for a daily commute if you can charge it back up at home which sadly I can't so wouldn't work for me.
There's been plenty of affordable EVs for ages. GMW, MG, BYD, Nissan, Chery..
I wouldn't normally watch an EV video but I'm currently considering buying a Sandero of 2016ish vintage. I had previously assumed that Dacias were cheap junk but I've been hearing good things about them.
We've had a Duster and currently have a Lodgy and a Spring.
Never let us down. Great, simple cars.
What a great car! Well done Dacia
Very enjoyable & honest review, ty
Thanks for the review, pretty good VFM. I did drive a Twizy and it was fun, like a go kart for public roads. Very uncomfortable and basic though, and doing over 30 MPH eats up the range.
Correction: The first generation has the 1 ncap star, this facelift hasn't been tested yet, and it added a lot of new safety features, so it's rumored to have 2-3 stars
We have had our Spring (in France) for two years now, it is the pre face-lift version so very little in the way of luxury, though there is a screen, the bigest plus; there is no anoying white trim, we would have avoided the car if it had it, as we disliked the reflection we had with our Smart. we charge at home and we have a motorway close which we travel for around 20 to 30 K our top speed is 130 KPH the same as the speed limit. We love our Spring and would buy again in a heart beat. A great review thank you
It looks like a great little city car. No more scalding oil, boiling water and explosions under the hood but most of all owners can wave goodbye to the Saudi oil and HMG road fuel duty. That alone would give an owner a little warm feeling,
Have you ever seen a battery electric car on fire for real? No, thought not.
HMG will miss road fuel duty if people switch to EV's
Not sure how they'll deal with that but one thing is for sure...
... they'll deal with it.
@@stephenhall3515No Iv never seen an electric car on fire a.l the vehicle fires I have attended have been fossil fueled vehicles
@@AntMan-b8lI'm with you, HMG will defo do something about the tax as EVs become more common but ultimately a motorist can only act within the law
Nice to see an electric car at reasonable prices.
Great vid as ever Ian
There's been plenty of affordable EVs for ages. GMW, MG, BYD, Nissan, Chery..
I bought My Dacia Logan new in 2014 I'm getting on for 80,000 miles on it and have not had any problems with it. I'm thinking this would be a good replacement now I'm retired and not carting tools around. The only thing is I'm wondering if the constant having to charge it will be a pain . At least I wouldn't have to go into a petrol station I suppose.
It takes me 12 seconds to charge my Kia EV David. Six seconds to plug it in, and a further six seconds to unplug it in the morning. I sleep for the middle part, and haven't set foot on a petrol station forecourt for over 3 years.....As you are retired, I can't see you needing to charge the Spring more than twice per week at the most. I charge my Kia about every 8 to 9 days.
I'm rejoicing. Finally a proper, practical, value for money EV comes to the market. I suppose the early EV cars, in the main focused on the tech a lot more as they knew that tech Savvy buyers with money were likely to be a big target market while the more budget conscious were likely to wait a little longer to adopt but this just makes so much sense. I could see them fitting right in to our local authority pool car fleet.
Styling works well too. Hints of Sandero and Twingo.
I'm also delighted to see a proper handbrake
Splendid. Thanks. 😎 I bet it rots faster than my 2CV did, on those roads, but it's similarly minimal.
I think, like many cheap cars, it will become a sought after classic if looked after. Most won't be looked after as they will be treated as disposable so the few that are left will be like 2CVs today.
I saw an overseas review of the Spring and worked out via the exchange rate at the time that it was £10,000! Which seemed curious. When I first saw it, the dumpy , but cute, styling made me think that it would make a modern Austin Allegro - and I'm really not being sarcastic! (and nothing to do with that quartic steering wheel honest!)
I like them. Small EV's have been a long time coming unnecessarily so!
Thanks.
That's just what most folk want, we don't need massive touch screens and auto this and that, we just need to get in and go, simple. Oh by the way nice trainers too. Keeping it hip and happening 😊
Really very promising! All it needs is a heat pump, a gear lever that doesn't look like it should be on a Hoover and a can of matt black paint to sort out the dash!😊
Clean simple design inside, looks quite samrt actually 👍
Love your family's you tube content and getting a bulb to stay in a rear light cluster, god old Ford AU. fitting but also your happy to show the way ahead with the all electric motor car and should we know call you hub spark.
We drive a electron powdered car that was built in 2020 so can switch off the spaceship sounds they make below 20mph that's a godsend when going out early or home late as I know when neighbours turn up in theirs, the only down side of EV's.
Good review of a 'everyday' EV reminds me a lot of my EV a Seat Mii (E-UP clone) that I bought around 6 months ago. Then and now they are around £10-9K for 3-4 yrs old, they started at a lot higher price than the Spring inflation adjusted around £25K. I'd get that white dash surround covered in black to stop the reflections. If it has to be new with the warranty advantages can't be beaten - strongest competition is used EV - Spring will also be good value as a used buy in few years.
The most relevant test I've seen for my needs in South Somerset on this. I much prefer this base model spec Thank you. When it's being built in Europe we probably will put our Mk5 Fiesta into casual use.
What a great little car, trouble is theres too many people out there who say they dont want a big, expensive, complicated tesla, who then say this is too basic! U cant please everyone, sum ppl are just impossible!
Top spec model might appeal to these. That range though! Makes it a 2nd car
I'm with you with the white binacle on the dash reflecting in the windscreen,maybe a bit of vinyl wrap would solve the problem
Thank you both for a very interesting intro to the e v world. Nice little car though I would classify myself as a “ never in worst nightmare” category for purchasing an electric car 😂👏🏻👍🏻👌🏻
Looks like it has decent ground clearance, so not at all unsuitable for rural use.
I had been patiently waiting for these to be on sale here in the u.k. looked at one in our Local Dealer, was told towbars can not be fitted. Test drove a used Sandero Stepway 0.9 TCE, outstanding value car - i bought it.
That would suit steel wheels. Great video again.
I have liked an EV at last. Shock horror. Gave a like. Like No 98.
On my 2017 Mazda you can switch the speed warning limit beep off and it just flashes a small warning on the speed sign display by brightening it temporarily which is the option I choose. Also you can set the system to only warn you when you're 5mph or 10mph over the limit if you prefer. Maybe worth delving into the manual if you haven't already done so.
Love it. Suprised, really. Refreshing simple EV. Just what we need. Sort of feels like an electric 90s supermini! As someone whose car enthusiasm is based on sound and gears, etc. I really like electric cars. We had a Toyota BZ4X on loan last year, and I thought it was a lovely drive. This seems great. The other benefit is short journeys. Currently using a 2012 TDCI Focus. Love it, but most of my journeys aren't far enough to even slightly warm it up. No issue for electric. I do worry about range over time but apart from that I'd happily drive an EV. 😊
I’m not generally a fan of EV’s (still do long trips and don’t want to stop), but this review almost makes me want to own one of these! Finally, a sensible, clever (love that phone holder) cheap car that you can use, and not some bulky, ugly overpriced lump of lard. The other manufacturers need to take note, this is the sort of thing that will push uptake of EV’s, not the rubbish they are forcing on us. Great review Ian
Love the Spring, wish it was more aerodynamic less SUVish but the decent ground clearance is appealing. It's the right EV Formula that we've been waiting too long for! VW eUP, Citroen CZero territory, small-medium battery with high efficiency, and if Stellantis had any sense we would have a Panda EV based on the 500e built in Poland or Bulgaria.
It's the most effective and competitive way out of Europe's current market malaise/meltdown.
A bum extended estate or kamm back hatch would be very enticing if it helps the aerodynamics
An interesting review now well done 👍👍👍🚙
About that style-over-function white instrument binacle: sometimes I wonder if all the ergonomy specialists have been sacked form car companies these days. Since I wanted the Bose soundsystem ( it is epic!) in my Zoe, I had to go with the top spec Intense edition, which have a lot of shiny chrome on the dashboard. Looks super fancy in the broshure, but in reality it is a real pain, with sun reflexions constantly blinding you, especially if you - like me - have had laser eye surgery, that makes me more sensitive to intense light. Did no-one think of that? In the end I wrapped the damn trim pieces in satin gunmetal grey vinyl which improved things 100%. There was a reason car interior was a sea of grey or dark plastic... Anyway - apart from the style-over-function binacle, the Spring looks like a very nice little car - hope to see many of them on the roads soon!
Trim pops off and matt black rattle cans are cheap!
I’d love a small, sporty, 2 seater EV, with no screen. Physical switchgear only. I wonder if this will ever exist!
These might respond to a little tuning, once the warranty's up. I'd bet it's only software restricting it to 64bhp to give the motor an easier time and make the range acceptable.
I wouldn't be surprised if a good EV hacker could get at least 100bhp out of it!
An electric motorcycle fits that specification!
Unlikely, I would say. That target market would be you (possibly) and not anyone else, more or less.
Like the very first Tesla ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster_(first_generation) )? 😉
Looking at the Dacia website the small battery with the little motor also gives 120mile range
Given it's a basic model it makes a lot of sense, and it's nice to see the review of the basic model definitely hubnut style
Nice review as always. I like the car a lot- its kind of like a modern day Morris Minor.
During closeups I note that your mic is sporting a very 'HubNutty' hairstyle to co-ordinate with your beard. Very fetching!
Finally a EV Car that is just a car, not a IPad. Seems rather thought out and hits the nail on the head for price.
Thats a generational thing, kids want all that crap, then have an accident whislt they play with it on top of the extra cost and how it dates rapidly
My beautiful English countryside 'asleep' during the winter in the background, lovely .
Is this countryside in England or Wales?
🏴
Very much Welsh!
Nice review this would do me only thing that worries me is no re sale but I would buy as cheap as possible lowest spec and just commute in it 👍
Brilliant. First real world review of what looks a reasonable ev
What a great little car for the low-mileage user! No bells or whistles, simple and easy to drive. My only criticism is that the hatch aperture looks very narrow at the lower half. I'd have one if I'd retired but sadly, as a second car at Chateau Le Vert heads off to the car park in the sky (this time, It's Kiki the Ka) I don't have the finances to buy one. BTW - you should be able to turn off the annoying beeps for lane departure and speed limits in a menu... somewhere.
I'm surprised that a basic,well made car is still available. Simplicity that functions is still the true genius of design engineering