Renault’s sister brand Dacia has revealed the 2024 Spring EV. Based on the Renault Kwid EV, this is the second-gen Spring EV that gets a majorly overhauled design and an all-new interior with a significant step up on the equipment front.
- Kwid-based Spring EV gets big design upgrade
- Gets ADAS and more safety features too
- Gets 26.8kWh battery with up to 220km range
Dacia Spring EV gets Duster-like looks
While the refreshed Spring EV looks like an all-new model, it actually is just a heavily updated iteration of the one that made its debut in 2021. The Spring and its sister car, the Renault K-ZE, went on sale together in China and a few other countries, with both models setting the benchmarks of the most affordable EVs in their respective categories.
In essence, the new Spring EV resembles the all-new Dacia Duster. Up front, it now gets slim, horizontal LED Daytime running lamps that neatly merge into the grille finished in gloss black with off-white inserts, and the new Dacia logo taking centre stage. The main headlamps are positioned on the bumper below. The grille also has a dedicated insert for the charging port.
The centre air dam is now wider and this combined with the new headlamps gives the Spring EV an even more butch look than before. In profile, the Spring EV looks quite similar to the earlier car and also resembles the Kwid that we get here in India. The doors, fenders and even the old-school pull-type door handles seem to be carried over from the earlier model.
At the back, the rear bumper gets mild design tweaks, and while the tail-lamps look the same, they get new Y-shaped LED lighting elements much like the Duster, and are connected by a gloss black plastic panel on the tail gate. The front and rear bumpers also get a unique mesh panel finished in a contrasting colour.
Dacia Spring EV interior, safety and tech
On the inside, the Spring EV gets an all-new dashboard that's, again, clearly inspired by the Duster. It's modern and yet has a rugged appeal to it. The new steering wheel gets integrated controls, and the infotainment screen and the panel below with revised controls for HVAC also seem to be borrowed from the Duster. There are plenty of physical controls and buttons which are always nice to have. Like the Duster, the Spring EV also gets unique accessory mounts on the centre console and dashboard, and there's an open shelf on the passenger side as well.
The Spring EV even gets advanced driver assistance systems such as lane keeping assistance, advanced emergency braking and a driver attention monitoring system. This is to ensure compliance with Europe’s new GSR2 safety regulations, but a physical ‘My Safety’ button provides quick access to the ADAS settings, should drivers wish to disable them. It also comes with standard dual airbags and ABS. Top-spec variants get a 10.1-inch infotainment screen that can be updated wirelessly, and it also gets a recess on the passenger side of the dashboard for storage.
Dacia Spring EV powertrain, battery and range
Mechanically, however, the new Spring is largely the same as before. A single electric motor sends either 45hp or 65hp through the front wheels, with the more powerful variant dispatching 0-100kph in a leisurely 13.7 seconds. The small, 26.8kWh battery delivers a claimed range of more than 220km and is a key reason why the Spring weighs only 984kg – just 6kg more than the outgoing car. The 45hp car can take charge at a maximum of 11kW (AC), while 65hp cars get 30kW DC charging as standard.
Dacia Spring EV: the India connection
Renault India MD Venkatram Mamillapalle exclusively spoke to our sister publication Autocar Professional last year on an entry-level EV for India. However, as of now, the timeline for its India launch remains uncertain. If the Dacia Spring EV ends up coming to India as a Renault Kwid EV, it will be a direct rival to the likes of the MG Comet and the Tata Tiago EV.
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Viraaj Bhatnagar
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