On paper, there is nothing to brag about. No, the Spring didn’t turn into a monster. Nor in sports. Not even on the road. But, casually, this “2 horsepower” (it’s its fiscal power) can now see its engine go from 45 to 65 hpan increase of more than 40%.
Some will say that the basic version was enough, and we won’t contradict them; for urban use, the Spring as we knew it until now showed enough pep at the green light.
But the new version guarantees more versatility to this Romanian produced in Chinawith even sharper acceleration, much more extension and much better pick-up.
Numbers ? The time to go from 0 to 100 km/h drops from 19.1 to 13.7 seconds with this engine. Side times, it’s better too: 80 to 120 km/h drops from 26.6 to 13.5 seconds. Overtaking slow vehicles can be established more serenely.
Only the top speed stagnates, still limited to 125 km/h. But driving a Spring, it’s already a good look. Because the cheapest electric city car on the market has not corrected its shortcomings, even allowing itself to keep its unworthy Linglong tireswith precarious grip in the dry, and impossible to find in the wet.
This is still the main defect of this Dacia which, in the rain and at sustained speed, can turn out to be unstable and very hesitant, abnormally delicate for a modern car. Fortunately for her, her anti-skid system takes care of the grain.
At Dacia, no doubt to reassure the journalists present at these tests, we also recall that, according to a study, the Springs sold so far only travel an average of 31 kilometers per day, and travel at an average speed of 26 km. /h. Nothing indicates, however, if the owners use this vehicle when it rains…
The smallest of the Dacias, however, took advantage of the spring to replace – across the entire range – its shock absorbers and adopt a new steering calibration.
The first ones better maintain the body movements and benefit the directional stability, but are always a bit too flexible on the road, and a little dry in town. The damping is now correctnothing more, but it is already progress.
As for the direction, it offers more firmness at the midpoint, thus reducing the tiny but constant corrections that the Spring has required so far in a straight line. It’s still not perfect, notably with insufficient recall, but the evolution is noticeable.
In summary, these various changes are all welcome. But the increased power, although appreciable too, remains rather paradoxical. Because with its road services still too limited, a Spring in its place remains a Spring in town.
There, still very handy, narrow, short and light, the chip is happy. Its silence and discretion would even make you (almost) forget its charmless aspects, its exotic origins, its basic presentation and its materials that smack of economy.
The equipment is however serious, with a touch screen and GPS, air conditioning, Bluetooth or even a reversing camera.
And externally, this Spring presents rather well in this new extreme finish, the only one offered with this engine, incorporating here a Slate Blue color (€550) as well as dark rims and touches of copper brown, delivered as standard.
Its price, set at €22,850makes it an attractive proposition, at “only” 750 € more than the 45 hp Spring Expression which, however, retains a certain interest.
It remains to deal with a theoretical autonomy of 220 kilometers (305 km on the urban cycle), in perfect harmony with the size of this city car, offered by the battery with a useful capacity of 26.8 kWh, which weighs 188 kg.
For home charging, as three-quarters of owners do (according to Dacia), it fills up with electrons in a good dozen hours from a good old garage socket, and in one night from a reinforced socket. .
Understand therefore that the installation of a WallBox at home is not even essential, depending on the use made of the Spring.
But for longer journeys, an option at €600 gives access to a 30 kW DC on-board charger which, with a compatible cable (€250) and on a fast terminal, allows charging in one hour, to go from 0 to 80% autonomy.
Dacia Spring 65 test – our opinion:
The little Romanian retains her qualities, but also her major flaws. While remaining accessible, this engine gives the Spring a welcome second wind.
Dacia Spring 65: what’s new under the hood?
To go from 33 to 48 kW, the Spring’s permanent magnet synchronous machine underwent various modifications, including an increase in the number of coils on the stator.
The motor bearings have also been reinforced, while the rotation speed has been increased. The rotor of the basic Spring can reach a speed of 8,200 rpm, that of this new version climbs up to 14,700 rpm.
The motor torque drops from 125 to 113 Nm, but the all-new reduction gear has more teeth on each pinion, allowing the Spring 65 to display more “torque at the wheel” than the Spring 45 (672 Nm vs 452 Nm) .
WE love
- Significant improvement in performance
- Always attractive price/equipment ratio
- Maneuverability and ease of use
We love less
- Unworthy tires
- Road behavior
- Finishing and presentation
Specifications (Dacia Spring Electric 65)
- From €22,300
- Conso durant l’essai (kWh/100 km) : 14.7
- Conso mixte WLTP (kWh/100 km): 14.5
- CO2(g/km)/bonus : 0/5 000 €
- Fiscal horsepower: 2 CV
- Country of Manufacture: China
- Warranty: 3 years/100,000 km
- Battery warranty: 8 years/120,000 km
- Motor: permanent magnet synchronous electric
- Transmission : traction, rapport unique
- Power (kW/hp): 48/65
- Couple (Nm) : 113
- Battery: lithium-ion, 26.8 kWh capacity
- Loading time :
- Domestic 2.3 kW: 1:30 p.m.
- Reinforced socket 3.7 kW: 8h30
- WallBox 7,4 kW : 4h50
- Fast (30 kW, option): 1h (0 to 80%)
- Empty weight (kg): 975
- Long.xlarg.xhaut. (m) : 3,73×1,58×1,51
- Wheelbase (m): 2.42
- Turning circle (m): 9.5
- Vitesse maxi (km/h) : 125
- 0 to 100 km/h (s): 13.7
- Pneus de l’essai : 165/70 R 14 – Linglong Green-Max HP 050
- Width at front/rear elbows (cm): 128/125
- Rear legroom (cm): 63
- Chest for 4/for 2 (l): 270/620
- Price of the tested version: €23,450 (with options)
Dacia Spring: the range
- Electric, 33 to 48 kW, from €20,800 to €22,300
Dacia Spring 65: the options available
- Spare wheel (200 €)
- DC charger 30 kW (600 €)
- Mode 3 Type 2 cable (250 €)
Dacia Spring 65: the main competitors
The news of small electric cars, seen by auto-moto.com:
Dacia Spring vs Leapmotor T03: match between Chinese electric city cars
Renault 5: new information on the future electric city car
Mini: the first official photos of the new generation of electric city car
