⚡ Britain's cheapest new EV is getting a proper successor
Dacia has revealed the all-new, second-generation Spring — bigger, European-built and still expected to cost less than £18,000 when it reaches the UK in the first half of 2027. Here's everything we know so far.
London, 9 September 2026 — Dacia has unveiled a completely redesigned Spring, the tiny electric car that became Britain's cheapest new EV — and confirmed the new model will reach UK showrooms in the first half of 2027, with prices expected to start below £18,000.
The second-generation Spring is a far bigger deal than a facelift. It moves onto Renault Group's RG-EV Small platform — the same award-winning bones used by the Renault 5, Renault 4 and Alpine A290 — and production shifts from China to Renault's Novo Mesto plant in Slovenia, where it shares a line with the upcoming Renault Twingo E-Tech.
Bigger, but still brilliantly cheap
The new Spring has grown by 15cm in length and 18cm in width to 3.85 metres, turning the old city-car proportions into something closer to a small hatchback. Despite the growth — and a weight increase to 1,212kg — Dacia claims improved efficiency of 4.9 miles per kWh from a 27.5kWh LFP battery, for a WLTP range of up to 155 miles (around 249km).
That's enough, Dacia says, for the typical Spring owner's whole week: first-generation data showed most drivers cover only 13-21 miles a day, mostly as a second car, with around three-quarters charging at home.
Power comes from an 80hp electric motor with 175Nm of torque, cutting the 0-62mph sprint to 12.1 seconds. Standard AC charging is 6.6kW, while an optional Charge Pack adds 11kW AC and 50kW DC — enough for a 15-80% top-up in around 28 minutes — plus vehicle-to-load (V2L) so the car can power small appliances.
Two trims, no nonsense
Dacia keeps things simple with just two versions. The entry Expression trim skips a central screen entirely, using a smartphone cradle and the driver's 7-inch digital cluster for media — a refreshingly honest approach to keeping costs down. The Journey trim adds a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a reversing camera and larger 16-inch wheels.
Boot space grows to 337 litres, expanding to 1,283 litres with the rear seats folded, and there's even an optional 18-litre front storage compartment. Dacia's YouClip accessory system carries over for phone holders, cupholders and storage pods.
Why this matters for UK buyers
The outgoing, Chinese-built Spring has been the UK's most affordable new electric car, and Dacia says it will keep selling alongside the new model for a transitional period. The replacement arriving in 2027 keeps that affordable-EV crown in reach at a time when cheap electric cars remain rare in Britain.
The biggest rival is the Leapmotor T03, currently one of the few sub-£17,000 EVs on sale. Renault's own Twingo E-Tech — the Spring's platform twin — is also expected to launch around the same price point. For buyers happy to wait, the Spring's European build and proven platform should bring sharper dynamics and better safety tech than its predecessor.
Curious how it stacks up against other budget EVs? Browse the full electric car library, or see how it compares with small-city EVs like the Fiat 500e, Leapmotor T03 and Vauxhall Corsa Electric.
