the small engine returns, the prices become correct

During its mid-career restyling, the small Romanian electric left aside its smallest engine to retain only the 65 hp model. Good for versatility, less so for prices. But there is finally change.

When it was released in 2021, this Renault of Chinese origin improved to satisfy the tastes and much stricter standards of Europeans had – like all Dacias at the time – the effect of a bomb with its ultra-low prices . First prize of €16,990, the zero-emission chip was especially eligible for the bonus, which made it possible to lower the entry ticket to just over €12,000. Criticized for its limited road performance, its 45 hp engine not powerful enough or its quality of presentation taking us back at least ten years, it nevertheless had a good start to its career, and the 65 hp engine came to reinforce its power of seduction.

But the French government came to undermine this success story by reviewing the method of awarding the ecological bonus. With its production in China, the Spring loses this advantage in December 2023. As if that were not enough, competition is getting organized. A few months later, Citroën presented an accessible electric C3 eligible for the ecological bonus. For the price of a Spring, we now have a vehicle in the superior category. This is too much for the Romanian whose sales are collapsing (only 6 units in May 2024!). The major restyling presented in Geneva at the beginning of last year fortunately helped to counter the trend somewhat but we urge the Romanian brand to relaunch the small 45 hp engine, abandoned on this occasion. Well, that’s it!

The cheapest electric car in France, again

Still assembled in the Middle Kingdom, the Spring does not benefit from the ecological bonus but the return of the 45 hp engine allows prices to be reduced to more reasonable levels. It now starts at €16,900 with the Essential finish, stripped down as its name suggests and cannot be enhanced with any option. No air conditioning, certainly, poor performance (0 to 100 km/h in 19.1 s!), but a fair price (especially in these times) which means that it can be considered more as a second or third vehicle to meet simple needs.

Air conditioning and not just for €1,000 more

For those who cannot be satisfied with such an endowment, the Spring 45 is also available in Expression finish with the sacrosanct air conditioning, digital instrumentation, a wider choice of colors and the possibility of opting for a central touch screen at an additional cost. All for €1,000 more.

With the recent reduction in the ecological bonus which now amounts in the best case to €4,000 (€7,000 previously), it has a comfortable lead over the Citroën ë-C3 whose base price is €23,300. €, excluding State benefit.