Dacia's surprising sums - can you afford not to Spring?

We are all watching the pennies these days, so a brand-new car might seem like an extravagance. Surely it will be cheaper to hold on to your old motor and keep it limping on for a few more years? Even though that will mean missing out of the latest technology and safety features, it is a sacrifice you might feel you need to make. 

But with Dacia, you might find that switching to the new all-electric Spring makes more financial sense than keeping your old petrol or diesel car. Don’t believe us? Let’s look at some sums.

If you are currently driving a small car around 10,000 miles every year and averages around 40 miles per gallon, the petrol will cost approximately £123 per month*. Add in servicing, repairs, the dreaded MoT any car will need once it reaches its third birthday, road tax and any fees for driving in low emission zones, and you could soon find it easily adds up to £150 per month or more.  

A Dacia Spring financed via a PCP is currently just £158 per month, which means a brand-new car might cost only a little more than your old banger – and it could even be cheaper. Plus it has all the advantages you would expect a modern car to bring.

The electricity which powers the Spring could be free if you are allowed to charge in your workplace, or an overnight charge from almost empty to 100% full at home using an electric vehicle tariff will cost less than £2 on average. **

A full battery like this will be enough to cover 140 miles until you need to plug in again***, which is enough for up to six days of driving on average in the city. And you will never need to visit a petrol station again, except for last-minute emergency gifts! You simply wake up in the morning to a full battery, ready to go. 

You will also love how easy it is to manage from day to day, using the dedicated Dacia app to check the battery level remotely. If you are going on a longer trip or can’t charge at home, the Spring 65 can be topped up at a rapid charging it up to 80% in under an hour.***

It may be the best value electric car on sale, but the Spring will still impress you with its technology and practicality. The city-sized SUV has five doors and four seats for practicality plus a large 308-litre boot, which shames some larger cars. It also boasts 32.7-litres of space in other handy storage compartments in and around the cabin, so you and your passengers will find a home for all the journey’s essential extras.

You’ll be impressed with the modern looks of the inside too, and advanced features such as the 10-inch multimedia system with wireless connectivity – the sort of kit which you might only expect to find on more expensive cars. The infotainment also offers real-time traffic reporting and remote charge point planning. 

There is even a Vehicle to Load option on Extreme version of the Spring that allows you to power some domestic appliances by using the electricity stored in your car battery when you are away from home. It means you could plug in an electric grill, power tools or even a coffee machine when you are miles from the nearest plug. 

The Spring also has the latest in safety technology, with Lane Keeping Assist to warn you if you drift from your lane. It will even gently nudge the car back between the lines if necessary. Traffic sign recognition keeps an eye on the speed limit, displays it on the dashboard and warns you if you are speeding. This will help keep you and your licence safe. Finally, there’s an Emergency Braking System which will prevent front-end collisions by sensing if the vehicle in front has stopped suddenly. 

With the new Spring starting at just £14,995, you might find you can’t afford not to buy a new car. To find out more about the Dacia Spring and arrange a test drive, click here.

*833.33 miles per month at 40 mpg = 20.83 gallons = 94.98 litres at £1.30 = £123.48

** 25kWh @ 7.5p/kWh (Octopus Intelligent Go) = £1.875

***Figures quoted are for Electric 65 version with a DC charger (standard with Electric 65 version).  Charging time may vary depending on charging conditions, including charger type and condition, on-site power usage, battery temperature as well as ambient temperature at point of use, battery age and state of charge, and if battery safeguarding technology is activated. Indicated rapid charging time requires use of a 150kW charger, available only on public charger network.