Dacia reclaims ‘cheapest new car’ title after cutting Spring price

Dacia has cut £4,000 off the price of its Spring EV to reclaim its title of the UK’s cheapest car just 24 hours after Leapmotor took the mantle.

The cost-cutting measure means that the Spring now comes in at £11,990, making it £1,000 cheaper than the Leapmotor T03 and £4,000 less than the petrol-powered Kia Picanto.

China-based Leapmotor introduced a larger version of its ‘Leap-Grant’ on June 30, cutting £3,000 off the price to £12,995.

However, just a day later, Dacia responded to ensure the Spring retained its title.

Recently updated, the Spring has a 24.3kWh battery which enables a claimed range of up to 140 miles on a single charge, while the Leapmotor T03 gets a larger 37.3kWh battery to unlock a slightly longer range of 165 miles.

Standard equipment on the Dacia includes rear parking sensors, air conditioning and cruise control, alongside a digital driver’s display. The Leapmotor, meanwhile, gets many high-end features such as a panoramic sunroof, a 10.1-inch infotainment display and LED headlights.

Lina Ribeiro, Dacia brand director for the UK, said: “Dacia has always worked hard to remove barriers to new car ownership, and with Spring’s new pricing, it takes our purpose further than ever.

“Production efficiencies and a strong drive to continue to offer real value to our customers have helped us pass on the savings and as such the most affordable new car on the market, electric or otherwise, is one of the smartest value choices on the road today.

“When the price is clear and the running costs are low, going electric simply makes sense.”