Europe’s Cheapest EV Gets More Power

If there’s one thing I’ve learned after nearly 20 years of writing about cars, it’s that buying a new one often happens at the wrong time. As competition intensifies, automakers roll out updates more frequently to keep up with rivals, so you’re rarely getting the best version of a model. In the past, the mid-cycle refresh was the only major change, but that’s no longer the case.

Take Europe’s cheapest electric car, for example. Dacia gave the Spring a major facelift in 2024, yet an improved version is already on the way. For 2026, the budget-friendly EV gains much more powerful motors. The base model, previously limited to 45 hp, now delivers 70 hp, while the higher trim jumps from 65 hp to 100 hp.

As you can imagine, the performance gap is massive. The base version now accelerates from 50 to 75 mph (80 to 120 km/h) in 10.3 seconds instead of a painfully slow 26.2 seconds. Opt for the stronger motor, and that interval drops to 6.9 seconds from 14 seconds. Dacia says there’s up to 20 percent more power and torque between those speeds, making it easier for the Spring to keep pace with traffic outside urban areas.

The upgraded motors draw energy from a new Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery with a 24.3-kWh capacity; Renault’s first electric car to use this chemistry. It also supports faster DC charging at 40 kW, up from 30 kW, allowing a 20-80% charge in just 29 minutes.

Even more changes are arriving barely a year after the facelift. Dacia’s petite EV finally gains an anti-roll bar for improved cornering stability. The engineers have also retuned the shock absorbers and suspension springs and upgraded the brakes. Further refinements to the bodywork have reduced the drag coefficient from 0.745 to 0.660 on cars equipped with 14-inch wheels.

The China-built Spring will eventually make way for a new entry-level EV based on the upcoming Renault Twingo, projected to start at around €18,000. This A-segment model has already been previewed through a design sketch showing a boxy, upright hatchback ahead of its 2026 debut.