A group of Spanish reviewers assessed the performance of the cheap Dacia Spring EV in an extreme collision avoidance test and was left very impressed with the outcome.
The crossover SUV completed the trial at 77 km/h (47.8 mph), showing a better result than the Honda e and the Seat Mii (rebadged VW e-Up! for Spain).
Despite some precarious side rolling, the car never lifted a single wheel in the air even during the sharpest turns. It would seem that the main contributing factors were its modest curb weight and a low center of gravity. The Spring comes equipped with a small battery rated for only 230 kilometers (143 miles) of WLTP range.
A moose test is a trial in which drivers imitate evading a sudden obstacle on the road, trying to avoid hitting the obstacle while staying in lane and swerving as little as possible. A successful maneuver at 70 km/h (43.5 mph) is considered good enough to pass the test, but only select few performance vehicles are capable of passing it at 80 km/h (49.7 mph). Many end up popping up a wheel or two, and some attempts even culminate in a rollover.
At just €17,350 in Spain, the Dacia Spring EV is the cheapest battery vehicle on that market, and applying for benefits can drop the price as low as €10,350. Its sole electric motor produces a meager 45 PS (44 hp / 33 kW) along with 125 Nm (92 lb-ft) of torque. The battery can hold 26.8 kilowatt-hours of power.