THE UK’S cheapest new car has been dethroned by a Romanian rival – after just 24 hours in the top spot.
The budget Hyundai lookalike has had its price cut by more than £4,000.
The Dacia Spring has had its entry-level Expression model slashed to just £11,990 – now making it the nation’s cheapest new car.
With these latest price cuts, the budget-friendly EV is more than £1000 cheaper than the previous winner, the Leapmotor TO3, which was given the top spot just yesterday (June 30).
The UK brand director for Dacia, Lina Ribeiro, 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.”
At just 3-meters long, the ultra-mini city car features two electric motors paired with a 24.3–26.8 kWh battery, and a combined range of up to 140 miles.
In comparison, the Leapmotor TO3 has slightly more advanced features, with a range of up to 165 miles and a 37.2kWh battery – however this is reflected in its £12,995 price tag.
The upgraded Spring 100 has also had a price cut, now matching the TO3 in both cost and technology.
Ribeiro said that production efficiencies and “a strong drive to continue to offer real value to our customers” is what enabled the Romanian motor to become the cheapest available on the UK market.
Tom Jervis, consumer reporter at Auto Express, added: “The firm is able to keep prices low thanks to shared parts with other Renault Group brands, the usage of low-cost recycled materials and cheap labour in places like Romania and Morocco.”
On the other hand, Leapmotor’s discount came from its own ‘LEAP-GRANT’ – an alternative to the UK’s Electric Car Grant that certain European-built EVs can claim.
Introduced to the UK in 2024, the compact car has been considered the perfect “urban commuter” for city dwellers and families.
Motorists will be able to purchase the heavily-discounted vehicle via dealerships across the country, as well as the Dacia site, from today (July 1).
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