Dacia Spring vs Leapmotor T03: which bargain-priced EV should you buy?

These two cars prove that you don’t need deep pockets to afford an EV anymore. Even compared with budget petrol models, the Dacia Spring and Leapmotor T03 are two of the cheapest new cars on sale.

The question is, which one is right for you? The Spring is £1,000 cheaper than the T03 if you compare list prices, but the smart money compares the best deals available through Carwow.

So, how do you decide which of these two cars to buy? We’ll compare them side by side to find out.

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

Dacia Spring vs Leapmotor T03: design

There’s a good chance you are drawn to one of these cars but not the other – they look very different.

Dacia has gone for a shrunken-SUV look with the Spring. It sits quite high on its tiny wheels, with sharp lines and chunky wheelarches. Leapmotor has taken the styling of the T03 in a different dimension, with friendly-eyed headlights and a smiling face.

So, one car is trying to look tough, like a terrier with no idea how small it is, while the other goes for the cuteness of a cartoon pet. Which you prefer comes down to personal preference.

Dacia Spring vs Leapmotor T03: interior and equipment

The Spring has a more inviting interior. The cabin feels quite solid and there are splashes of colour to give it a lift. The plastics are hard and storage could be better, but the infotainment system on high-spec models is pretty good.

Step across to the driver’s seat of Leapmotor and there’s nothing very exciting about the design, but there’s nothing cheap and nasty about it either. Like the Dacia, the Leapmotor is tight on storage space. Unlike the Dacia, its infotainment system is awful – it’s fiddly to use and there’s no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to escape the fussy and complex native system.

The equipment fitted to the Spring varies depending on the specification chosen. The base model, badged Expression, is pretty basic with no infotainment screen, although it does come with air conditioning.

There’s just one trim level for T03 buyers, and it comes with lots of kit for a budget car. So although the Spring has the more interesting interior, the Leapmotor takes this round for having more equipment.

Dacia Spring vs Leapmotor T03: space and practicality

Both of these cars are tiny, so that should temper your expectations of interior space.

The Dacia and Leapmotor both have space for four rather than five. These are very narrow cars, so sitting three in the back would be uncomfortable even if the cars came with another seatbelt.

In the front, there’s not a huge amount to choose between the two. In the back, though, the Leapmotor is far roomier. In fact it’s more accommodating than pricier EVs like the Vauxhall Corsa Electric.

The advantage flips the other way when it comes to boot space. The Leapmotor has a tiny 210-litre capacity, so even a weekly shop could be a squeeze. The Dacia has a more useful 308 litres.

Which is more practical? If you regularly travel with rear-seat passengers, choose the T03. If boot space is more important, the Spring will suit you better.

Dacia Spring vs Leapmotor T03: Motors, batteries and range

Both of these cars have modest power, small batteries, and short range compared with many electric vehicles. The Spring and T03 are intended to be urban runarounds, so if you regularly tackle long journeys neither is ideal for your needs.

The Spring is available with two motors, the 45hp and the 65hp. The less powerful of the two has a tardy 0-62mph time of 19.1 seconds. It doesn’t feel quite that slow on the road, at least around town where the electric motor’s instant response disguises the low power output.

Even so, the 65 is the better bet. It brings the 0-62mph time down to 13.7 seconds and makes the Dacia a lot nippier. The Spring is also more at home on faster roads with the 65hp motor, although the bouncy ride and heavy lean in corners mean that country routes aren’t much fun for the driver or passengers.

There’s one motor for T03 buyers, with 95hp. So it’s quicker than the Spring, with a 0-62mph time of 12.7 seconds. Clearly, neither car is sporty or quick at all but the T03 has a useful advantage when accelerating into gaps in traffic.

It’s more at home on the motorway than the Spring, but fast multi-lane roads aren’t the preferred habitat of either car.

The T03’s suspension is also smoother than the Spring’s, although the Leapmotor totters like a newborn lamb at the first sign of a twisty road.

Both cars have smaller batteries than you would find in more expensive alternatives. The Dacia has a capacity of just 26.8kWh, compared to 37.3kWh for the Leapmotor. The bigger battery gives the T03 a range of 165 miles in WLTP testing, beating the Spring’s 142 miles.

So, with more power, quicker acceleration and a longer range, it’s advantage Leapmotor.

Dacia Spring vs Leapmotor T03: Price and standard kit

The Dacia Spring has a lower list price than the Leapmotor T03. At least, it does if you go for the base spec, costing £14,995 at the time of writing. The Leapmotor T03 will set you back another £1,000.

That said, if you upgrade the Spring to the more powerful of the two motors for a fairer comparison the prices are identical.

For a fiver less than £16k the T03’s single specification level offers more standard kit. It comes with 15-inch alloys, a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, climate control, a panoramic sunroof and LED headlights.

Leapmotor is also currently offering £1,500 off the T03 with its “Leap Grant”, which was launched in response to the government’s electric car grant. This makes it even better value for money.

If you’d like an infotainment system in your Dacia Spring then you’ll have to go for the top-spec Extreme version, which is £1,000 more than the T03.

It has a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and manual air conditioning. A panoramic sunroof isn’t available. This model also comes with 15-inch steel wheels rather than alloys, although the black and copper wheel covers may fool your neighbours from a distance.

The Leapmotor has no safety rating from Euro NCAP. The Spring scored one star out of five when tested in 2021 and has not been retested in its current form.

On balance, although the entry-level Spring is cheaper, the Leapmotor T03 has more kit and is better value.

Dacia Spring vs Leapmotor T03: Verdict

It’s quite a close-run thing between the Spring and the T03. Both have their strengths, although this pair also have plenty of flaws.

Although the Dacia has tougher looks and a bigger boot, the Leapmotor is our favourite – it’s better to drive, is better value for money and has a more usable range.

Car change? Carwow!

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