Budget battle: Dacia Spring vs Suzuki Swift | Which one should you lease?

At first glance, the Dacia Spring and Suzuki Swift don’t appear to be natural rivals.

The Swift has been around for years. A tried-and-trusted supermini that now gets clever hybrid tech. The Spring? A chunky-looking electric city car that puts an emphasis on affordability.

Compare Spring and Swift prices

But at the time or writing*, there are more than a few similarities. Firstly, cost. They’re both exceptional value on the personal leasing market, and you’ll pay less than £150 per month for either a Spring or Swift.

If you’re after a brand-new vehicle with astonishingly low running costs, both are great options. But which one wins out? We’ve taken a deep dive to try and find an answer.

Dacia Spring vs Suzuki Swift: Styling

Ok, this is where some differences are immediately evident. The Spring borrows its rugged appearance from larger models in the Dacia range, and the result is a far cry from the understated and evolved design of the Swift, which sticks to a classic supermini formula.

Chunky off-road looks are in the Spring’s DNA, with its raised right height, plastic body cladding and signature Dacia grille. It’s small and compact, but a certain adventurous and daring vibe is definitely there – certainly compared with the Swift.

Suzuki’s supermini retains a familiar, sporty look. It’s this styling approach that has made is such a hit year after year. Dimensionally – and in spirit – the Swift is probably as close as you can get in a new car to the ethos of the original Mini.

The latest iteration introduces a more aggressive-looking front end and a few minor tweaks that keep it looking fresh. It might not turn heads like a Spring will, but it offers a refined and understated look.

Compare Spring and Swift prices

Size-wise, both these cars are compact enough for city driving and are a doddle to park, but it’s the Dacia that will give you slightly more road presence. Those bolder looks and slightly raised ride height make sure of that.

It takes the prize if you’re after a more SUV-inspired design, but the Swift will still appeal to those after a traditional, sporty-looking hatchback.

Dacia Spring vs Suzuki Swift: Interior

Dacia takes a back to basics approach with the interior, and the 10in infotainment touchscreen is optional.

Differing approaches to design extend to the cabin too. The Spring focuses on simple functionality, maintaining Dacia’s no-frills approach when it comes to materials. Everything feels very durable, but it’s also extremely basic. Minimalist and practical, it probably won’t appeal to those that want at least a little luxury.

The Swift, on the other hand, delivers a more polished and comfortable interior. It’s by far and away the more complete design, with Suzuki making an effort with the materials and ergonomic layout.

The Swift offers more tech across the range, including an impressive infotainment system and superior build quality.

There’s soft-touch plastics that aren’t on offer from Dacia, and a more intuitive dashboard set-up. All this ensures build quality feels better than the Dacia.

While both cars offer decent boot space for their class, the Suzuki Swift slightly edges out the Dacia Spring, making it more practical for everyday use if you need a bit more room for luggage or shopping.

Dacia Spring vs Suzuki Swift: Technology

The Dacia’s controls are well laid out but extremely basic.

Again, the Spring’s focus on affordability becomes more evident in the tech department. There is a media system on all models that allows you to connect your phone for audio and calls, but for a full 10in infotainment system you’ll have to plump for the more expensive Extreme trim.

Focusing on simplicity, there’s a large number of optional interior bits and pieces that allow you to personalise the Spring to your requirements. For example, you can add items like a Storage pack and even a cool box.

The Swift benefits from a 7in infotainment touchscreen as standard.

The Suzuki Swift, however, packs in a bit more tech, especially in higher trims. It features a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a range of safety technologies like lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking.

While not at the cutting edge, the Swift’s tech package feels more modern and comprehensive, especially when compared to the Dacia.

Dacia Spring vs Suzuki Swift: Driving

This is the big difference between these two: their powertrains. The Spring is fully electric and it’s great to finally see a battery-powered vehicle in this price range. It might only have a modest range of around 136 miles, but it’s ideal for short journeys and commutes. Of course, if you regularly travel long distances, it might not be the most sensible option.

Two power options are available: a 45hp or 65hp model. With a top speed of 78mph, and taking almost 20 seconds to get to 62mph, the lesser powered variant probably won’t be too popular. The 65hp model, however, offers slightly brisker performance. With an emphasis on lightness and a small 27kWh battery pack, this isn’t an EV that focuses on outright range or performance. But for most people’s day to day journeys it fits the bill perfectly well.

Compare Spring and Swift prices

The Suzuki Swift, by contrast, offers a traditional petrol engine with some clever mild-hybrid tech. While it’s no performance car, it feels nippier and more responsive in everyday driving – things that have always rung true of Suzuki’s small superminis.

Its small 1.2-litre petrol engine delivers sufficient power for urban and suburban driving, and unlike the Dacia Spring, the Swift is more comfortable on longer journeys and motorways. The Swift’s suspension also offers a more comfortable and engaging drive than the Spring, giving the driver tonnes of feedback. It’s by far the better handling and more polished car of the two from a driver’s perspective.

Dacia Spring vs Suzuki Swift: Value

Value is where both cars excel, especially when you consider their low monthly lease rates. At under £150 per month, both the Dacia Spring and Suzuki Swift are among the most affordable new cars on the market.

However, the running costs of these two vehicles are where things diverge. The Dacia Spring, being an electric vehicle, offers incredibly low running costs if you’re charging it at home.

Using a wall box and getting on the right energy tariff will undoubtedly be cheaper than refuelling a Swift. The Spring’s tax benefits and exemption from congestion charges also make it an attractive option for city dwellers.

The Suzuki , while slightly more expensive to run due to fuel costs, still remains a cost-effective option thanks to its fuel-sipping petrol engine and excellent. Additionally, Suzuki has a great reputation for reliability, which translates to fewer maintenance costs over time.

The Dacia Spring offers unbeatable value in terms of running costs, especially for those who are able to charge at home and drive mainly in the city. The Suzuki Swift remains an excellent choice for those who need more flexibility in their driving patterns but don’t want to break the bank.

Dacia Spring vs Suzuki Swift: Which one should you lease?

Crunch time. Which one would we choose? Well, that would largely depend on what we wanted out of an affordable, practical car. If you’re looking for a truly affordable entry ticket into the world of EVs, the Spring is undoubtedly the car for you. Low running costs and stand-out styling will make it a great choice for some. However, that limited range and lack of oomph for longer journeys will not suit everyone.

The Swift, in reality, is by far the more well-rounded car. It might not have the Spring’s electric platform, but that peppy petrol engine, superior build quality and comprehensive technology still make it the better value of the two for most people. If you want a polished all-around performer that won’t break the bank, the Swift is very hard to ignore.

Compare Spring and Swift prices

*References to lease rates are correct at the time of writing (10/10/24)