Author: EVAI

• Nissan wants its own interpretation of the Renault Twingo and Dacia Spring EVs in Europe.
• Like the Dacia, the new Nissan EV will have a shorter-than-usual development process.
• It will reportedly be revealed in 2026.

Renault’s revived electric Twingo is one of our most hotly anticipated European EVs and it looks like it’s going to have not one but two sister models. After Dacia revealed that it was fast-tracking a project to develop an all-new Spring city EV based on the same underpinnings as the Twingo, Nissan is reportedly doing the same.

AutoExpress reports that, just like Dacia, which said the new Spring would be the result of a quicker-than-usual development process, Nissan is also looking to bring its new EV to production in just 18 months. That’s much quicker than usual for the creation of a new model, and it’s likely a move prompted by tariffs now imposed on Chinese EVs imported into the European Union.

Dacia would likely have happily continued selling the Spring, which was given a major overhaul last year. But since it’s built in China and is now subject to import duties that will bring up its price, the Romanian automaker apparently quickly scrambled to build something similar in Europe instead.

Nissan could have also chosen to make its small EV for Europe in China. It has a joint venture with China’s Dongfeng, which currently builds the Nammi 01 EV that would have been a perfect fit for a bit of badge engineering to turn into a Nissan. But now it seems that Nissan has chosen to link its small EV with the new Twingo and Spring instead.

Unlike the Twingo, which stays true to the original’s hatchback design, retaining many of its now iconic design cues, the Nissan EV will have a more crossover-like stance. This is what Dacia is doing too. We’ve seen the Romanian automaker’s design sketches for the new model and they show an upright two-box vehicle with a mini-SUV aesthetic.

We should see both the Nissan and Dacia EVs revealed before the end of 2026, likely with identical batteries and motors to the Renault Twingo. All three models will likely be built in the same Renault factory in Slovenia. The Renault will be the most expensive with an estimated starting price of around $22,750 (€20,000), while Dacia is targeting $20,500 (€18,000). The Nissan model could fall somewhere in the middle regarding pricing, and it will likely look like a smaller version of the new Leaf.

Suppose there’s such a thing as the iPhone of cars. If that exists at all, it’s assuredly the Tesla Model Y. Tesla’s midsize electric crossover has earned its stripes as the world’s best-selling electric vehicle (and best-selling single model of car, period) for its unassailable combination of range, power, tech features, price and practicality.

But right as an updated Model Y makes its debut, a lot of people have their reasons for wanting to move on from Tesla. That also coincides with a new crop of highly competitive EVs from other brands that just weren’t in the same class as Tesla five years ago, but are now catching up and even doing some things better. 

Our friends at Edmunds highlight the state of play in a new video comparison test of highly-rated electric family crossovers: the new Model Y “Juniper,” the Honda Prologue, the Chevrolet Equinox EV and the updated Hyundai Ioniq 5. Independent of anything else, each of these is a good choice—but one emerges as being truly on par with the Tesla, which until recently was hard to pull off. 

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In fourth place is the Honda Prologue, 2024’s surprise EV success story. It’s a General Motors EV underneath the skin until Honda starts to do its own thing. But that’s not a bad thing at all—especially as the Prologue adds some Honda vibes but keeps Apple CarPlay, unlike GM’s own cars.

And it’s extra roomy with lots of room for luggage and the biggest cupholders in the test; Honda sure knows how to sell cars to Americans. The Prologue Elite, as tested here, comes in at $59,295 and offers up to 283 miles of range.

Coming up behind it is the Chevy Equinox EV, our 2024 Breakthrough Award winner and pound-for-pound one of the best electric bargains in America. Edmunds‘ tester comes in at $34,995, and lately it’s been acing the hell out of its range tests with a stunning 356-mile result. (I’ll add that I’ve never experienced anything that good from the Equinox EV, but Edmunds’ local Southern California weather is probably helping a lot.)

But it’s also smaller than the rest and the sole contender that’s single-motor and front-wheel-drive, so it’s no wonder it does better than its all-wheel-drive counterparts. It “almost gets to the top spot on its value proposition,” tester Brian Wong says. 

Yet what’s really telling about this test is that it ends in a dead heat. Though the Model Y was long the crossover to beat in this space—and indeed, the updated one seems to be very good—it ties with the updated Ioniq 5 here. 

Edmunds‘ Model Y Launch Series (which was recently discontinued) comes in at $61,635 and offers an impressive 327 miles of range. It’s got a nicer, quieter cabin, more range, different looks and finally, better ride quality than the previous Model Y.

Wong calls it one of the most comfortable EVs you can buy today—definitely not something you’d say about the last car. And while Tesla’s tech is always good, its Full Self-Driving system “makes some questionable decisions.” 

Wong notes that the Juniper is a “big improvement” for the Model Y, and that the previous generation “would have only gotten third place in this test. But now, it is on equal footing with the Ioniq 5.” That Wong phrased that sentence this way, and not the other way around, says a lot about how Tesla’s competition is getting better and better. 

In the Ioniq 5’s case, that means a standard Tesla-style North American Charging Standard plug and native Tesla Supercharger access without an adapter. Coming in loaded at $60,285 and with a range of 282 miles, it’s simply more user-friendly than the Tesla is: buttons, knobs and physical air vents make operation a lot easier than Tesla’s all-screen approach. It also has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a clever sliding center console, a comfortable cabin and punchy performance. 

Is the updated Ioniq 5 now Tesla’s most fearsome competition in the U.S. market? I’d say it’s looking that way, now more than ever. Ultimately, Edmunds‘ Wong said your choice comes down to what you prefer: the Tesla’s “uncompromising minimalism” or the Ioniq 5’s “futuristic familiarity.”

But even the tie verdict makes clear that the Model Y isn’t the default top choice in the EV crossover world anymore, and that alone is a huge advancement for the entire field. 

Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com

The electric vehicle space is quickly moving out of the “expensive spaceship” paradigm as battery-powered cars become more common and more affordable. But the updated 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 proves that not every spaceship needs to be expensive—and this electric sedan certainly looks like one. 

The folks at the Korean automotive YouTube channel HealerTV caught one of the first videos of the new Ioniq 6 in the wild in its native country (along with some cameos from the Hyundai Ioniq 9.) The new electric sedan is definitely going to be a head-turner, perhaps in a way we haven’t seen since the Lucid Air first hit the streets. 

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While the video is fairly short, it shows three Ioniq 6s—black and white versions of the new car, plus the older model—out for a cruise. Here, you can really see the difference between the two models. The old double-deck spoiler, of which I was a fan, won’t be missed. But what’s most striking is the front end of the new Ioniq 6: it aggressively curves downward and has a pair of headlights and integrated turn signals so discreet you almost don’t even notice them when they’re off.

As we’ve reported before, the new Ioniq 6 made its public debut at the Seoul Mobility Show earlier this month. Right now, the design is about all we know; the other specs remain largely unknown. We expect that the Ioniq 6 could get the new, larger 63 kWh and 84 kWh batteries we’ve seen go into the latest generation of Hyundai Motor Group EVs. That could take it from being a 342-mile EV in current form to perhaps even closer to 400 miles, in single-motor form with the largest battery. 

At the same time, the Ioniq 6 wasn’t an especially strong seller in the U.S., despite critical acclaim. SUVs reign supreme here and as a four-door sedan, it couldn’t put up numbers like the Ioniq 5 and the rest can. But if the price stays reasonable and the new one adds these updates and all this visual drama, perhaps it could do much better.

Are you excited for the new Ioniq 6? Let us know in the comments.

Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com

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I have always really liked the Hyundai Ioniq 6. But I also completely understand why it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. After all, we live in a world where bland-looking crossover SUVs—usually in white, black or gray—rule the day, and the Ioniq 6 is a sedan that leans into the avant-garde. 

That’s why I’m thrilled that Hyundai didn’t tone down the looks of the Ioniq 6 for a 2026 model year update. In fact, it’s as out-there with its styling as it’s ever been. But now the approach to its design is more cohesive than before, more in line with Hyundai’s other designs and somehow even more striking. 

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The good folks at TLFEV made it over to the Seoul Mobility Show for a video first look at the new 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6 (I’m jealous, I love Seoul and highly recommend a visit if you ever get the chance). I liked it when I saw it in still photos, but I’m even more sold on it now. 

The front end is now less awkward than before, more raked and wider overall. I love those ultra-thin LED headlamps upfront, while the angular grille manages to be quite subtle too. And let’s be real: the biggest improvement is the deletion of that double-deck wing on the back for a far more low-key duckbill spoiler. It now gives classic Porsche 911 vibes, and who’s going to argue with that? 

This is a Korean-market model and mostly a design refresh, host Tommy Mica tells us. The automaker has not yet announced any powertrain changes. We anticipate that it could get the new, larger 63 kWh and 84 kWh batteries that have been going into several updated Hyundai and Kia EV models as of late.

Right now the Ioniq 6 gets either a 53.0 kWh battery or a 77.4 kWh battery, and it’s good for up to 361 miles of EPA-rated range in SE Long Range RWD form. That already makes it one of the longest-driving EVs in our market, period, and especially at its price range. So if the Ioniq 6 gets an 84 kWh battery and aerodynamic improvements from its new body, it could be a 400-mile EV, or close to that. Sounds great to me. 

Even spicier on the 2026 Ioniq 6 is the new N-Line model, the designation Hyundai gives to its more sporting cars (that slot below the full-bore N models like the Ioniq 5 N.) But this sedan clearly copies that high-performance SUV’s homework, including with a steering wheel that features aggressive paddles. I bet those do more than just adjust regenerative braking—perhaps the Ioniq 6 will get simulated gear shifts too? We’ll soon see.

Again, I liked the Ioniq 6 before, and if I could find a decent deal on one I’d add it to my garage even now. But this all represents a big improvement to one of the best modern EVs around—albeit one that hasn’t really found a wider audience in America, unfortunately. It’s unclear if this model will make it to our shores with these upgrades, as it’s built in Korea and now subject to import tariffs, but I hope it does. Maybe they can find room at the Metaplant. 

What do you think of the updated Ioniq 6? Let us know in the comments. 

Contact the author: patrick.george@insideevs.com

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