Alpine A290 review – the most fun electric hot hatch yet

Verdict – is the Alpine A290 a good car?

British drivers have a soft spot for hotted-up versions of superminis and hatchbacks. They have always been relatively affordable, great fun on our narrow roads and multi-talented. The best hot hatch should be able to put a smile on your face, not break the bank and tackle the commute without being a pain. Electric power makes a lot of sense, but can it be just as fun? The Alpine A290 is the most convincing EV hot hatch we’ve tried so far, with excellent handling, desirable looks and a classy cabin. It even has a decent boot.

Alpine A290  models, specs and alternatives

You may have heard of Alpine thanks to its Formula 1 exploits, or because of the Alpine A110 sports car. Either way, it’s remained a relatively niche player in Britain, but all that is about to change. Not only does Alpine have an ambitious roadmap of new models, the Renault 5-based Alpine A290 we’re reviewing here will be its most affordable and probably its top-selling model.

We’ve been thoroughly impressed by the Renault 5, and the A290 is the go-faster hot hatch version. While the most potent 5 gets 148bhp, the Alpine comes with the choice of 178bhp or 217bhp from its front-mounted electric motor. The larger 52kWh battery is also standard, giving the A290 a range of around 235 miles between charges.

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While the Renault starts from £23,000, the Alpine is expected to cost around £10k more than that, making it slightly more expensive than the Abarth 500e and competitive with rivals like the MINI Cooper SE. Go for an Alpine A290 GTS flagship with the top motor and specification, and it’s likely to set you back more like £38k.

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While the Renault 5 gets two battery options, every A290 is fitted with the larger 52kWh capacity battery, for a driving range of around 235 miles. This is around 20 miles off the most efficient Renault 5, which doesn’t seem like a terrible penalty given the A290’s extra power and high-performance Michelin Pilot Sport S5 tyres. It’s a bit behind the official 250-mile range of the MINI Cooper SE, but we found the MINI’s real-world range was closer to the 200-mile mark during our testing.

Charging speeds max out at 100kW using a public charger, which isn’t too bad considering the relatively small size of the battery – a top up from 15-80% takes around half an hour.  

How efficient is the Alpine A290 in the real world

We spent a full day driving the Alpine A290 in warm weather on country roads and on track, and came away with an efficiency rating of 3.1 miles/kWh. That’s not great for a small EV – we saw 4.5 miles/kWh in the lower-powered MINI Cooper E – but it also reflects some very uneconomical driving, so we expect a more normal suburban drive would net a far higher figure.

What will the Alpine A290 cost to insure?

Insurance groups aren’t out for the A290 yet, so for context it’s best to look at its closest rivals. Both the MINI Cooper and Peugeot E-208 sit in groups in the 20-30 range out of 50, so while they aren’t exactly cheap to insure, your premium is likely to depend quite a bit on your personal information and where you live.

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The million dollar question is have Alpine’s engineering gurus managed to turn an electric supermini into a convincing hot hatch? Thankfully for a new generation of driving enthusiasts, the really quick answer is yes.

With either 178bhp or 217bhp from its front mounted electric motor and front-wheel drive, Alpine hasn’t relied on neck-snapping acceleration to fulfil this brief – the A290 delivers a surge of power, but it never feels like the car’s x-factor. Instead, it’s the changes to its chassis and steering that really make a big difference. Not unlike the Alpine A110 in fact, because that car’s engine was never really the star of the show either.

The Alpine A290’s axles push its wheels 60mm wider apart than the Renault’s, and it gets new suspension parts better able to control the car on a twisting road. As mentioned above, it also gets grippier tyres and the brakes are more powerful too.

Is the Alpine A290 good to drive in town?

We haven’t driven the A290 extensively in town yet, but this is still a supermini with compact proportions and nippy acceleration, so we’d expect it to feel impressively wieldy on an urban commute. Its suspension is firm but still does a good job of rounding off the worst bumps. Its brake pedal is also nicely consistent, making it easier to come to a smooth stop.

Is the Alpine A290 good to drive on long journeys?

Unlike an old-school hot hatch with short gearing and a buzzy engine that could make a vicar swear on a long motorway trip, there’s no reason the A290 should cause much fuss on a long trip. You can pop it into its Comfort driving mode, turn off the fake engine sound and the electric motor will be perfectly hushed at the speed limit. Its seats are nicely comfy too, so it’s the Alpine’s firm suspension that could be the main annoyance.

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Is the Alpine A290 good to drive on B-roads?

Now you’re talking. Pretty much all the changes to the Alpine A290 are designed to make it perform and feel better on twisting country roads. We also got to push it to find its performance limits on track, but we doubt too many A290 owners will do this. 

Alpine’s knowledge of chassis tuning shines through here, because the A290 changes direction keenly and clings on well with plenty of composure. It’s also impressively light for an EV at just 1,479kg, so you don’t get the sense the car has been compromised by having to deal with a very heavy battery. Not only this, but changes to the steering make it feel more precise and engaging.

In the 217bhp GTS you can feel the steering wheel tugging from side to side slightly if you accelerate really hard out of corners, and it’s also possible to spin the wheels on slippery tarmac. Along with its Save, Comfort, Sport and Personal driving modes, there’s also a blue toggle on the steering wheel to adjust the level of regenerative braking and another button marked ‘OV’. Press this, and the motor gives full power to help with overtakes. 

Carbuyer notes

“We would like to sit a little lower in the cabin, but the under-floor battery cells make this a difficult thing to achieve, and while there’s good adjustment to the seating position, some still might find the view out a little constricting due to the shallow windscreen” Jordan Katsianis, Senior staff writer

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While the Renault 5 takes a lot of its retro design cues from the original car of the same name, the Alpine gives the same building blocks a more modern twist. Vertical stitching on the dashboard is gone, replaced by swish blue and silver materials and trim.

While your preference here will boil down to taste, we’re a bit less convinced by some of the other changes. The gear selector stalk in the 5 has been swapped for a push-button layout on the centre console in the A290, which arguably looks and feels more special, but the novelty soon wears off. It can be a bit of a pain to operate, but more notably it means there’s no longer a cup holder or small cubby in the front of the car.

Quality impresses, though, and design flourishes like the iconic ‘A’ for Alpine logo on the steering wheel, the blue toggle for regen braking and sporty seat logos help you feel like you’re sat in the tender for a supercar.  

Is the Alpine A290 infotainment and navigation system easy to use?

Good news here, because the Alpine uses the same Google-based system we love from the latest Renault models, with just a light makeover to give it a distinctive look for the sporty brand. There’s a 10.25-inch driver’s display and a 10.1-inch central touchscreen, and apps like Google Maps are baked in without a phone connection, so it all feels snappy and familiar to use. When you do want to hook up your smartphone, both Apple and Android devices can speak to the mothership wirelessly. 

Is the Alpine A290 well equipped?

There are four versions of the A290 called GT and GT Premium with the 178bhp motor, while the 218bhp version is offered in GT Performance and top GTS trims. No matter which you go for, 19-inch alloy wheels are standard, along with the Google-based infotainment setup and attractive interior finishes. Step up to higher trims and the changes are mostly design upgrades (a contrasting black roof and badges for instance), and niceties like a heated steering wheel.

What options should you choose on the Alpine A290?

There aren’t loads of optional extras, but the brochure does show a few more tweaks than just the exterior paint job are offered. You can have the rear badge deleted if you fancy, or add a French flag on the C-pillar. It’s also possible to pick from a different design of alloy wheel or add the wireless smartphone charger to trims that don’t get it as standard.

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If you’re weighing up the A290 versus the MINI Cooper or Abarth 500e, one of its major advantages is a set of rear doors. This certainly makes it easier to get in and out of the back or fit and access a child car seat, but that’s where the advantage ends, because space is pretty tight behind the front seats. 

A flat floor helps somewhat with the tight legroom and foot space, but it would be a struggle to fit three in the back of what is quite a narrow car.

Elsewhere in the cabin, Alpine has definitely put style and sporty touches ahead of practicality. There’s a surprising lack of cup holders, its door bins are only big enough for small drinks bottles and spaces for items like keys and wallets are few and far between.

Does the Alpine A290 have a big boot?

The rear seats may be a bit cramped, but that has paid off when it comes to boot space, which is quite impressive for an electric hot hatch. In fact, it’s almost double the size of the Abarth 500’s boot, and around 150 litres bigger than you’ll find in the MINI. 

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While Alpine isn’t a brand that tends to pop up in our Driver Power surveys, the fact the A290 is closely based on the Renault 5 makes it a bit easier to gauge its reliability risk factors. 

Renault is no stranger to EVs, with its ZOE being one of the first arrivals and a strong seller across Europe, while its Renault Scenic is currently our reigning Best Family Electric Car. This know-how should help the A290 hit the ground running when it comes to reliability and hitting the right notes with EV customers.

How safe is the Alpine A290?

According to Alpine, the A290 boasts no less than 26 driver assistance systems, from driver attention monitoring to emergency lane correction and safe occupant exit – with sensors that alert passengers if a vehicle is approaching. A My Safety Switch can also allow owners to personalise which systems they want switched on and turn them off easily. 

What is the warranty on the Alpine A290?

Lasting three years or 60,000 miles, the standard warranty is nothing to write home about, but it roughly matches the length of time offered for the MINI and Peugeot.

Should you buy an Alpine A290?

The Alpine A290 certainly isn’t the first electric hot hatchback, but it could well be the best resolved and most desirable to hit the market so far. In GTS guise it feels pretty quick, but it’s mainly Alpine’s work on the car’s handling that makes it feel fun.

A real attention to detail in the Alpine’s chassis makes it satisfying to drive along a country lane, aided by the fact it weighs less than 1.5 tonnes. While it’s firm, it also doesn’t leave you too ruffled over bumpy roads, feeling more comfortable than its MINI rival.

Inside and out, the A290 is likely to prove very desirable for both young EV buyers and older ones with fond memories of the original Renault 5 Turbo. It has a really cool design that manages to look both retro and modern, and its interior feels special too. A bit too uncompromising in places, perhaps – the omission of cup holders in a car aimed at trendy young drivers seems a touch bonkers.

Still, the boot is at least a good size for luggage for a trip away to Le Castellet or just a week’s shopping. In other respects, the A290 should also slot easily into family life, being cheap to run and with a respectable driving range between pit stops.

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What is the Carbuyer pick of the Alpine A290 range?

If you’re going to make the upgrade from the Renault 5 to the Alpine A290, it’s probably worthwhile going for a model with the more potent 217bhp motor. Its extra performance feels better suited to the sporty looks, and makes the most of the upgraded chassis.

Alpine A290 alternatives

The electric hot hatch class is still in its infancy, but there are now some convincing contenders that put lots of emphasis on being fun to drive.

• Abarth 500e
• MINI Cooper SE
• Peugeot E-208
• MG4 X-Power
• Cupra Born VZ
• Volkswagen ID.3 GTX 

How we tested the Alpine A290

We first tested the Alpine A290 in Majorca in November 2024, both on country roads and on the Llucmajor circuit.