Why the Alpine A290 Is Autocar’s Best Fun EV

Performance is punchy but not extreme. The 0–62mph sprint takes 6.4 seconds for the more powerful models — a second quicker than the entry model — but the way the A290 delivers its speed is what makes the car. Instant electric torque gives it real punch out of corners, yet Alpine’s engineers have tuned the throttle response and chassis so it never feels overwhelming.

Illya Verpraet, one of Autocar’s crack road testing team, found it deeply rewarding: “Response is extremely good – easily meted out, positively responsive, with a gentle step-off from rest.”

Plenty of EVs can deliver quick acceleration in a straight line, but Alpine set out to create a car that’s as entertaining on a tight B-road as it is on a circuit. That meant tuning every detail – suspension geometry, damping, steering calibration – to give the car fluency and precision.

“It’s a really, really fun car on track, and that’s perhaps one of the most impressive things about the car,” said Tisshaw. “It’s got loads of grip, and really nice steering feel. You can really turn it into a corner, and it’s adjustable on the throttle as well. It’s definitely a car you can go and have fun on the circuit in.”

Yet it’s also a car you can live with. Saunders was impressed by the balance: “There’s a note of finesse and sophistication about the ride, a sense of composure that just lasts and lasts. You can push this car faster and faster, and it just gets better and better.

“You can tell that it’s had a lot of attention spent on the dynamic details, the suspension dampening, the body control. It just feels so sophisticated, so tactile. It feels really polished and laboured over, and you can just enjoy driving it.”

Everyday Usability

That dual personality was central to its victory. As Tisshaw put it: “It’s very enjoyable on the road as well. It’s just under four metres long, so it’s a really good size. Good performance levels, comfortable ride quality. You can drive it to the supermarket, nip into gaps in traffic and just enjoy being in it.”

It’s a five-door hatchback with a 326-litre boot, making it practical enough for family life. Range is quoted at up to 234 miles on the WLTP cycle, but a handy calculator on the Alpine website shows you what should realistically be achievable in various real-world conditions. With DC fast charging up to 100kW, a 15-80% charge takes around 30 minutes – enough to keep weekend adventures flowing.

The cabin carries the same performance focus. A not-quite-round steering wheel features coloured buttons for drive modes, regenerative braking levels and an ‘overtake’ button — press this and full power is unleashed (180 hp in GT +, 220 hp in GT Performance + and GTS +) for up to 10 seconds. It’s inspired by the Alpine F1 Team’s car, but will appeal to anybody from the PlayStation generation, too.

It’s backed by playful extras, including telemetry readouts on the fast and intuitive Google-based infotainment system, and tutorials that coach you to corner better. Tisshaw called it a clever use of technology: “They try to make you a better driver, to enjoy the car even more. It’s a cool feature, beyond simple controls, and a real next level of what you can do with a car.”

Material quality is strong, with leather trim and distinctive blue highlights giving the A290 a more premium feel than its more sensible Renault 5 sibling. There’s enough space in the back to cater for adult passengers, and the A290’s five doors and decent boot access make it more usable than you’d expect of such a compact performance EV.

Kerb Appeal

The A290 blends Alpine’s motorsport cues with retro hot-hatch touches. The quad-headlight design and subtle body kit give it presence without excess.

“It really does look the part,” said Tisshaw. “If you think of some of the most famous hot hatches from France, they’re really storied cars with iconic looks, and Alpine’s gone back into that back catalogue. It’s got a nice subtle body kit, with aero and alloys.”

But there’s more than just good looks to attract attention. Pricing starts at £30,245 for the entertaining entry-level GT +, after the government’s Electric Car Grant, and rises to £34,245 for the spicy GTS + model we’ve driven. 

As Verpraet concluded in his test: “It’s not priced like old hot hatches were when Clios were twenty grand, but what is these days? It’s not bad for a car of real capability, adjustability, performance and handling that would make you question the point of an Abarth 500e, or whether you really need to stretch to an Ioniq 5 N to get really capable EV thrills. We like it a lot.”

Why It Won

Ultimately, the A290 stands out because it seamlessly blends excitement and usability better than any of its rivals. The Alpine combines the best of everything: it's playful, refined, engaging, and polished, with a sparkle that defines a true hot hatch.