Alpine A290 Review | Is this the most exciting electric supermini?
Lease prices will ultimately play a huge role in how successful it becomes, especially since it’ll sit above the Renault 5 E-Tech financially. But if the numbers are competitive, the A290 could end up being one of the most desirable small EVs on the market.
The Alpine A290 is the brand’s first proper electric hot hatch. Here’s our first drive review.
Alpine might be best known for lightweight sports cars like the A110, but the A290 marks a pretty big shift. This is the brand’s first EV – and more importantly, its first attempt at building a small electric car that still feels genuinely fun to drive.
Underneath, it shares plenty with the Renault 5 E-Tech, but Alpine has worked hard to give it a completely different character. More power, sharper steering, revised suspension and a far more playful setup all help separate it from its sibling.
And honestly? It works far better than we expected. At a time when a lot of performance EVs are becoming increasingly big, heavy and serious, the A290 feels like a refreshing throwback to old-school hot hatches – just with a battery underneath instead of a turbocharged petrol engine.
A290: Styling and design
The Renault 5 already has loads of presence, but the A290 looks noticeably more aggressive without ruining the original car’s charm.
Chunky side skirts and large alloy wheels give it the stance you’d expect from a hot hatch, while the proportions feel spot on.
At the front, Alpine has added a much sharper bumper design, deeper air intakes and those distinctive square daytime running lights inspired by classic rally cars. The X-shaped lighting signature is meant to mimic taped-up headlights from endurance racers, which could’ve sounded a bit gimmicky, but actually gives the car a really distinctive face at night.
It sits properly too. Wider arches, chunky side skirts and large alloy wheels give it the stance you’d expect from a hot hatch, while the proportions feel spot on. Short overhangs and compact dimensions make it look playful before you’ve even driven it.
Watch our full video review of the Alpine A290 GT
And importantly, it still feels refreshingly small. At just under four metres long, the A290 has the kind of compact footprint that’s becoming increasingly rare in modern performance cars.
Round the back, Alpine has resisted the temptation to overdo things. There’s no massive rear wing or fake diffuser nonsense – just a subtle spoiler, neat detailing and some understated Alpine badging.
It feels sporty without constantly trying to prove it.
A290: Interior, space and tech
Inside is where the A290 starts to feel genuinely special.
Yes, you can tell it shares its foundations with the Renault 5, but Alpine has added enough unique touches to make it feel far more focused. The driving position is excellent, the sports seats hold you properly in place and there’s just enough theatre to make climbing inside feel like an occasion.
Thankfully Alpine hasn’t buried every single function inside the touchscreen.
The steering wheel is the highlight. Inspired by Alpine’s Formula 1 involvement, it gets a bright red “OV” overtake button that temporarily unlocks maximum power, alongside a rotary dial for adjusting regenerative braking levels.
It sounds a bit over-the-top written down, but in practice it adds a layer of interaction that most EVs completely lack.
The cabin design itself strikes a nice balance too. It’s modern without becoming overly minimalist, and thankfully Alpine hasn’t buried every single function inside the touchscreen.
The Google-based infotainment system is excellent – quick, intuitive and easy to navigate – while physical climate controls underneath immediately make everyday use less frustrating than in a lot of rivals.
Material quality is solid overall. You’ll still find a few harder plastics lower down, but the important touchpoints all feel good, and the blue stitching and sporty trim details stop things feeling generic.
Space in the front is excellent for a car this size, although rear-seat room is a little tighter. Adults will fit in the back for shorter trips, but this definitely feels like a car designed around the driver first.
The boot is perfectly usable too. It’s not huge, but there’s enough room for everyday life without much compromise.
A290: Batteries and range
Every A290 uses the same 52kWh battery, but power outputs vary depending on which version you go for.
Entry-level models start at around 180hp, while higher-spec variants push closer to 220hp. In something this compact, that’s enough to make it feel properly quick.
It’s especially punchy out of slower corners and around town, where the immediate throttle response makes the car feel alive beneath you.
The most powerful version manages 0–62mph in just over six seconds, but like most good hot hatches, the headline acceleration figure doesn’t really tell the full story. The instant torque and relatively low weight make it feel eager pretty much everywhere.
It’s especially punchy out of slower corners and around town, where the immediate throttle response makes the car feel alive beneath you.
Official range sits at up to around 235 miles, although realistically you’re probably looking at somewhere between 190 and 220 miles depending on how enthusiastically you drive it.
That might sound modest next to some newer EVs, but it feels acceptable here given the car’s focus. The A290 isn’t pretending to be a long-distance luxury cruiser – it’s much more about enjoying the journey itself.
Charging speeds top out at 100kW, allowing a 15–80% top-up in roughly 30 minutes on a rapid charger. Not ground breaking, but fast enough to make longer trips manageable.
A290: Driving and performance
This is where the Alpine really comes alive.
A lot of electric hot hatches feel impressive for about five minutes. They’re quick in a straight line, but the moment the road gets technical, the weight and artificial controls start to show through.
It feels like a car that wants you to go and find a good road, rather than simply showing off its acceleration figures at traffic lights.
The A290 genuinely feels different. The steering is quick, accurate and surprisingly full of feel by EV standards, while the chassis has a playfulness that immediately stands out. It turns in eagerly, grips hard and feels far more adjustable than most electric cars this side of a Porsche Taycan.
There’s real personality here. You can actually feel the rear axle helping rotate the car into tighter corners, and Alpine has done an excellent job calibrating the regenerative braking so it feels natural rather than awkward or grabby.
Importantly, it still works as an everyday car too. Around town, the suspension remains compliant enough to deal with potholes and rough surfaces without becoming tiring, while visibility is good and the compact dimensions make it easy to place.
You can tell Alpine’s priorities were about enjoyment rather than outright numbers. It feels like a car that wants you to go and find a good road, rather than simply showing off its acceleration figures at traffic lights.
And that’s what makes it interesting. It’s probably the closest any small EV has come so far to capturing the spirit of a traditional hot hatch.
A290: Should you consider leasing one?
If you want maximum range or outright practicality, there are more sensible electric cars out there. But that’s not really the point of the A290.
This is an EV designed for people who actually enjoy driving – people who’ve maybe been waiting for an electric car that still feels playful, characterful and engaging rather than just fast and efficient.
And on that front, Alpine has done an impressive job. It looks great, feels genuinely special from behind the wheel and delivers a level of driver involvement that most EVs simply can’t match at the moment.
Lease prices will ultimately play a huge role in how successful it becomes, especially since it’ll sit above the Renault 5 E-Tech financially. But if the numbers are competitive, the A290 could end up being one of the most desirable small EVs on the market.
In a world where performance cars are becoming increasingly serious, the fact Alpine has managed to make something this fun feels worth celebrating.
