Mat Watson reviews the Alpine A290: it should be brilliant, but there’s a problem…

I think it’s impossible to make an electric hot hatch. They should be light, simple, revvy and cheap, but performance EVs tend to be heavy, expensive, complex and expensive.

But could the Alpine A290 be the car to change my mind? It’s an electric hot hatch which actually works out cheaper than its petrol competitors, and French car makers know a thing or two about making small, fast cars.

So can the A290 live up to legends like the Renaultsport Clio and Megane? Well I’ve been driving it to find out.

Alpine A290 design: we’re off to a flying start

Forget about the whole “petrol vs electric” argument for a minute, because this is one of the best-looking hot hatches I’ve seen in years.

It’s based on the Renault 5, but there are plenty of Alpine-specific touches to help it stand out. I love the cross-shaped lights at the front, which are meant to mimic the tape you find on rally cars.

There’s even more rally goodness down the side. The rear doors have indentations which are a nod to the air intakes on a classic Renault 5 Turbo 2. You also get the usual flared wheel arches and chunky side skirts to give the car a more muscular stance.

I think Alpine could’ve done a bit more at the back of the car though, because it’s basically the same as a Renault 5 back here. There is a subtle spoiler across the tailgate and a more aggressive-looking lower bumper, but that’s your lot.

Overall though, I love the way this Alpine looks – but does it have the go to match the show?

Alpine A290 motors and performance: it’s got plenty of shove

One thing the Alpine A290 shares with hot hatches of old is the parts sharing philosophy. Classic hot hatches didn’t use an entirely new engine, they just borrowed a more powerful engine from a larger car in the range. The Renault Clio V6, for example, used the engine from a Laguna saloon.

Alpine has done exactly the same thing with the A290, because instead of the 150hp motor from the Renault 5 it has the larger motor from the Megane. This means you get 180hp as standard, although the car I have here is the GTS with 220hp.

When I tested the car from 0-60mph, admittedly in the pouring rain, it managed the sprint in 6.3 seconds. That’s actually a tenth of a second quicker than Alpine claims, but it’s still around half a second down on the Mini Cooper JCW Electric.

I’ve actually drag raced this Alpine against a petrol-powered Mini JCW and a Volkswagen Polo GTI. The Mini was 0.8 of a second quicker down the quarter mile, but the Polo was marginally slower. The A290 therefore has plenty of grunt to match the aggressive styling.

Driving the Alpine A290: does it perform where it matters?

Hot hatches aren’t all about straight-line speed, they need to put a smile on your face on a twisty road. The Alpine A290 has slightly stiffer suspension than the Renault 5, as well as beefier anti-roll bars and quicker steering.

That all sounds great, and the Alpine handles really well. It stays nice and flat through the bends, and it feels darty when you fling it into a corner. There is a problem though; it doesn’t feel that much more fun than the standard Renault 5.

I remember driving Renault group hot hatches of the past, such as the Clio 200, and finding them a bit lairy and thrilling on a back road. You could feel it sliding about beneath you, whereas this Alpine is sort of unflappable.

You can get the tail out if you really try, but I had to do it on a closed circuit because you have to really give it a boot to get it to slide. You can’t be messing around like that on the road, but something like a Ford Fiesta ST just feels more alive at sensible speeds.

Don’t get me wrong, the Alpine A290 is great to drive. It’s easy to manoeuvre around town, the firm suspension doesn’t affect comfort too much and it does feel agile on a twisty road. It’s just not as exciting as I was hoping it would be, and the cheaper Renault 5 is almost as good to drive.

Alpine A290 prices and deals: it’s a steal on paper

The 180hp version of the Alpine A290 costs from just over £30,000, and the top-spec GTS model I’m testing costs from a shade over £34,000. That’s cheaper than the Mini JCW Electric and Abarth 600e, and it’s even on par with petrol hot hatches like the 204hp Mini Cooper S and Volkswagen Polo GTI.

So has Alpine finally cracked the code? Not exactly. You see the reason the A290 is so affordable is it’s one of the only cars on sale which qualifies for the full £3,750 government EV grant. This means it’s cheaper than rivals for now, but that could change when the grant runs out.

And the other thing to consider is the Renault 5, because that car starts from just £23,000. It looks almost as cool as the Alpine, offers the same practicality and it’s very nearly as fun to drive as well.

The good news is that you can also save a further £1,000 on a new Alpine A290 through Carwow on top of the £3,750 government grant to make it even more appealing.

Annoying things about the Alpine A290: it’s not perfect

The Alpine A290 may be good to drive and stylish, but there are a few things which annoyed me about this car. Let’s start with the interior.

The cabin looks great. I like the sporty seats and various Alpine logos which elevate it slightly above the Renault 5, but I don’t like the fact it has gear selector buttons in the centre console in place of the column-mounted stalk you get on the Renault. It’s more fiddly to use, and it takes the place of cup holders in this car. I had to carry my coffee between my legs, which made for a stressful drive to work.

The rear seats are also pretty tight. There’s barely any footspace, and legroom is lacking as well. As for getting three people across the bench, forget it. The Alpine is a bit roomier than a Mini JCW Electric, but the Abarth 600e is better for carrying rear passengers. At least you do get a decent-sized boot which will fit four carry-on suitcases.

Finally, there’s that sporty bodykit. It looks great, but the side skirts extend a bit too far out and you end up bashing your leg on it when you get in and out. You also end up rubbing dirt up the back of your trousers, and I’ve managed to tread on them getting out more than once.

My final verdict on the Alpine A290: is it a proper hot hatch?

So then, what’s my final verdict on the Alpine A290? Well I prefer this car to its competitors, the Abarth 600e and the Mini JCW Electric, but I don’t think it’s fun enough to justify the premium over a Renault 5.

I would choose that car because it’s just so good, but there is one reason to go for the Alpine – the way it looks. It just looks so cool that you want to own it. So the Alpine A290 may miss on some of the key hot hatch elements, but it’s definitely got the desirability factor nailed.

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