Alpine A290 vs Mini Cooper SE Electric: Mat Watson chooses his favourite electric hot hatch

Car enthusiasts love a hot hatchback, and Mat Watson is no exception. The Mini Cooper Electric and Alpine A290 prove there’s still a place for the hot hatch in a world full of electric cars, but which is better?

There’s something about a hot hatch that appeals to everyone. They’re easy to park, they look sporty and, most importantly, they’re seriously fun to drive – most of the time. The problem is, half of the fun of a hot hatch comes from its peppy engine and rorty exhaust note, things an electric car doesn’t have.

But does it need to? To find out, I’ve thoroughly tested the new Alpine A290 and Mini Cooper SE Electric. I’m going to compare them to help you decide which one you should choose to get your driving thrills, which is better to live with and which car I actually prefer.

Alpine A290 vs Mini Cooper Electric: what are they like to drive?

To kick things off, let’s talk about what these little performance cars are like from behind the wheel. Both hot hatches are front-wheel drive, featuring a single electric motor under the bonnet and near-identical power figures: 218hp for the Mini and 220hp for the Alpine A290 in GTS trim, which I drove.

Yet for their similarities, the Cooper S Electric and A290 drive very differently along my winding, countryside test route. The Alpine is a very, very well sorted car. It has loads of grip, very little body lean and it’s quick to accelerate (0-60mph in 6.2 seconds in the wet), but it’s almost ‘too’ good.

Hot hatchbacks are supposed to be playful, characterful things, and the Alpine has such an abundance of grip and composure that it never really gets near to its limits.

The Mini, meanwhile, has more character on a twisty road. It’s not quite as good as the A290, pulling and tugging at the steering wheel when you put your foot down, bouncing and skipping over bumpy lanes, but that serves to make it more exciting to drive than the Alpine.

Both are a piece of cake around town, with tight turning circles and a small footprint making them just as easy to manoeuvre as one another. The pair also offer a similar claimed range (241 miles to the Mini, 230 to the Alpine), and I saw around 180 miles from each in the real world.

First blood goes to the Mini, then, but can it really outshine the Alpine when it comes to style?

Alpine A290 vs Mini Cooper Electric design: which one is more desirable?

There are no two ways about it, these are both excellent-looking hatchbacks. They’re both retro-futuristic in appearance, but where the Alpine is more shouty, the Mini is a touch more reserved in its styling.

A Mini isn’t a Mini without big, round headlights and dinky proportions, and the current car doesn’t disappoint with its sleek sides, rounded grille and – in the Sport trim I tested – aggressive bumpers and cute little boot spoiler.

But it can’t hold a candle to the A290, which is one of the best looking cars on sale right now, full stop. Rally-style fog lamps and headlight inserts, pumped-up wheel arches, racy bumpers and fantastic proportions…the Alpine is a real show stopper. Shame the rear is a bit plain, but I’ll let it off.

So the Mini is more fun to drive but the Alpine is more stylish. How about the interiors?

Alpine A290 vs Mini Cooper Electric: which one has the better interior?

As with the exteriors, both the Mini and Alpine are very stylish inside, but they go about their cabins in very different ways.

Again, they’re both retro, but where the Alpine has a high-set, squared-off dashboard with a pair of wide-screen displays for the infotainment and instrumentation, the Mini takes a more pared-back, minimalist approach. It’s a battle of the decades, with the A290 looking like it’s from the 1980s, while the Cooper S Electric channels its 1960s spirit.

Both have their quirks, too. The Mini’s interior surfaces are trimmed in a funky, hard-wearing fabric that looks great but chafes your arm on the door card. The Alpine’s squared-off steering wheel, meanwhile, is annoying to hold – but not as annoying as the lack of cupholders. I mean really Alpine, you couldn’t put the drive select buttons anywhere else?

The Mini offers more storage space up front, but both cars are pretty appalling for back-seat space, totally lacking in headroom and legroom. The A290 wins some points here, however, as the Cooper SE Electric can only be had as a three-door whereas the Alpine is a five-door.

When it comes to the boot, the Alpine monsters the little Mini at 326 litres to a paltry 210 litres in the British car.

It’s a close call for interior style, but the Alpine’s extra space makes it a bit easier to live with than the Mini.

Mat’s final verdict: which car would I buy?

The truth is I’d be happy with either of these cars, because they’re both a laugh to drive and proof that the hot hatch isn’t dead.

On paper the Alpine is a better car, with a bit more space inside and more composure on a good road, but the real point of a hot hatchback is to put a smile on your face. The Mini edges out the Alpine in that sense with a more old-school driving experience, so if I had to pay for one with my own money – I’d go for the Mini Cooper SE Electric.

The thing is, both of these cars are very expensive, with the Mini in this Sport trim and the basic A290 priced at almost £35,000. With a few options ticked you’ll be near the £40,000 mark, and a Renault 5 offers most of the looks and driving thrills for a fraction of the cost.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

Click here to follow us on Reddit, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos. You can also subscribe to our WhatsApp channel to get the latest news sent straight to your phone.

*Savings are made up of the maximum dealer discount off RRP – subject to dealership, location and trim. Prices correct at the time of writing.