Alpine A290 vs Renault 5: why is there almost £9,000 between these cars? 

I reckon the Renault 5 is one of the best electric cars you can buy. It looks great, drives really nicely and it’s affordable, too, but what if you want something a bit sportier?

That’s where the Alpine A290 comes in. It’s essentially a beefed-up version of the Renault 5 with more aggressive styling, more power, tuned suspension and a different interior, but these changes will cost you almost £9,000 more compared to the Renault.

Is it worth the extra? Well I’ve thoroughly tested both cars, and I’m going to compare them to help you decide.

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

Renault 5 vs Alpine A290: design

I reckon the Renault 5 is a perfect example of retro design done right. It’s instantly recognisable as a modern reboot of the 80s hatch, without looking too retro or cutesy.

I love the square front light design and the boxy silhouette, and it’s covered in neat little design touches. There’s a 5 logo on the bonnet which lights up when you’re charging it, and the fake vents next to the stacked taillights pay homage to the old Renault 5 Turbo 2. I wouldn’t normally like fake vents, but I can forgive it on this car because it has so much personality.

The Alpine A290 is like a Renault 5 which has been hitting the gym. Hard. The front bumper is deeper and has more air intakes, the X-shaped LEDs next to the headlights are like something off a rally car and it has wider wheel arches as well. It does look a bit too similar to the Renault from the back, but I still really like the design.

The Renault 5 may be very cool, but the Alpine will turn more heads with its more aggressive styling.

Renault 5 vs Alpine A290: interior and technology

Inside, the Renault 5 looks just as cool as it does outside. The funky denim fabrics on the dashboard make it look both retro and modern at the same time, and you can even get yellow upholstery if you really want to brighten things up.

The infotainment system is also excellent. It runs on Google software, so it’s just as easy to use as your phone and comes with apps like Spotify and Google Maps built in. It’s just a shame about the practicality, because the Renault has cramped rear seats and quite a small boot.

However, the Alpine is somehow even less practical. It has a slightly different dashboard layout to the Renault, and while it does look sportier with its taller centre console and shiny metallic trim, Alpine got rid of the cupholders to make way for the gear selector buttons.

Those buttons aren’t as easy to use as the stalk you get in the Renault 5 either, but at least the A290 does have a chunky sports steering wheel which looks the part.

While I do think the Alpine’s interior looks a bit more special, I’m going to give the interior win to the Renault. It’s very nearly as cool, but it’s also easier to live with.

Renault 5 vs Alpine A290: motors, range and driving

The Renault 5 range kicks off with a 120hp electric motor driving the front wheels, and it has 192 miles of range. The one I’d go for is the 150hp model. Not only is it over two seconds faster from 0-60mph, completing the sprint in 7.9 seconds, it also has a much more useful 252 miles of range.

As standard, the Alpine A290 gets a 180hp motor which does 0-60mph in 7.4 seconds, so it’s already quicker than the fastest Renault 5. The GT Performance and GTS models get 220hp, and are good for 0-60mph in 6.4 seconds. That added performance does come at the cost of range though, because the 180hp model will do 234 miles on a charge while the 220hp car will cover 224 miles.

That’s the sensible stuff out of the way, how do these cars drive?

Well the Renault 5 is an excellent base for a hot hatch. It may be the more sensible and subdued car of the two, but it’s still a right laugh in the corners. The steering is quick and accurate, and the suspension manages potholes and body roll really well.

When you’re not hooning about, it’s also a comfy cruiser. It handles motorways well for a small car, and around town it’s easy to navigate tight gaps. This is one of my favourite electric cars to drive.

I had high hopes for the Alpine, but it left me a bit cold. It does feel a bit more agile than the Renault, and if you really drive like a wally then you can get the tail out, but I had to take the car on a track to find this out. On the road, at normal speeds, it’s not that much more fun than the car it’s based on.

This does mean it’s still comfortable and easy to drive, but it’s missing a bit of fizz which I’d expect from a hot hatch. Especially one which looks as good as this. It’s slightly better than the Renault, but not enough to justify the extra cost.

Renault 5 vs Alpine A290: prices and deals

The Renault 5 starts from £21,500, rising to around £27,000 if you go for the most powerful version in top-of-the-range trim. You can also save an average of over £2,300 through Carwow at the time of writing.

You’ll pay quite a hefty premium for the Alpine. It starts from £30,245, and the top-spec GTS will set you back over £34,000. You can save an average of £4,500 through Carwow at the time of writing, but what about leasing?

Leasing a car is becoming more and more popular, and right now you can get a Renault 5 for £240 per month over three years with an initial payment of £3,170. That’s a total of just over £11,500, but new deals are popping up all the time so it’s important to check out the latest prices when you’re ready to change your car.

Over the same three-year term, the Alpine A290 will cost you a total of just over £15,000 to lease. It’s available for £314 per month with an initial payment of £4,061, so it’s still more expensive than the Renault but the price gap is much smaller than if you’d bought it outright.

Mat’s final verdict: is the Alpine A290 worth it?

The Renault 5 is a brilliant small electric car. I love the way it looks, I like the way it drives and it’s also a bit of a bargain. It’s one of the best EVs around, and that poses a problem for the Alpine.

I just don’t think the A290 is worth the extra cash. It’s not that much more fun than the Renault, and the range is worse as well. With your thinking cap on, you’d buy the Renault 5 and be done with it.

However, the Alpine looks so incredibly cool that you may be willing to spend the extra on looks alone. The gap isn’t quite as wide when you lease your car, and if you’ve really fallen in love with the design then it’s still an excellent car.

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