his the next best hot hatch but also the electric hot hatch other makers have to beat?
Exterior – Front
So, with the Alpine A290 being based on the Renault 5 the overall structure of the front is very similar to the 5 but it is different overall though. Take the headlight for example. They have the same shape as the Renault 5 but on the Alpine, they have crosses to represent the tape they used to put on headlights during races. We also get daytime running light in the shape of X’s to represent spot lamps giving it a racing look. It also has the little French flag in them too. The lower central air vent is big and we get some sporty side vents giving it an aggressive look.
Exterior – Side
Moving round to the side and we get Alpine specific wheel designs as well as bigger flared wheel arches and sportier side skirts. We also get a different rear door skin too. to include a fake rear vent design like what the old Renault 5 Turbo had again giving it a classic and sporty look.
Exterior – Rear
Moving round to the back and it is very similar to the Renault 5. The black bar has been replaced with a body colour boot lip spoiler. The bumper is also more aggressive and has more gloss black cladding on it too. the taillights are the same as the 5’s with this cool 3D look which I do really like. Finally, we also get the Alpine A290 lettering which is very similar to how Porsche does it which I really like the idea of. Right, let’s have a look and see what battery and motor options you can have with the new Alpine A290.
Car and engine specs and price
So, the range kicks of with the base model which has 178 bhp and this gives the A290 a 7.4 0-62 time. this comes from a single motor mounted on the front giving this car front wheel drive. Battery capacity is at 52 kWh which gives a range of about 236 miles. The next version has a 218 bhp motor again mounted on the front making it have front wheel drive. 0-62 is reduced down to 6.4 seconds which is decent. Battery size is the same at 52 kWh, but the range has slightly been reduced down to 226 miles which is still decent. The price of the new Alpine A290 starts at £33,500 and for the more powerful version it starts at £36,000 which is still fairly good considering it is still cheaper than the MINI Cooper Electric JCW. Right, lets have a look and see what the interior is like on the new Alpine A290.
Interior – Design
So, climbing inside the new Alpine A290 and they have taken the great 5 interior and made it even better. To start with we get a new centre console which is inspired by the Alpine A110 with the DNR gear selector buttons. This feels more natural and the whole centre console design is also higher than before, making it feel like you sit lower in the car. We do still get some storage too which is even better. The dashboard is the same, but we have a metal panel with the Alpine compass on it which lights up at night. The steering wheel has the same layout as the Renault, but it has a circle central air bag just like the A110. We also get extra controls for your drive mode too which is good. It even has a top dead centre mark. Now the infotainment system and instrument cluster are Android Automotive based but have their own Alpine graphics which are easy to use and see too. finally, we get a set of Renault 5 seats but this time they have a lot more support and a lot comfier and hold you better in the seat which I like. Right, lets have a look and see what the rear seats are like.
Practicality
So, climbing into the back of the Alpine A290 and thanks to the boxy proportions, headroom isn’t that bad, and legroom is also decent. If you are over 6 foot though you may struggle. Also, there are a few plastics around the place and there aren’t any rear USB C ports, air vents or an arm rest which is a shame but then it is a small car, so we can’t complain too much, and the looks outside make up for this. Let’s have a look and see what the boot space is like.
Boot Size
So, opening the boot to the Alpine A290 and there is no surprise that it is the same as the Renault 5 at 326 litres with the seats up. This increases to 1,106 litres with the seats folding down. Whilst we do get a wide boot opening though there is a very high loading lip so it will be harder to lift things in. Also, there is no storage under the bonnet so there is no separate space to store the charging cables which is a shame too.
Summary
So, in summary then what do I think of the new Alpine A290. Well, I definitely think this car will be a classic. I would buy these hands down over the new MINI Electric Cooper JCW. This has much more charm and character and there is a wider range of choices to choose from. The looks on the outside and the premium feel on the inside are the best in its class. Really this is the next best hot hatch you can buy. The future for Alpine looks bright.
Exterior 5/5
Interior 5/5
Practicality 4/5
Total 14/15
Model | Alpine A290 GTS |
Engine | 52kWh Battery Pack, Single Motor, 218bhp, 0-62 = 6.4 Seconds, 226 Mile Range, Front Wheel Drive |
Transmission | Single Speed Electric Motor |
Price | £36,000 |
On Sale | Now |
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