Alpine A290 review

This is the Alpine A290, the hot version of the new Renault 5 supermini, and the second model from Renault’s Alpine performance sub brand following the sublime featherweight A110 sportscar. It’s also Alpine’s first full EV.

The car we’ve driven was the range-topping FWD 217bhp GTS, which covers 0-60mph in 6.4 seconds. Quick enough for a compact hot-hatch, despite weighing 1,479kg. It promises a WLTP range of 236 miles from its 52kWh battery and 100kW DC fast-charging, enough for 15-80 per cent in 30 minutes. A lower-spec GT version with 178bhp is also available from £33,500, although this GTS will cost you £38k.

I thought hot hatches were dead?

Not quite, but the demise of the hot-hatch has to be one of the most baffling trends of recent times. Who doesn’t want a car that’s small but practical, fast but affordable, and most importantly, ridiculous amounts of fun?

Ok, so the Golf GTI and Golf R are soldiering on, the Ioniq 5 N has proved electric hatches can work (albeit at a much higher power and price point), the GR Yaris is total magic and the latest Honda Civic Type R is unequivocally The Boss. But hot hatches used to be everywhere, on every street corner, usually wrapped around a lamppost… so is this, the new Alpine A290, the car to save the hot hatch?

OK, that’s a bit of a lofty set-up, but if it’s got even a sprinkling of the A110’s handling genius… this could be the car to usher in a new generation of small, electric hot hatches - like the new electric Mini JCW and the VW ID.3 GTX - and introduce the joys of small, nimble and mildly overpowered shopping trolleys to a whole new generation.

How different does it look to R5?

While the overall, stumpy silhouette is shared, the details are mostly new. You get 19-inch wheels whatever model you go for – in either a square ‘iconic’ design that nods to the old A310, or a ‘snowflake’ pattern that’ll be less divisive. It’s got fattened arches, deepened side sills, a four-light arrangement at the front that riffs off the A110, but adds crosses to evoke old rally cars with taped up lights.

The charge indicator light on the bonnet has switched from a 5 to an Alpine ‘A’, the rear door panels are scalloped to recall the old R5 Turbo and round the back there’s a deeper diffuser and a strip across the bootlid Alpine is optimistically calling a ducktail spoiler.

You can have it in four colours - black, white, grey and blue – and frankly it looks fantastic, if a little fussy next to the cleaner and more obviously retro-inspired R5. Alpine has done enough to warrant referring to this as an entirely separate model.

And on the inside?

It’s a similar story. There’s a unique steering wheel that houses various tricks including an ‘OV’ button that gives you full throttle to boost out of corners or zap past other cars… when you can’t be bothered to flex your right foot. You also get four levels of brake regen that can be toggled between by twisting a switch, and a shortcut to change between your various driving modes: Save, Normal, Sport and Personal.

You get unique seats that introduce some proper bolstering, but remain squishy, while a unique central console houses the gear selector buttons and wireless charging pad, but no cupholders. The materials, save for a few scratchy plastics are all top-drawer – soft-to the touch stitched leather and a chunky slab of screen running from behind the wheel to the middle of the dash – while illuminated logos and ambient glow give it a plushness and sense of occasion on the inside. This isn’t a stripped-out cousin of the Clio Cup, it’s a luxury car, with some added performance built in.

And what about mechanical upgrades over the R5?

There’s the aforementioned stronger motors, of course, but also retuned anti-roll bars and firmer suspension settings, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres developed specifically for this car and hydraulic bump stops for the shocks, to improve overall ride refinement.

Beyond that, the battery, multi-link rear axle and the AmpR Small platform are shared with the R5. It measures 3,990mm long, 1,820mm wide, 1,520mm high, has a 2,530mm wheelbase and has 60mm wider tracks. Weight is a lardy 1,479kg (although credit where it’s due, that’s actually 200kg lighter than the equivalent electric Mini) and boot capacity is 326-litres – well-above average for this class.

Surprise surprise, the A290 feels a bit out if its depth on a racetrack – 1,479kg and ‘only’ 217bhp will do that. But stay within the boundaries of physics, preferably on the road, and there’s proper playfulness baked into this car. As all good hatches should, it’s at its best on a fast B-road, when modest performance becomes a bonus… because you can deploy all of it more often. You can trim your line in the corners with a lift of the throttle and it clings on well when you take it by the scruff of the neck.

There are two distinct sides to its personality though – on one hand this is a car you could happily commute in every day, enjoying its refinement and the fact it's ridiculously easy to use. On the other, it’s clearly made by people who were prepared to sweat the handling details, and who know exactly how a hot hatch should behave. 

Comparing this to Renaultsport Clios of old, though, is a bit of a pointless exercise: this weighs so much more, there are no gears to shift, and it’s a different experience entirely. But that experience is a good one… there’s a sense of humour, good looks, usable performance, gadgets to play with and it’s well priced.

It’s a hit, with one potential drawback: the A290 is a fun little road car, but so’s the Renault 5… and you can get one of those for £10k less.