Alpine A290 review

Prices run from £30,245 to £34,245. It used to be more, but the A290 qualifies for the full Electric Car Grant of £3,750. Yup, Alpine really wants you to buy this.

The base version is the 178bhp GT and that nets you 19s shod in Michelin Sport EV tyres, LED headlights, a pair of USB-Cs and a wireless charging pad, an Arkamys sound system, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera and parking sensors, ambient lighting and heated seats.

Stepping up to GT Performance unlocks the 217bhp powertrain and adds Michelin Pilot Sport 5S rubber, plus the telemetry toys. That one's £32,745.

Then there's the GTS. That's the most expensive model, introducing a heated steering wheel, front seat lumbar adjustment, a Nappa leather interior finish and the Devialet hi-fi.

Us? We’d settle for a GT Performance, and add the heated steering wheel as an option for £150. Get the extra power and forget about the frills.

The colour choices, unfortunately, are pretty underwhelming. White or white with a black roof is standard, with the greys and blacks costing £700 and the blues £1,100. Ouch.

What would a GT Performance cost me per month?

Specced in grey (could you live with white really?), a 10 per cent deposit would net you a PCP at about £420 a month over four years, with Alpine offering 4.9 per cent APR at the time of writing. Don't forget to shop around, and remember charging at home on a dirt-cheap tariff is key to unlocking rock bottom running costs.