Alpine A290 GTS: The Small Electric Car with A Very Big Soul
A Familiar Shape But With Fresh Voltage
Alpine A290 GTS
Images by Hayden Povey.
There’s something very likable about the Alpine A290 GTS. Yes, it looks fresh and funky in a 2020’s type of way but behind all that, it also feels a nostalgic and charmingly analogue in a 1980’s type of way too. For the uninitiated, that squat stance and purposeful nose clearly trace a lineage back to the original ‘Hot Hatch’, the Renault 5, only now it’s reborn with a 52 kWh battery, 220 horsepower and more character than most electric cars at twice the price.
And this is probably the most notable thing about our little French pocket-rocket. Where a Tesla is more tech and torque, the A290 GTS is more texture and tone. You sense the Designers wanted this to feel Alpine, even without the smell of petrol or the rasp of an exhaust. The result is a car that celebrates its own small, joyous and defiantly retro scale.
Alpine says this is the first in a new line of electric sports models. If that is the case then the A290 GTS may very be the spark that lights a very promising future. On paper, it’s an electric city car. In reality, it’s an Alpine, which means that for £37,500 (£38,600 with optional paint), you get hot hatch agility, bucket-loads of charisma and a god-like chassis that deserves a standing ovation.
And if the Renault 5 E-Tech is the accessible one, then the Alpine A290 GTS has to be the mischievous one as it’s solid proof that driving pleasure is rewired differently these days. Admittedly, it won’t suit everyone as the range will rule it out for long-distance commuters but that misses the point because this is sold as a driver’s car. It’s the antithesis of sterile EVs that feel like laptops on wheels.
In an age littered with range-this and battery-that, the Alpine A290 GTS goes about its business differently, which is primarily that fun still matters. And when it comes wrapped in a body this pretty, trimmed this beautifully and tuned this perfectly, it might just be the most charming little EV on sale today.
Visually, the A290 GTS absolutely nails it. The Alpine Vision Blue paintwork pops in every light and I think that the black roof lends a purposeful two-tone aggression. I would also look at those sculpted side strakes all day if I could as they pull light across the flanks like a perfectly tensioned sheet of aluminium and draw the eye so much. In fact, the whole thing sits just right: compact, muscular almost cartoonish at times but in the best possible way.
Inside, it’s a cut above expectations. Deep Blue and Evee Grey Nappa leather, Alpine monograms stitched everywhere and a Devialet sound system that is not bad at all. The quality feels deliberate rather than flashy and everything your eyes see and fingers touch has intent about it. Even the Overtake ‘OV’ on the steering wheel feels delightfully tongue-in-cheek.
Press it and the GTS gives you the full 220 hp and 300 Nm of torque, which is good for 0–62 mph in 6.4 seconds. I realise that this is not supercar fast but that’s hardly the point. The joy comes from the immediacy, the punch, the momentary fight with the torque steer and the way the car always remains communicative without being nervous.
Alpine’s clever suspension trickery (hydraulic bump stops and multilink rear setup) transforms the ride and available grip levels. Over the UK’s battered tarmac, the A290 flows rather than fidgets and where some EVs crash and thud over imperfections, this one seems to breathe with the road rather than fight with it.
Thankfully, the braking is handled by Brembo four-piston monoblocs and they inspire proper confidence under most conditions. The regenerative setup is adjustable but Alpine has been clever with the calibration. In town, single-pedal mode makes stop-start driving smooth and relaxed but switch it off on open roads and you regain that natural flow and pedal feel that suits a quicker, more spirited drive.
Visibility is good and the tight 10.2 m turning circle meant it felt at home in all of the multi-storey car parks I ended up in. Out on the open road, it sits confidently at motorway speeds, noise suppression is commendable, though you’ll still hear a polite hum from the tyres.
The official range is 226 miles. In the real world, expect around 170 miles and that’s fine, provided you’re honest about what the car is for. This isn’t a cross-continental GT, it’s an electric hot hatch for people who actually enjoy driving.
DC fast charging (10–80 % in about 30 minutes) and AC charging (0–100 % in roughly 5 hours) make ownership perfectly manageable for most. It fits neatly into the rhythm of life. Plug in overnight, blast across country lanes in the morning, stop for a coffee somewhere and repeat till empty.
The 10.1-inch Alpine-portal infotainment system, complete with Google Built-in and Apple CarPlay, is slick and intuitive. The digital driver’s display keeps the design minimal. Speed, range and a simple energy graph. No lag and little touchscreen gymnastics required.
Heated seats, a heated steering wheel and a decent climate control system ensure it still ready for the British winter. The ambient lighting (four zone and customisable) adds a nice hint of theatre without turning it into a nightclub.
It may be small, electric and unashamedly French but spend some time with the Alpine A290 GTS and you’ll realise it has something most cars lost long ago – and that’s a soul.
Model: Alpine A290 GTS
Base Price (As Driven): £37,500 (£38,600)
Propulsion: 52kWh Single Motor, FWD.
Output: 220 hp
Torque: 300 Nm
0-62 mph: 6.4 Seconds
Top Speed: 106 mph
Kerb Weight: 1,483 kg
Range (WLTP): 226 Miles
Charging: 10-80% in 30 mins (DC CCS), 0-100% 5 hours (AC Type 2)
