I spent winter with Alpine's wicked EV hot hatch – it's great, except...
Finally, a proper EV hot hatch? My winter fling with the Alpine A290
We named the A290 our favourite fun EV of 2025: this is what it's like to live with one for 2000 miles
I spent winter with Alpine's wicked EV hot hatch – it's great, except...
The A290 is a well-liked little car, but it's not perfect. It's a bit of a winter fling, and it's not the best for long trips or cold weather.
The car is a bit expensive, and it doesn't have a cupholder, which is a big deal for me. But it's a fun car to drive, and it's a good choice for a second car that can do the boring stuff like the school run and supermarket trips.
I'll miss this funky electric hot hatch dearly for many reasons, but it's not the car for you if you regularly do long trips. It just hasn't got the legs for it.
It's a nuanced car, then one with plenty of rational and emotional appeal but also some quirks and shortcomings that can make it tricky to live with. I think it makes most sense as a household's second car that can nip around doing all the boring school run and supermarket bits but be capable of stepping in on a Sunday morning for a bit of fun in the hills. But I'd steer clear completely if you don't have a home charger.
Alpine A290 GTS
Prices: List price new £37,500 List price now £34,245 Price as tested £38,600
Options: Vision Blue paint with black roof £1100
Economy and range: Claimed range 226 miles Battery 52.0kWh (usable) Test average 3.2mpkWh Test best 3.7mpkWh Test worst 2.4mpkWh Real-world range 164 miles Max charge rate 100kW
Tech highlights: 0-62mph 6.4sec Top speed 106mph Engine Permanent magnet synchronous motor Max power 217bhp Max torque 221lb ft Gearbox 1-spd reduction gear, FWD Boot 326 litres Wheels 19in, alloy Tyres 225/40 R19, Michelin Pilot Sport EV Kerb weight 1479kg
Service and running costs: Contract hire rate £399 pcm CO₂ Og/km Service costs None Other costs None Fuel costs £256.81 Running costs including fuel £256.81 Cost per mile 13 pence Faults None
Felix Page (https://www.autocar.co.uk/users/felix-page)
Title: Deputy editor
Felix is Autocar's deputyeditor, responsible for leading the brand's agenda-shaping coverage across all facets of the global automotive industry - both in print and online.
He has interviewed the most powerful and widely respected people in motoring, covered the reveals and launches of today's most important cars, and broken some of the biggest automotive stories of the last few years.
Newsletter (https://p.autocar.co.uk/signup)
Get all the best car news, reviews and opinions direct to your inbox three times a week. You can unsubscribe via any email we sendSee our full privacy notice (https://www.haymarket.com/privacy-policy/) for more details
Subscribe (https://www.autocar.co.uk/magazine-subscriptions)
Never miss an issue of the world's oldest car magazine – subscribe to Autocar magazine today.
Subscribe (https://www.autocar.co.uk/magazine-subscriptions)
