Highway Robbery or Hot Hatch Heaven? The Alpine A290 Goes On Sale With Blood Pressure Rising Price Tag
It finally happened. The Alpine A290, that electrified frog we've all been hearing about, has hopped its way into dealerships. And with it comes a price tag that's… quite a bit ambitious. Starting at £33,500 in good old England (around $42,000) and climbing to a lofty £38,500 (around $48,000) for the top-spec "Premiere" edition, this little French fry is making me wonder if they're selling the car or a small Parisian apartment with it.
Look, the A290 has its charms. It's based on the Renault 5, a car that's already cute and exciting, but Alpine has injected it with a dose of sporty spice. Wider track, 19-inch alloys, and enough aero bits to make a Boeing engineer blush – it certainly does look the part. And with up to 215 horsepower on tap, it's not really a slouch. 0 to 62 mph in 6.4 seconds? Impressive for something that looks like it could be delivered in a pizza box.
Image Credit: Renault Group.
But that price? For the same money, you could snag yourself a Tesla Model 3 with more range, more power, and more tech than you can shake a stick at. Or how about a Kia EV6, a car that's way larger and also looks like it was designed by someone who's actually seen a spaceship before? Even the Mini Cooper SE, a car that's about as spacious as a sardine can, offers similar performance for a lot less cash.
So, what gives? Is Alpine trying to pull a fast one on us? Are they hoping we'll be so blinded by the fancy French badge and the sporty styling that we'll forget to check our bank accounts? Or is there something more to this electric frog than meets the eye?
Looking into the specs, the A290 comes with a 52kWh battery, which is decent enough, but it's not exactly groundbreaking. Range is a claimed 236 miles, which is fine for popping to the shops and back, but don't expect to be crossing continents anytime soon. And while the 215 horsepower version is nippy, it's not exactly going to set your hair on fire.
Inside, it's a similar story. You get a couple of fancy screens, some sporty seats, and a steering wheel borrowed from a Formula 1 car. But the overall design is far from outrageous, and the materials are definitely not what you'd call luxurious. Sure, both the Renault 5 and Alpine A290 won the coveted Car of The Year title, but I’m pretty sure that if the jurors knew the Alpine’s price, the vote would have gone the other way.
Image Credit: Renault Group.
The big question then - is the Alpine A290 worth the price of admission? Honestly, I'm not sure. It's a fun little car, no doubt. But it is not exactly a revolution on wheels. And with so many other EVs offering more bang for your buck, it's hard to justify the premium price tag.
I admit, I love the Renault 5. It is one of the coolest cars on the road, and despite many shortcomings, it's near perfection - at least for me. So when Alpine revealed their take on the 5, I went weak in my knees. What I didn't expect was to be clobbered over the head with a price tag that wouldn't be out of place on a plush Mercedes. Nearly $50,000 for a 215-HP city-bound hatchback? I might love the A290, but I don't love it enough.
Maybe Alpine is banking on the exclusivity factor. They're not exactly a household name, and the A290 is a limited-production model. But if you're looking for an impressive electric car, there are better options out there. Unless, of course, you're desperate to own something with a French accent and a price tag that'll make your wallet weep.
