Our Cars: Alpine A290 GTS

Can an EV hot hatch ever be fun? Absolutely, and here’s the proof. I promised I would explain what made the A290 so enjoyable to drive, explore the limitations of its electric powertrain in that regard, and discuss ways in which it could be made even more fun on the road – because there’s definitely room for a more raucous version of this little Alpine.

In many ways it should come as no surprise that the A290 is such a fine entertainer. There is no RenaultSport these days, not since the very limited-edition Megane R.S. Ultime of 2023, meaning a hot hatch lineage that reaches back several decades is currently in stasis. Instead we’ve got this, the true spiritual successor to all those wonderful Clios and Meganes that kept so many of us amused (and Porsche drivers humbled) for years.

The A290’s chassis has been engineered in much the same way, and by many of the same people, using the kind of componentry you’ll only find on a truly thoroughbred performance hatchback, such as hydraulic bump stops. The Alpine may take the humble (but brilliant) Renault 5 E-Tech as its basis, but the makeover goes much deeper than some flared skirts and bigger wheels. It’s a comprehensive job.