It’s already landed the European Car of the Year title for 2025 with its Renault 5 sibling, but can the Alpine A290 in GTS hot-hatch form warm the cockles of our man Al’s heart?

Alpine A290 GTS

List price (BiK): £37,445 (2%)   Economy: 226 miles    Test efficiency: 171 miles

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Monday

The EV hot hatch isn’t a completely new phenomenon, but until the arrival of the Alpine A290 it has been a sector oddly lacking in pizzazz. Not any more judging by the metallic blue machine parked outside this morning. And going by the number of looks it’s already attracting, it seems Alpine, and Renault, has done more than enough to give it that essential ‘want one’ factor.

Tuesday

A hot hatch ain’t much use if it’s not hot. In more basic trims, the Alpine A290 is nippy, but this GTS-spec car is quicker still with its 220hp motor. That means 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds, which is bang on for a hot hatch in this day and age. Anyone thinking it should be silly fast off the mark like some EVs is missing the point of a hot hatch – quick but usable, and the Alpine is just that.

Wednesday

A couple of days into using the Alpine and one eye is often trained on the battery percentage figure on the dash. Even when not using the performance of the A290, it chomps through battery range like a bon viveur enjoying a Michelin-starred meal. Alpine claims 226 miles to a charge, but it’s more like 150 miles going by my experience, which limits the car’s usability to some extent.

Thursday

Recharging the Alpine is, thankfully, quick as the battery isn’t that big. Suitably topped up, it’s off out to enjoy the car again. Giving it full beans from a standing start induces some old school scrabble from the driven front wheels, which just lets you know it’s trying. There’s more than ample grip in corners, little body lean and steering with decent feel, so you can take the A290 hard into corners and have a laugh.

Friday

Alpine/Renault has made a very good job of the A290’s interior. Like hot hatches of old, it feels familiar to the car it’s based on (Renault 5) but with neat upgrades such as the sporty seats and steering wheel. The infotainment is easy to fathom and, as with all Renault products, switching off the safety overlords is quick and easy with a double tap of the button to the right of the steering column.

Saturday

More recharging, more fun in the A290. Heading into town for some shopping and it is clear the ride is very much on the firm side in the A290. Some of this, undoubtedly, is to cope with the weight of the battery pack, but some is certainly Alpine’s chassis tuning. It’s not uncouth over bumps, but you can tell they are there whereas a Kia EV3 insulates you from this sort of intrusion.

Sunday

The Alpine A290 GTS is not a cheap car, but then hot hatches never were, even in their 1980s heyday. Naturally, leasing takes the sting out of this and you get a lot of kit included with the GTS trim. What you don’t get is a particularly long driving range and that is a frustration in a car that you will want to drive for the fun of it.