- The Alpine A290 is driven back-to-back against a Renault Clio Williams to see if it’s more fun.
- Reviewer Steve Sutcliffe says that while it isn’t perfect, it’s a lot of fun to drive.
- The Clio Williams still puts a bigger smile on your face, but the A290 is a more than admirable effort considering its size and weight.
Renault has made some of the greatest hot hatchbacks, but it no longer offers any. Its only hot hatch is the Alpine A290 EV, which is the spiced-up version of everybody’s favorite retro-inspired city EV, the Renault 5.
Having recently driven the Renault 5, I would say it’s about as good as EVs get right now. It looks great inside and out, it feels grown-up, it’s quick and the software that defines it is remarkably good too. But with only 148 horsepower from its electric motor and an acceleration time of around 8 seconds to 62 mph (100 km/h), it’s not the quickest.
That’s where the Alpine A290 comes in, with extra power, a wider track, more aggressive suspension tuning and other sporty touches. It’s still a front-motor, front-wheel-drive setup, but power is upped to 177 hp in the GT variant or 217 hp in the range-topping GTS. It’s the latter that you want because its extra oomph imbues the car with a fun, wayward character that is similar to hot hatches of old, complete with plenty of torque steer.
Its benchmark sprint time to 62 mph drops to 6.4 seconds, and with its retuned suspension, it provides a surprising amount of liftoff oversteer through the corners. It’s good enough to impress veteran car journalist Steve Sutcliffe, who is known for really putting a car through its paces and wringing out everything that it has to offer through the corners.
In his video review for The Intercooler, he compares the A290 to one of Renault’s most iconic hot hatches, the famed Clio Williams. The latter may only have as much power as today’s standard Renault 5, but it’s a bit lighter, quicker to sprint and it’s just a joy to thread around a windy bit of tarmac. The Williams also looks fantastic with its gold Speedline wheels and distinctive blue paint and, as a package, it delivers on all fronts. It’s no wonder prices have gone through the roof.
But after driving both back-to-back, Sutcliffe says the A290 is great too. It’s not perfect, and the Williams is still more fun to drive, but the Alpine is still an admirable effort and one of the most fun electric cars available today. Alpine is supposed to come to the U.S. in the near future, but it likely won’t bring the A290, although that may change if it deems there is enough demand.
