We enjoyed driving our Renault 5 long-term tester, but we wondered: if the regular R5 is already so much fun, does it still make sense to buy an Alpine A290?
With its playful retro look, the Renault 5 E-Tech undoubtedly attracts various potential buyers, but that charming packaging is not the only reason to consider it. Does it drive as fun as it looks? Well, after six months of racking up miles in ‘our’ R5, we can confirm that. The 150 hp Iconic sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 8 seconds, which is already quite quick, but it also convinces in corners. The electric 5 feels playful and challenging. That feeling remains consistent with the simpler Urban Range Evolution, with 120 hp. Early in our long-term test period, we also drove that one and could only conclude that this version also caters to the spirited driver’s wishes. In fact, the steering feel in that milder version was perhaps even better. Slightly less artificial and therefore even more communicative.
You don’t necessarily need a lot of power in the R5 for driving pleasure, although we do wonder if the tamer 95 hp version is also capable of putting such a smile on our face. A possible advantage of that basic 5 is that you are less likely to encounter the somewhat overactive traction control, which in both Fives intervened rather quickly during strong acceleration. You can, of course, turn it off, but a bit more refinement in this area would be welcome.
All in all, the base is already very good for a bit of sporty driving, so the big question is to what extent the Alpine A290 still adds something compared to its more civilian sibling. After all, the price difference between our already quite complete long-term tester and the Alpine A290 GTS we brought in is a not insignificant ten grand. So the A290 must be exceptionally good.
Looks Matter Too
The Alpine A290 distinguishes itself, to begin with, by its pronounced appearance from the Renault 5. At the front, the most striking feature is that the daytime running lights are housed in two separate units higher up on the nose, reminiscent of the rally R5s’ spotlights of yesteryear. This leaves room for larger air intakes in the front bumper. Wider wheel arches are also present, and at the rear, besides the thicker bumper, the rear spoilers stand out. Two indeed, because besides the roof spoiler, there is also a subtle one on the tailgate.
From the outside, the Alpine immediately clearly exudes that it is a step more extreme than the R5, and you get that feeling immediately when you get in. You are greeted by thick seats finished in a tasteful combination of white and blue leather. The sportier steering wheel immediately catches the eye, and Alpine is written on the dashboard. Perhaps the biggest eye-catchers are the three push-buttons in the center tunnel, with which you choose the driving direction. Not only a nice visual detail, but it also prevents fumbling with the not-so-flawless lever behind the steering wheel in the R5. Also striking are the red ‘overtake’ button and the bright blue rotary knob with which you set the degree of recuperation. The latter two are clear nods to the buttons on a Formula 1 steering wheel.
All in all, these are just enough details to make the Alpine A290 feel a bit more special than the Renault 5, without even driving a meter. However, the sporty dressing is not excessive, and with this alone, Alpine cannot justify putting its own brand and model name on the R5. Therefore, Alpine has also done a lot of work under the skin of the base supplied by Renault. The A290 starts with a 220 hp electric motor on the front wheels. That is 70 hp more than in our long-term tester, but then you have to go for this GTS.
Initially, the A290 is only 30 hp stronger. But there’s more to it: the track width of the Alpine is 6 cm larger, there are different anti-roll bars, the suspension and brakes are tuned differently, and it has Brembo brakes. A whole package of hidden changes, so the extra price is quite justifiable. Now the big question is to what extent you notice that difference. Well, we can be brief: you really do notice something.
Not a World of Difference
The A290’s extra power clearly makes the difference between quick and downright fast. Even without the somewhat comical launch control (more of a gimmick than really necessary), you are firmly pressed into your seat when you floor the A290. Then you quickly encounter a significant amount of torque steer. We have said it before: a limited-slip differential would absolutely help the Alpine. However, the searching front wheels feel considerably purer than the somewhat erratic intervention of the traction control in the Renault 5; you simply feel more of what is happening.
That applies to more aspects in the A290. The steering feel is slightly better than in the Renault, although you should not expect a world of difference. Anyway, we don’t get the idea that you can take a corner *that* much faster with this than with the R5, but that mainly indicates how good the Renault naturally is in that area. In terms of comfort, the two are not very far apart either. Both are quite stiff, but not in an annoying way. We had expected beforehand that the Alpine would feel a bit stiffer, but the A290 also still leans a bit in corners and is certainly not plank-hard.
If you are looking for a car for daily commutes, you don’t have to choose the Alpine over the Renault. At least, not if you can live with slightly higher consumption. With occasional spirited driving in urban areas, we achieve a consumption of about 14 kWh/100 km with the R5; on the highway, the average consumption jumps to 16 kWh/100 km. With the Alpine, we go from an average of about 16 kWh in urban areas to 18 kWh on the highway, with occasional heavy acceleration. Especially for their size, neither are wonders of efficiency, and with the even more challenging Alpine, you shouldn’t be surprised if you have the charging cable in your hands much more often.
BestBalance
Higher running costs and a whopping ten thousand euros higher purchase price. Is the A290 GTS all worth it? Purely for the difference in driving pleasure, actually no. But fortunately, there is also an Alpine A290 GT Performance. That offers the same performance but is somewhat less elaborately dressed. If you are simply looking for a Renault 5 with a distinctly sharper edge, that offers the best balance in terms of costs and benefits. Then, for the relatively modest extra cost of about four thousand euros compared to our long-term tester, you will have even more fun behind the wheel.