Alpine A390 (2026) Review

Introduction

If you’re not a motor racing fan, the name Alpine might be unfamiliar to you, even though it’s been around for decades.

The French firm started as an independent sports and racing car manufacturer in the mid-1950s. However, it was bought out by Renault almost 20 years later – much of its early history was focused on modifying and racing Renault's cars.

Alpine has always been a niche brand, though, and despite churning out the odd vehicle here and there over the decades, it remains a name many would not have heard of but for Renault's involvement in Formula One.

Renault saw an opportunity to market the name to the masses, rebranding its own works F1 team as Alpine at the beginning of the 2021 season – though the less said about its F1 success over the past two or three years, the better.

But what it has done is lay the foundations for launching models with a more mainstream appeal.

The A110 sports car, manufactured since 2017 (with a new version to follow soon), was its only model until 2024, when it launched the A290, a hot-hatch variant of the reborn all-electric Renault 5 E-Tech.

And now it’s launched a compact crossover SUV: the fully electric A390. It’s based on a concept model unveiled around six months earlier at the Paris Motor Show – and it looks spectacular.

Not only that, it packs a punch in terms of power, too, even in entry-level form.

At A Glance

Alpine’s marketing describes this new fastback crossover EV as a ‘Racing Car In A Suit’ – and it’s easy to see why.

It looks very sporty, but, especially from the side, it looks just like any other ordinary fastback – a rakish sloping roofline and round, cladded wheel arches.

However, there are carvings and creases down the doors and, at the front, its performance credentials become more apparent, with a very aggressive design, razor-thin headlights and a horizontal light bar running underneath the bonnet line.

There’s a mesh pattern carved into the bodywork, creating a lower grille beneath the number plate, while two large air intakes sit out to the side, with chiselled cheekbones completing the look.

The rear looks equally racey, with no roof spoiler – instead, there’s a lip spoiler on the end of the stick-out tailgate, and a sporty horizontal light bar runs from side-to-side beneath.

There is a hefty indentation underneath, accommodating the number plate, along with thick, carved cladding towards the bottom, as well as several other performance-focused indentations dotted about.

It looks spectacular – and like it means business.

Key Features

The A390 comes generously equipped as standard, and it’s available in two models.

Entry-level GT gets 20-inch alloys, a 12.0-inch Google-derived infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a DAB radio, a 13-speaker Devialet stereo system (with subwoofer), voice control, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument display.

You also get matrix LED headlights, heated electric front sports seats with two-tone Nappa leather upholstery, including a heated steering wheel, telemetrics, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, a powered tailgate and a heat pump. Anodised brake callipers are also included.

The GTS gets 21-inch rims, bucket Alcantara massage seats, a microfibre headliner, an enhanced Devialet Xtreme Sound audio system, and some boosted functionality within the telemetrics system. A Driving pack, which offers semi-autonomous driving, and a Parking pack, which includes automatic parking, are also included.

Both versions get tyres manufactured in conjunction with Michelin.

In terms of power, despite being the entry-level model, the GT gets a not-at-all-unreasonable 400PS, while the GTS ups the ante to 470PS.

Unusually, both variants feature three electric motors – one at the front and two at the rear – making it the first Alpine to be offered as an all-wheel-drive vehicle.

Range and Batteries

Both the GT and GTS versions come with the same 94kWh (89kWh usable) battery.

The range, though, depends on which model you choose (or, more accurately, how big the wheels are).

Twenty-inch-wheeled A390 models can claim 345 miles on a full charge, dropping to 323 miles for 21-inch-rimmed versions.

As we said earlier, 20-inch wheels are standard on the GT, rising to 21 inches on the GTS, so bear in mind that a change in wheel size will affect achievable range.

Anything up to about two-thirds of the claimed range figure is to be expected in real-world conditions, subject to ambient temperature, driving style and a host of other variables.

Performance & Drive

We are testing the lower-powered GT model.

That might seem disappointing, but you’re not short-changed with 400PS on tap – and it manages a 0-62mph time of 4.8 seconds, which is sufficiently insane for any entry-level SUV.

If you can’t bear to have anything other than the most powerful model, though, the extra 70PS of the GTS model will cut the time to 3.9 seconds, firmly into supercar territory.

It goes without saying, then, that it barely breaks a sweat getting up to the national speed limit or overtaking on motorways.

The power is ferocious, even in our ‘lower-powered’ GT – and you can press a button on the steering wheel to get an extra dollop of poke for up to ten seconds, just in case you decide on a whim that you aren’t going fast enough.

Once that's used up, you can wait 15 seconds for another five-second power boost or tap your fingers for 30 seconds to use the full ten-second boost again.

No SUV handles exceptionally well, and, given this is a performance SUV, this could be a tricky area for the Alpine to navigate. But it does so admirably.

It has a level of agility that belies its almost two-tonne bulk, feeling playful and nimble in a way that we didn’t expect.

The steering isn't especially heavy, but it weights up just about enough – and crucially, it offers lots of feedback through the wheel, giving you confidence to place the car exactly where you want it.

The Michelin tyres provide tonnes of grip, even on slipperier surfaces, and while there’s inevitably more body roll than you’d find on something like an Alpine A110, it resists lean as well as can be expected.

The grip is aided by Alpine’s active torque vectoring, which, when it senses different longitudinal forces between the rear wheels, delivers more torque to the outside wheel, improving traction around the corner.

Taking it on a twisty back road was very enjoyable – and more so than we had predicted.

Ironically, it's so impressive that we end up criticising Alpine's decision to include only bucket seats in the higher-powered GTS model – they're needed in the GT, too, to hold you in place.

Understandably, the keen handling comes at the cost of a soft suspension. It's a firm ride yet somehow comfortable, adept at ironing out creases, lumps, and bumps in the road surface.

Wind and tyre noise aren't bad at all, though the driving experience isn't as quiet as that of premium rivals.

The regenerative braking system offers five levels of ferocity, enabling one-pedal driving in its maximal mode. Thankfully, the system is well-tuned, consistent and predictable, and it didn’t take us long to adapt to it.

If you’re used to Alpine cars, then the A390 might not impress – the laws of physics dictate that this is no A110, after all – but for an SUV, it’s excellent.

Charging

The Alpine A390 can charge its batteries at a maximum rate of 190kW (DC). That’s sufficient for a 15-80% top-up in under 25 minutes.

Not bad, but plenty of manufacturers are well into the 200 or even 300kW+ range.

The 11kW on-board AC charging is standard, with 22kW available as an optional extra; however, few UK homes can support the latter.

You can use the A390's vehicle-to-load (V2L) function to charge devices from its battery, but you'll need to purchase an Alpine adaptor, which isn't cheap.

Running Costs & Emissions

The usual downsides of a performance sports car with lots of power are terrible fuel economy, but that's one thing you won't have to worry about here.

Zero miles-per-gallon figures, no emissions – and if you mainly charge at home and avoid expensive public charging points, it’ll be cheaper to run day-to-day than your average, small diesel hatchback.

The lack of emissions means it'll be popular as a company car, too, as electric vehicles sit in the bottom tax band for Benefit-in-Kind.

Road tax costs just £10 for the first year, though it defaults to £195 a year (subject to annual increases) thereafter, as electric cars are no longer tax-free since April 2025.

Because Alpine is a niche brand, there's only a small sample size for reliability; however, it's generally a brand strength.

It only has one car, which has been in production long enough to know for sure – the A110 sports car – but that was a petrol model, so it remains to be seen how reliable the A390 will be.

Parent company Renault tends to fare around the middle of the pack in reliability league tables.

Interior & Technology

We hoped for a sporty interior to match the performance and exterior – and Alpine hasn’t let us down.

The steering wheel is as racey as can be, with a completely flat bottom, a round airbag box in the middle, and three spokes – the lower one is a central, double silver spoke. It even has a racing stripe at the top of the wheel.

Most of all, though, the cabin gives you a cockpit-like feel, with the unusually portrait-oriented infotainment screen housed in a single large unit next to the landscape digital instrument display.

Those familiar with the Alpine A110's layout will recognise the styling.

Indeed, given that the naturally higher driving position of an SUV is at odds with a sports-focused car, it’s notable that the dashboard is mounted relatively high up, giving you the illusion that you’re closer to the ground than you really are.

The 12.0-inch touchscreen is a joy to use – the Google-derived infotainment is lovely, with a crisply clear display, an intuitive interface and, of course, integrated Google Maps. It responds quickly to your inputs, too.

Even better, there are physical air conditioning controls, making it easy to tweak the temperature on the move.

The 12.3-inch digital driver's display is equally impressive, offering a high-resolution, pin-sharp display.

It has four views: Iconic (which displays speed and power), Navigation (which reveals Google Maps), ADAS (which shows the A390 in augmented reality), and Minimal (which displays essential information in a decluttered form).

What’s more, the voice control works well – and more reliably than on many rivals we’ve tested – even if voice recognition technology has never been better.

There are lots of plush, soft-to-the-touch surfaces, and the quality of the materials is clearly a step up from what you'd find in a standard Renault.

It's not quite on a level with premium foes, but it's impressive nonetheless.

Practicality & Boot Space

It is easy to find a good driving position in the A390, although those expecting a lofty view of the road down below will be disappointed.

Alpine is a sports car brand, after all, so it expects its drivers to want to sit as low as possible.

There is a decent amount of adjustment in the seats and steering wheel, too.

Forward visibility is good, though the front pillars aren’t thin. Even though we’ve seen much thicker rear pillars, they’re acutely angled due to the roofline's slope, restricting your over-the-shoulder visibility. The rear windscreen is large but, again, due to its angle, appears very shallow.

Thankfully, all models come with front and rear parking sensors, plus a 360-degree camera.

Sports cars aren’t known for their generosity when it comes to space, so this is where the A390 can really shine.

Even though the cabin layout creates a cocooned feel, you won't be struggling for legroom or headroom in the front seats, while the centre console is sufficiently broad to avoid banging elbows with a passenger sitting next to you.

The rear, though, is less generous than we’d hoped. There isn't much room to wedge your feet under the front seats, while a tall driver and a lofty rear-seat passenger will leave one or the other feeling a bit hunched.

Inevitably, headroom is also compromised by the steep slope to the roofline, which also restricts the amount of light that can get in.

Three adults in the back is doable, but it'll be a tight squeeze and intolerable for anything other than a short journey. At the same time, the middle seat is smaller and has a hump, making it especially uncomfortable.

Boot space measures 532 litres, which is on a par with rivals (apart from the gargantuan 854-litre boot of the Tesla Model Y), while capacity rises to 1,643 litres with the rear seats folded down. They only fold in a 60:40 configuration, though, whereas plenty of competitors offer a more convenient 40:20:40 split.

There is a bit of a loading lip, though height adjustment, which reduces this, is available as an optional extra, while the boot is nicely squared off, making the full capacity very usable.

In terms of cabin storage, it's not too bad, with a reasonably deep but narrow central armrest cubby and a tray underneath the infotainment screen that houses the wireless phone charger and two USB-C sockets.

There are also quite deep door pockets, but they're pretty narrow, and there's only one cupholder in the front, which is surprising given this is a reasonably practical car.

Safety

The A390 was put through its paces by Euro NCAP, the crash-testing experts, in 2025, earning a four-star rating.

Alpine will be disappointed with this, given that most manufacturers can achieve a five-star rating – the A290 (based on the Renault 5 E-Tech) also earned a four-star rating when tested in 2024.

The A390 scored 74% for adult occupants, 85% for children and 77% for safety assists.

The latter category includes automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and driver status monitoring.

Options

A complete options list for the A390 hasn't yet been confirmed; however, it's understood that vegan upholstery is one of them.

Interior décor packs, including carbon, and a height-adjustable boot floor are available, while the adapter enabling the Vehicle-To-Load function is an add-on.

Other accessories, including exterior wheel decorations, are also offered.

Rival Cars

The Alpine A390 is a rare breed, but it’s not in a league of its own.

Competition comes in the form of the BMW iX2, Tesla Model Y, the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron, Kia EV6 and Polestar 4.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and Porsche Macan Electric are also worth considering.

Verdict & Next Steps

The Alpine A390 is a very impressive contender.

It is not quite as sophisticated as some of its premium rivals. Still, it has excellent performance, even in entry-level GT guise, and superb handling, given it's much larger than the sports cars Alpine is mainly known for.

The lack of practicality due to its shape is something of a downside, though, especially given that it somewhat defeats the purpose of sacrificing some agility for more space.

Mind you, a sports car fanatic who also needs to accommodate the weekly shop will be very happy with this.

The Google infotainment is excellent, it’s incredibly cheap to run, and it’s a niche vehicle that’ll be far more exclusive than almost all its foes.

In that respect, there’s every reason to lease one of these over the competition.

Where to next?

View latest Alpine A390 lease deals - from just £900.76 per month inc VAT**.

Call us on 0118 3048 688 or hit the green 'Enquire' button for more details.

Looking for a great leasing deal? Check out our incredible range of Special Offers and Lease Deals. 

New SUV? Read our latest Reviews and find the right model for you.

Want to know more about leasing? Take a look at our comprehensive Leasing Guides.

Interested in everything motoring? Why not catch up on all the latest Car Leasing News.

**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of theAlpine A390.

**Correct as of 19/01/2026. Based on 12 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 24 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 12 monthly payments, or £10,809.12 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.