If you want a small, fun electric car – the Alpine A290 is worth your time. Rear space is a sour point, but otherwise the A290 stands out because it retains all that’s good about the Renault 5 E-Tech and makes it more fun to drive and more luxurious inside. It’s certainly good enough to bother the likes of the Cupra Born VZ and Abarth 600e.

What we like

The Alpine A290 gets so much right about the hot hatch formula. It’s enjoyable to drive at any speed, mostly practical and reasonably priced in the context of its rivals. The interior is a great place to sit and it’s comfortable enough to use every day.

What we don’t like

The range won’t last very long if you put your foot down and if you have previous experiences with the Renaultsport Clios of old, you might need to manage your expectations with its 1,479kg weight to overcome. The rear seats are cramped and the lack of cup holders is an interesting – and in our opinion, silly – decision.