Most electric SUVs at this price are chasing the same three things: the longest range, the fastest charging, and a cabin full of screens. Alpine's A390 has quietly decided two of those three don't matter as much as everyone assumes, and built a car around driving character instead.
What makes the Alpine A390 different
The A390 looks the part before you've even opened the door, five doors, but a shape that leans more towards sports car than family crossover. Underneath, the GT gets three electric motors, four-wheel drive and 394bhp, hitting 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds from an 89kWh battery good for up to 345 miles. Step up to the more powerful versions and you're looking at around 470hp and a 3.9-second sprint, numbers that put the A390 well into performance-SUV company rather than sensible-family-EV territory.
Is the Alpine A390 actually good to drive?
Here's where a spec sheet stops being useful, because you actually need someone who's driven it to answer this, and the people who have don't entirely agree.
Top Gear's testers came away impressed, describing the handling as genuinely engaging and the car as quick and agile through corners, while flagging a tight rear cabin and a ride that could stand to be a touch softer. Electrifying went further, ranking it among the more rewarding EVs they've driven, and CAR magazine's take was similarly positive on the way it changes direction. Auto Express, meanwhile, found real-world range fell noticeably short of the claimed figure once you're driving briskly, though it got much closer around town.
Not every review lines up with that. Honest John rated the actual driving experience as underwhelming rather than exciting, and pointed out some cheap-feeling cabin materials given the price tag. Worth knowing that going in, this isn't a car everyone who's tried it has fallen for.
How much does the Alpine A390 cost?
Pricing starts at £61,390 for the entry GT, rising to £65,390 for the Première Edition and around £69,390 for the range-topping GTS. That's premium money, but it undercuts the Porsche Macan Electric and sits close to BMW's new iX3.
There's also a finance offer worth knowing about: 3.9% APR on the Première Edition, 48 monthly payments of £640 after deposit and Alpine's own contribution, running on orders placed between 1 July and 30 September 2026. Just don't let the monthly figure distract from what the car costs overall, a car at this price has to earn its place against established rivals on more than an attractive payment plan.
Alpine A390 vs BMW iX3 vs Porsche Macan
Line the numbers up and the trade-off becomes obvious fast. BMW's iX3 starts at £58,755, and its 800-volt platform charges at up to 400kW, enough to add over 200 miles in ten minutes, on top of a genuine frunk. The Porsche Macan Electric starts around £69,800 with its own strong charging credentials.
The A390 can't match either on that front, topping out at 190kW on the GTS (150kW on the GT) and taking around 25 minutes to get from 15% to 80%, with no front boot at all since the motor sits where a frunk would go. It does hold its own on rear boot space though, at roughly 530 litres it edges out the iX3 and comes close to the Macan. The BMW's case is strengthened further by its World Car of the Year 2026 title, which isn't a small thing to have on the spec sheet.
Alpine A390, the pros and cons
What's good:
- Styling that doesn't look like anything else in the class
- Most reviewers rate the handling well above average for an electric SUV
- Boot space that beats the iX3 and nearly matches the Macan
- 0% and low-rate finance currently available
What's not:
- Charging speed is well behind both German rivals
- Claimed range isn't matched in real-world motorway testing
- No frunk, and rear seats are tight for taller passengers
- At least one major reviewer found the interior and driving experience underwhelming for the money
Should you buy an Alpine A390?
It genuinely depends who you'd trust behind the wheel. Most of the reviewers who've spent real time in the A390, Top Gear, CAR and Electrifying among them, come away thinking it's one of the more genuinely fun electric SUVs you can currently buy. Honest John's more critical view is worth reading too, especially if interior polish matters to you more than how a car handles a B-road.
What's not really in question is the trade-off you're making: less range and slower charging than the iX3 or Macan, in exchange for a car more people found rewarding to drive. If range and charging speed top your list, buy the BMW. If you want something that's been built around the driving experience first and you can live with slower top-ups, the A390 deserves a proper look, and the only way to know if it's right for you is to go and try it.
You can book a test drive of the Alpine A390 through authorised dealers via Regit. Book your test drive here