Call it sacrilege, but the first-ever 67,500 Euro EV crossover from Alpine, the A390, is a grim reality Alpine fanatics are facing head-on since the five-door Renault 5-based Alpine A290.
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| 2026 Alpine A390 |
Designed to compete with the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Porsche Macan, the first-ever A390 enhances Alpine's ambition for electrification that started with the A290. As Alpine's first electric vehicle crossover, some enthusiasts may view it as a betrayal of the brand's heritage. However, the driving experience it offers is a groundbreaking step forward.
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| 2026 Alpine A390 |
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| 2026 Alpine A390 interior |
From concept to reality, the A390's coupe-style silhouette is all about making a statement for the brand's first EV crossover. The front view is suspiciously reminiscent of the Alpenglow concepts, while the rear view could easily be mistaken for the Lotus Emira. Overall, it's a long story short: this all-electric coupe-style SUV wears the Alpine emblem.
Come inside, the A390 uses Groupe Renault's familiar dashboard layout that combines the all-familiar 12.3-inch horizontal screen joined by the L-shaped Google-powered 12-inch vertical touchscreen that controls the infotainment, climate control, and others. In the interest of space, this five-seater can accommodate up to 532 litres of boot space with the rear seats present, with up to 1643 litres with the passenger seats folded down, making it the most spacious Alpine car you can buy.
The A390 features a tri-motor setup, providing all-wheel drive (AWD) capability, along with an 89 kWh lithium nickel battery. The GT version produces 400 horsepower and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, with a top speed of 200 km/h and a driving range of 551 km. In contrast, the GTS version delivers 470 horsepower and up to 808 Nm of maximum torque, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds. The GTS has a top speed of 220 km/h and a driving range of 497 km.
Such performance is made possible by the OV button that gives this SUV a 10-second power boost. Can't do that with the Nissan Ariya NISMO.
The A390 is fairly manageable as an SUV, although the bulk of its EV powertrain results in a somewhat mild driving experience. It does feature unique Active Torque Vectoring and custom Michelin Pilot Sport tires to enhance handling. While you might find yourself needing some trips to the clinic and packs of painkillers after a day at the track, for everyday use, it’s not too difficult to live with, especially with the wide array of ADAS at its disposal.
Although it is a controversial decision, the Alpine A390 represents the beginning of the "new normal," emerging unexpectedly.
Available Colors: Blanc Topaze, Bleu Alpine Vision, Bleu Abysse, Argent Mercure, and Noir Profond.
Photo: Alpine Cars
