Alpine A290 Knowledge Base

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Things a prospective owner should know


Buying decisions & pricing §

Salary sacrifice/leasing is a popular route via Octopus EV - "Everything covered: insurance, maintenance, tyres, tax." GT on salary sacrifice: c.£211/month net (3yr, 10k miles/year). GTS+ typically £300–370/month. Leasing often £350/month + VAT, 12k miles, 36 months.

Finance: MY25 models at 2.9% APR; MY26+ at 4.9% APR. 1.9% APR deals available at some dealers on GTS models. Cash buyer discounts of up to £5,000 reported; finance discounts up to £3,000 at 1.9%.

Government grant: MY26+ models eligible for the full £3,750 Electric Car Grant (previously £1,500 for non-"+" models). The £40k threshold matters for luxury car tax - some have managed to spec dealer cars under £40k.

Stock vs factory order: Stock cars available with c.4 month delivery. Lots of stock reported - Autotrader listings increased from 55 to 75 in one month. Many come with driver packs people don't want. Some dealers had 20–30+ cars on site.

Model differences §

GT (180PS): Base model, 180bhp. No Devialet sound system (pedestrian warning sound only). No Nappa leather. Standard cloth seats. Telemetrics optional extra.

GT Performance (220PS): 220bhp (same as GTS). Cloth seats - some owners prefer these to leather for durability. Devialet and telemetrics optional or standard depending on spec.

GT Premium (DISCONTINUED in MY26): Was the "sweet spot" - 180PS with Nappa leather and Devialet. No longer available.

GTS (220PS): 220bhp. Nappa leather seats, Devialet sound system, blue Brembo calipers all standard. GTS Premiere Edition available with all blue interior and special badging. Floor mats included. Telemetrics standard.

MY26+ changes §

Range reality (set expectations!) §

WLTP is 226 miles (GTS). Real-world figures are significantly different:

EVs universally lose 30–40% range in cold weather. The small battery (52kWh usable) means drops are felt more acutely. Not ideal as an only car for long distance commuters. Perfect as a second car or for short commutes.

Insurance §

Dramatically cheaper than comparable ICE hot hatches. Typical range: £200–300/year for experienced drivers with NCB.

Common first impressions §

Common concerns: Range anxiety (especially winter), no cup holders, poor reverse camera quality, app reliability, torque steer (though "nowhere near as prevalent as reviewers lead you to believe").

Buy this car if… §

Think twice if… §

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