Alpine A390 First Drive: Electric Crossover With A110 Spirit?

content: Is the Alpine A390 the Fun Family EV We’ve Been Waiting For?

If you love Alpine’s A110 sports car but need something practical for family life, the A390 electric crossover might be your match. We tested it on the wet handling circuit at Mishla Ladu proving ground—here’s our take on whether it keeps the brand’s playful spirit.

Alpine’s engineers designed the A390 to stand out from its Renault Scenic and Nissan Ariya cousins. Unlike those front-wheel-drive models, the A390 uses three electric motors: one at the front and two at the rear (back-to-back for each wheel). This setup enables true torque vectoring—instead of just braking the inside wheel, it speeds up the outside rear wheel to enhance cornering. According to Alpine, this makes the car feel lighter than its EV weight suggests, harking back to the A110’s agility.

content: Wet Track Performance: Key Takeaways

Our test was limited to wet conditions, but it revealed critical details about the A390’s dynamics.

Steering and Handling

The steering feels familiar to the A290 hot hatch: light but intuitively geared, letting you sense when the car approaches its limit. On wet surfaces, you can nudge it into gentle slides without losing control—intentional, not accidental.

Drive Modes: Simple Yet Effective

Alpine kept modes straightforward:

• Normal: Safe, balanced, mild understeer, strict stability control.
• Sport: Steering weights up, stability control loosens, more rear power (dry roads highlight this better).
• Track: More rear power, amplified torque vectoring, freer sliding. Stability control intervenes if needed, but you can turn it off fully.

Braking: A Minor Caveat

Unlike the A290’s brake-by-wire system, the A390’s brakes feel softer. Functional, but not as confidence-inspiring—something Alpine may tweak before launch.

content: Rival Comparisons and Future Outlook

The A390’s natural rival is the Hyundai Ioniq 5N (two motors, rear limited-slip differential). While we can’t declare a winner yet, its torque vectoring gives it a unique cornering edge.

Alpine plans early 2026 deliveries, so tuning is ongoing. We’re eager to test it on dry roads and compare it head-to-head with the Ioniq 5N.

content: Actionable Checklist for A390 Enthusiasts

1. Follow Alpine’s website for 2026 delivery and pricing updates.
2. Test Track mode on dry roads to experience its full potential.
3. Compare to the Ioniq 5N once both are available.
4. Join forums like PistonHeads to share insights with other fans.

content: Final Thoughts

The A390 is a promising step for Alpine—combining family practicality with A110-style fun. Its torque vectoring is a standout, and simple modes make it accessible to all drivers.

Question: Which A390 feature excites you most—playful handling or crossover practicality? Share your thoughts below!