Alpine A110 Review & Prices

If you’re looking to treat yourself to a new sports car, the Alpine A110 is one you may have an eye on. It’s the kind of car to compare with the Porsche Cayman, Lotus Emira and Toyota Supra.

The A110 is like camembert cheese. It’s a dollop of French fancy that may not be the obvious choice, but have a taste and you may find it a well-acquired one.

There’s undoubtedly an air of mystery about the Alpine. Proper car nerds will spot its heavy influence from the original Alpine A110 of the ‘60s, but you can look forward to explaining what exactly it is to the vast majority of people. You can just tell them it’s the sporty arm of Renault if you’re stuck for ideas.

It’s equally as exotic-feeling inside. You’ll sink into some snug sports seats (or if you go for the S, race car-like buckets) and there are a plethora of high-quality materials. You’ve got the choice of leather or suede, but both are plush.

That said, you’ll soon notice some pretty cheap-feeling controls sourced from the Renault parts bin. Also sourced from there is a 7.0-inch infotainment, though it’s quite low-res and the system itself is pretty basic. You do get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard, at least.

If practicality is a concern, you’ll want to look elsewhere. On paper, the Alpine A110 has 96 litres of boot space, and an extra 100 litres under the bonnet. Realistically, you’re lucky to squeeze a weekend bag in the back and anything that’s more than a few centimetres tall up front.

Powering the Alpine is a 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol engine, as seen in the Renault Megane RS. Base spec cars kick out 252hp, though S and GT models take that to 300hp. Doesn’t sound like too much for a modern sports car, but with it weighing just over 1,100kg, it launches you with the ferocity of a ballistic missile.

Weighing so little helps the A110’s handling too, allowing you to thread through corners with surgeon-like precision. Pushed hard, it’s one of the sharpest and most exciting cars out there.

When you’re winding down, you’ll be delighted to know the A110 does the whole cruising thing wonderfully. It’s super comfortable over bumps in base and GT form, although S versions are a bit harsher and probably worth avoiding with the rough state of UK roads.

It’s not all daily-driving friendly though. Visibility is terrible, leaving the A110 feeling three times its size when you’re plodding around town. Parking sensors and a reversing camera are available, but the latter is rather fuzzy.

For a serious sports car with a true exotic edge, the Alpine A110 is worth a look. Though it lacks the space of a Toyota Supra or the finer quality of a Porsche Cayman, it more than makes up for it with sheer thrills.

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