In the world of car reviews, some vehicles just stick with you. They’re the ones you remember, the ones you daydream about, and the ones you keep pictures of on your phone. The Alpine A110 is definitely one of those cars. It feels like a throwback to a simpler time, a lightweight sports car that’s a bit of a rarity these days with all the heavy, tech-filled cars out there. I took it for a spin to see if it really lives up to the hype and if it’s a better choice than a Porsche Cayman.
A Nod to History
Alpine has a pretty cool history, starting way back in 1955 thanks to a racing driver and Renault dealer. After kind of losing its way for a bit, the brand made a comeback in 2017 with this car. It’s interesting because this A110 might actually be paving the way for Alpine’s electric future, with new electric models on the horizon. But for now, this one’s got a petrol engine right in the middle, putting out 250 horsepower. And honestly, with the car weighing just around 1,000 kilos, that’s plenty of power. If you want more, there are versions with over 300 horsepower, but I think 250 is more than enough.
Design and Details
Having owned cars like a Mazda MX5 and a Porsche 911, I feel like I can appreciate what this car is trying to do. It has some of that nimble MX5 feel, and its proportions, especially around the rear engine vent, remind me a bit of a 911. Even the shoulder line has a hint of Aston Martin about it. Around the sides, you’ll find 320mm Brembo brakes, which should stop you just fine. The two-tone Alpine wheels look sharp, but you’ll want to be careful not to scuff them. They’re wrapped in Michelin tires, sometimes even custom ones made for Alpine. The roofline is nice and low, and you can spot the French flag detail – a nice touch. There are vents near the rear wheels, and the back of the car is pretty striking with its single center exhaust pipe and distinctive taillights.
Practicality? Sort Of.
Now, let’s talk about space. The boot at the back isn’t huge; you might fit a weekend bag in there. There’s also a front trunk, which is a bit bigger, but this isn’t the car you’d take on a long trip with lots of luggage. It’s just not that kind of vehicle. You can see the Alpine badge on the engine cover through the glass, which is a neat detail. The front lights are also really eye-catching, and this car definitely turns heads on the road.
The Driving Experience
This car uses double wishbone suspension all around. If you’re wondering about size, it’s nearly 1,800mm wide, so keep that in mind if you need to park it in a tight spot.
What else competes with this? Well, there were cars like the Lotus Elise and Audi TT, and of course, the Porsche 718, which is quite a bit pricier. One cool thing about the Alpine is that the road tax isn’t crazy expensive. Fuel economy is around 9 liters per 100km, which is pretty good for the performance you get. You get amazing handling without the high running costs you might expect from a Porsche. I recently had a maintenance bill for my own car that made me think about how much cheaper something like this might be to keep on the road. However, you could buy a used 911 for a similar price to a new A110, and a 911 is obviously a more substantial car. But the A110 is just pure fun.
It’s a very low car, so getting in and out might be a bit tricky depending on your mobility. Don’t expect a ton of luxury features for the price, either. You get climate control, Apple CarPlay, and a few buttons. The main ones you’ll use are for the gear selector and the engine start button, which pulses like it’s eager to be pressed. The Sabelt seats are comfortable, but adjusting them lower requires an Allen key – you’ll likely set them once and leave them. Some parts might feel familiar if you’ve seen them in Renault Clios, which might not sit well with some buyers, but it keeps things simple.
There’s a red sport button on the steering wheel, and big paddle shifters if you want to change gears yourself. The gearbox is a seven-speed automatic. The dashboard materials are a bit basic, with some scratchy plastic and air vents that don’t move. You won’t find blind-spot monitoring or wireless charging here. It uses USB-A ports and an auxiliary input, which feels like a real throwback. For the price, some might expect more modern conveniences.
It’s worth noting that the older models don’t look drastically different and might even be a bit less refined. You might find some pre-registered ones for a bit less than the new version. Importing one from the UK might not be worth the hassle unless you’re not worried about the cost.
Driving Dynamics and Sound
Driving this car, I noticed it felt a bit quieter than I remembered. Maybe Alpine has toned things down slightly for emissions or regulations. The sport button does make it hold gears longer and add some pops and bangs, but it’s not as loud or boisterous as I recall. Still, the best sports cars balance performance with comfort, and this car does that well. It can be a bit unforgiving on rough roads, but on a good surface, it’s a really enjoyable drive. There’s a bit more give in the suspension than you might expect.
Fuel efficiency is around 9.1 liters per 100 kilometers, similar to a Golf GTI. It’s not as thirsty as a Golf R, which makes sense given its lighter weight. Noise insulation isn’t perfect; you’ll hear the turbo spooling, which some people might actually like. If you think of this as a track car you can use daily, it helps explain the limitations in soundproofing for the price.
Performance and Handling
The acceleration is quick, with a nice turbo whoosh and exhaust pops. It seems to have escaped some of the newer EU regulations, so there are no speed limit signs in the instruments and no annoying beeps. While I don’t mind the lack of beeps, I do miss the speed sign, because this car can get you to high speeds very, very quickly. It’s capable of 0-60 mph in under 4 seconds, so you need a good amount of restraint to avoid misbehaving.
It’s just gloriously fast. Cornering is excellent; it just hugs the road, and the grip from those Michelin tires is immense. It’s like an MX5 on steroids. You could argue it doesn’t need quite this much power, maybe 200 horsepower would be just as fun, but who’s complaining?
When parking, you get front and rear parking sensors but no cameras, so you’ll need to be careful with those low spoilers. I used the paddles sometimes, but with most automatic gearboxes, you often forget about them. After about 20-30 seconds, it reverts to automatic mode. Reaching motorway speeds in seconds is always fun. It’s not too noisy on the motorway at around 100-120 km/h; tire noise is the most noticeable thing. The low-slung design is aerodynamic, helping it cut through the air. It has regular cruise control, not adaptive. When you want to overtake, it drops down a few gears, but sometimes it’s not sure which gear it wants, and you have to ease off for it to settle into seventh.
The Future of Fun Cars
Are cars like this really the biggest polluters? Cars that people take out for a Sunday drive? Why can’t we petrolheads still have something like this? We can, if we buy them now, but how long will they be around? It’s a shame.
The Alpine A110 is a fun car to drive, especially on a good road, but it can handle normal driving too. That’s what makes some of the best sports cars great – they’re livable, not bone-shakers. But like with other car reviews, there’s a bit of sadness because these cars won’t be around forever, especially with all the EU regulations. Hopefully, synthetic fuels or something else will give cars like this a new lease on life. Without them, driving just won’t be as fun.
They’re not for everyone, I get that. But for people who are passionate about cars, it feels like we’re being punished. It doesn’t seem right. What do you think of this gorgeous little car? Let me know in the comments. Thanks for watching, and I really appreciate you watching the ads and subscribing – it truly helps the channel. See you next time.