Summary
The Alpine A110 is a small sports car from the re-born brand owned by Renault. It was unveiled in early 2017 and went on sale in the UK in early 2018.
The design of the A110 deliberately harks back to Alpine’s famous 1960s car of the same name. It was initially launched with only one specification of engine and gearbox, although an upgraded A110S model went on sale later in 2019 with an extra 40hp and a weight reduction of a few kilos.
The Alpine A110 has received consistently positive reviews from the UK motoring media, and has won several awards. It has been unanimously praised for its driving dynamics, with only mild criticisms concerning its obvious lack of practicality and questionable quality of some interior fixtures.
As of August 2024, the A110 holds a New Car Expert Rating score of C, with a score of 64%. It scores top marks from motoring journalists, while its CO2 emissions are also low. However, running costs are high, while the Alpine’s score also suffers from a lack of indepedent safety testing by Euro NCAP.
Alpine A110 highlights
- Outstanding driving dynamics
- Compact size
- Relatively light in weight
- Excellent cabin ergonomics
Alpine A110 lowlights
- Relatively thirsty for its size
- High insurance premiums
- Some average interior quality in places
- Obvious impracticality
Key specifications
Body style: Two-door coupé
Engine: petrol
Price: From £46,905 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2017
Last updated: Spring 2020
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
“With tricolour badges emblazoned across the inside and outside, it’s got Parisian passion seeping through its fuel lines. The A110 feels alive, it wants to go and it wants to go fast.”
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Auto Express
Model reviewed: R (2023)
Score: 8 / 10
“It’s expensive, yes, and the ride is no longer as soothing as the original A110’s, which is a shame. But the A110 R is so much sharper to drive it just about gets away with its relative lack of civility.”
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Model reviewed: Legende GT 2021
Score: 8 / 10
“The upholstery enhancements, trim tweaks and more elegant look of the Legende GT have boosted what the A110 offers.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Alpine A110 captures the magic of the 1960s original; a lightweight, fun-to-drive, two-seater sports car.”
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Model reviewed: A110S
Score: 9 / 10
“If anyone was concerned Alpine might have spoiled the A110 by making this S version even stiffer and more focused, they needn’t have worried.”
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Score: 9 / 10
“The A110 might lack the all-round quality of a Porsche Cayman or Audi TT, but even at its most basic, few cars on sale today are more fun.”
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Autocar
Model reviewed: R
Score: 8 / 10
“Stiffer but better damped, the A110 R is a different kind of A110. There’s something quite enthralling about such a light car with so much grip, and it turns out the basic formula adapts to this more serious role remarkably well.”
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Model reviewed: Legende GT 2021
Score: 9 / 10
“‘Exemplar of French sophistication’ explores a more premium realm for the Alpine A110.”
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Model reviewed: A110 S
Score: 9 / 10
“At its core, this is just an A110 running some extra turbo boost, some weight removed and some stiffer suspension components swapped in.”
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Model reviewed: Pure
Score: 10 / 10
“The Pure is the entry-level Alpine A110 – not that this should put you off in the slightest.”
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Score: 10 / 10
“The A110 is quick, agile, effusive and ultimately enormous, accessible fun. It deserves the full five stars.”
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Car
Model reviewed: A110R
Score: 8 / 10
“The Alpine A110R successfully uncorks the base car’s go-faster potential with a much more precise, planted feel and nicer steering too. It gives its driver confidence to really dig into the mid-engined dynamics with exceptional body control, endless grip, and a more neutral balance (if one we’d properly tweak to be a little less neutral).” (Ben Barry)
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Model reviewed: A110S
Score: 10 / 10
“There’s been a huge amount of pressure on the Alpine team to get the A110 right, and they’ve absolutely delivered.”
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Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 10 / 10
“This is an unintimidating yet thrilling sports car to chuck down a sinuous road, and the best possible advertisement for reducing weight instead of increasing power.”
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Model reviewed: A110 Première and Légende
Score: 10 / 10
“There’s been a huge amount of pressure on the Alpine team to get the A110 right, and they’ve absolutely delivered. It looks as desirable as any TT, Cayman, 4C or F-type, and in terms of dynamics and driving enjoyment there’s no doubt this is a five-star car.”
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Carbuyer
Score: 7.2 / 10
“The Alpine A110 is a mid-engined sports car that’s fast, fun and surprisingly cheap to run. Just don’t expect to carry much with you.”
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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Alpine A110 harks back to the World Rally Championship-winning car of 1973 with the same name. It’s still quick, still lightweight, but its interior quality is disappointing.”
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Daily Mail
“Porsche Cayman, watch out.”
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Evo
Model reviewed: A110S
Score: 10 / 10
“The changes to the powertrain for the S model are small, but have a notable effect on the character of this small French coupe.”
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Score: 9 / 10
“The Alpine A110 is a refreshing tonic to Teutonic rivals. Agile, fast and gorgeous to look at, it almost justifies its hefty price tag.”
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Enthusiastic drivers of the world rejoiced when the first critiques of the A110 came back with raving reviews, this a sports car that harks back, not just visually, to a bygone age where driving was engaging and fun, without an emphasis on big power and ridiculous speeds.”
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Motoring Research
Model reviewed:
Score: 9 / 10
“The Alpine A110 is a car designed by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts. Practicality can wait for another day.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 9.6 / 10
“Reinvented French sports car so close to perfection, it hurts”
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The Sun
“The Alpine A110A is quick but also as agile as a cat trained in gymnastics.”
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The Sunday Times
Score: 9 / 10
“A Ferrari is more exciting, but the Alpine excites more often.” (James May)
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed: A110 S
Score: 10 / 10
“You can’t improve on perfection – but while the A110 S is fractionally less endearing than the car on which it’s based, it’s every bit as exciting.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“Sensational and assured debut for the returning Alpine marque. New A110 looks terrific, goes like blue blazes and gives all the thrills of a mid-engined sports coupe. It needs care when driving, however, it’s expensive and it’s going to take a lot to prise people out of their Porsche Caymans.”
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“A terrific car, a genuine exponent of light weight and something pleasingly different to drive.”
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What Car?
Score: 10 / 10
“The Alpine A110 is one of the most entertaining and rewarding sports cars you can buy – at any price.”
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Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
As of August 2024, the Alpine A110 has not been crash tested by Euro NCAP and given its tiny sales volumes, it’s not likely to be.
If it does, we’ll include the results here.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
As of August 2024, the Alpine A110 has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
If the A110 is put through the Green NCAP lab testing programme, we will publish the results here.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of August 2024, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Alpine A110 to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusive from extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the A110, we’ll publish the score here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Fuel consumption | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Petrol models | 41 mpg | D | 39 – 44 mpg | C – D |
| CO₂ output | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Petrol models | 157 g/km | C | 152 – 163 g/km | B – C |
| Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| All models | 49 | E | 47 – 50 | D – F |
The Alpine A110 has more expensive running costs than the market average, according to data exclusively provided by our commercial partner Clear Vehicle Data.
As a sports car, you won’t be surprised to read that it is thirstier than the average petrol car, but with an average fuel consumption of 41 mpg, it is slightly more economical day-to-day than rivals like the Audi TT and BMW Z4. The A110’s insurance premiums are on the more expensive side too.
We don’t currently have servicing and maintenance costs for the Alpine A110, so check back again soon.
Recalls
Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Alpine A110
Date: December 2023
Model types: All
Build dates: 09/2017 to 04/2022
Number of vehicles affected: 811
Defect: On affected vehicles the fuel supply to the engine can be reduced or even made impossible due to the friction of the impeller an internal component of the fuel pump.
Remedy: Replace the pump gauge module and/or reprogram the injection computer software.
Date: July 2021
Model types: All
Build dates: 10/2018 to 01/2020
Number of vehicles affected: 192
Defect: On affected vehicles there is a potential fault with the fuel pump module. This could result in the vehicle not starting and, in rare circumstances, a loss of torque or engine stalling.
Remedy: Replace the fuel pump module and reprogram the injection computer.
Date: July 2019
Model types: All
Build dates: 09/2018 to 07/2019
Number of vehicles affected: 240
Defect: The oil pressure control solenoid valve may malfunction causing a blockage in the high oil pressure position when required for engine performance.
Remedy: Software update check and replacement of the oil pressure solenoid if required.
Date: June 2019
Model types: All
Build dates: 07/2018 to 11/2018
Number of vehicles affected: 166
Defect: Exhaust value solenoid wiring may short circuit due to contact on the exhaust.
Remedy: Fit a protective sleeve to the wiring.
Date: June 2019
Model types: All
Build dates: 07/2018 to 02/2019
Number of vehicles affected: 206
Defect: Incorrect tightening of front luggage compartment (bonnet) bolts. Extreme risk front luggage compartment may open when driving.
Remedy: Check and if required correct the torque of the front luggage compartment bolts.
As of August 2024, there have been five DVSA vehicle safety recalls on the Alpine A110. These cover fuel pumps, exhaust and incorrectly tightened bolts.
Not all vehicles are affected by recalls. You can check to see if your car is included in any of the above recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Alpine dealer.
If your car is affected by a recall, the vehicle must be repaired and you should not be charged for any work required. If you are buying a used A110, you should insist that any outstanding recall work is completed before you take delivery of the vehicle.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Alpine A110 has received
2022
- Parkers New Car Awards – Best Fun Car
2021
- Auto Express Awards – Best Coupé
2020
- Auto Express Awards – Best Coupé
- What Car Awards? – Best Sports Car
- Autocar Britain’s Best Car Awards – Best Dream Car
2019
- Auto Express Awards – Best Coupé
- UK Car of the Year Awards – Best Performance Car
- What Car Awards? – Best Sports Car
- Parkers New Car Awards – Best Car for Thrill-Seekers
2018
- evo Awards – Best Coupé
- Top Gear Awards – Best Sports Car
- Historic Motoring Awards – Octane Best Performance Car
- Motor Sport Magazine Awards – Car of the Year
- Autocar Awards – Five-star car
- Festival Automobile International – Most Beautiful Car of 2017
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Alpine A110, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Abarth 124 Spider | Alfa Romeo 4C | Audi TT | BMW Z4 | Jaguar F-Type | Lotus Elise | Porsche 718 Cayman | Toyota GR Supra
Directly comparing sports cars is often difficult, as they are far more personal and emotive than conventional commutermobiles. Of the above cars, most are quite different in how they drive and how they are priced so direct, like-for-like, comparisons can be quite difficult.
Buy an Alpine A110
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