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Alpine A290 vs VW ID.3 Neo
Selected trimGT +Change trim234 mi · 52 kWh · £33,995
At a glance
The Alpine A290 leads on family practicality, while the VW ID.3 Neo leads on motorway range, charging speed and running costs.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Alpine A290 if...
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
Choose the VW ID.3 Neo if...
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.6p per mile on off-peak electricity
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The VW ID.3 Neo leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
Value
Alpine
4.5
VW
4.1
Too close to call
Motorway RangeVW
Alpine
3.1
VW
6.2
FamilyAlpine
Alpine
5.9
VW
4.3
ChargingVW
Alpine
5.5
VW
6.2
Cost Per MileVW
Alpine
3.4
VW
9.6
City Driving
Alpine
7.9
VW
7.9
Too close to call
What each car does better
The measurable advantages behind each verdict - every claim carries its own evidence.
Key specifications
The essentials for the selected trims.
| Measure | Alpine A290GT + | VW ID.3 NeoLife 50 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £33,995 | £33,080 (better) |
| Official range | 234 miles | 258 miles (better) |
| Boot space | 326 L | 385 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 30 min | 24 min (better) |
| 0-62 mph | 7.4 sec (better) | 8.6 sec |
Size Comparison
View:
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Alpine A290
VW ID.3 Neo
Length
Alpine A2903,997mm-290mm
VW ID.3 Neo4,287mm
Width
Alpine A2901,823mm
VW ID.3 Neo1,809mm-14mm
Height
Alpine A2901,512mm-42mm
VW ID.3 Neo1,554mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions and how each car fits into typical UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Alpine A290GT + | VW ID.3 NeoLife 50 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3,997 mm | 4,287 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,823 mm | 1,809 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,020 mm | 2,015 mm (better) |
| Height | 1,512 mm | 1,554 mm |
| Turning circle | 10.2 m | 10.2 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 577 mm spare | 591 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Passenger capacity, child-seat provision, luggage space and towing.
| Measure | Alpine A290GT + | VW ID.3 NeoLife 50 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| ISOFIX child-seat points | Not available | 2 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 326 L | 385 L (better) |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1106 L | 1267 L (better) |
| Frunk | Not available | 0 L |
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Alpine A290
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
VW ID.3 Neo
- 258 mile WLTP range, longer than 85% of hatchback EVs we track.
- One of 33 of 232 UK EVs in our catalogue with V2L (vehicle-to-load) support.
- 2,764 mm wheelbase, longer than 95% of hatchback EVs we track.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Alpine A290 GT + |  VW ID.3 Neo Life 50 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.00m | 4.29m+290mm |
| Width | 1.82m | 1.81m-14mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.02m | 2.02m-5mm |
| Height | 1.51m | 1.55m+42mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.53m | 2.76m+230mm |
| Ground Clearance | Not available | 150mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 326L | 385L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | 1106L | 1267L (better) |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 10.2m | 10.2m |
| Kerb Weight | 1,483kg | Not available |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 52kWh (better) | 50kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 234 mi | 258 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 100kW | 100kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £33,995 | £33,080 (better) |
| Price after EV grant | £30,245 (-£3,750) (better) | £31,580 (-£1,500) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Available | 2025+ | 2026+ |
* VW ID.3 Neo: Not yet Euro NCAP tested as of 2026-09. The 2025 five-star rating was for the ID.3 it replaces.
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Compare official and estimated range, charging performance, efficiency and batteries.
| Measure | Alpine A290GT + | VW ID.3 NeoLife 50 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 234 miles | 258 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 155 miles | 215 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 30 min | 24 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 100 kW | 100 kW |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | Not available |
| Energy consumption | 165 Wh/km | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 52 kWh (better) | 50 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | Not available |
| Battery architecture | 400V | 400V |
| Heat pump | Not available | Not standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Acceleration, power and drivetrain for the selected trims.
| Measure | Alpine A290GT + | VW ID.3 NeoLife 50 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 7.4 sec (better) | 8.6 sec |
| Power | 130 kW (better) | 125 kW |
| Torque | 285 Nm | Not available |
| Drivetrain | FWD | RWD |
What the critics say
Aggregated road-test scores from the UK motoring press. One car has more review coverage than the other - we show that rather than guessing.
Alpine A290
GT +
VW ID.3 Neo
Life 50 kWh
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
Watch the reviews
A taster of each car's video reviews - the full carousel lives on the model page.
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; specifications above describe your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
Your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car usually matter more than an EV-only annual estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance against an ICE alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Your cost per mile against petrol and diesel, for where you would charge.
Check a lease quote
Test the effective monthly cost against list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - Alpine A290 GT +
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant80%
Child Occupant80%
Vulnerable Road Users76%
Safety Assist68%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - VW ID.3 Neo Life 50 kWh
VW ID.3 Neo Life 50 kWh
Not yet Euro NCAP tested as of 2026-09. The 2025 five-star rating was for the ID.3 it replaces.
Warranty
Published battery warranty terms for the selected trims.
| Measure | Alpine A290GT + | VW ID.3 NeoLife 50 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | Not available | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | Not available | 160,000 km |
Buying options
Get a quote
Alpine A290
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
VW ID.3 Neo
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Alpine A290 or the VW ID.3 Neo?
The VW ID.3 Neo is £915 cheaper to buy. The VW ID.3 Neo is cheaper to charge, roughly £128 a year versus £184 for the Alpine A290, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the VW ID.3 Neo comes out roughly £1,195 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Alpine A290 and VW ID.3 Neo like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 155 miles for the Alpine A290 and 215 miles for the VW ID.3 Neo - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The VW ID.3 Neo goes roughly 60 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 24-30 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Alpine A290 or the VW ID.3 Neo?
The two are within 14 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 591 mm of total clearance for the VW ID.3 Neo and about 577 mm of total clearance for the Alpine A290.
Go deeper on each car
Owner feedback, critic verdicts, used prices and battery health live on the full model pages.
Compare against other rivals
Similar EVs by size and price, worth lining up before you decide.
More Alpine A290 comparisons
More VW ID.3 Neo comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the Alpine A290 and VW ID.3 Neo rank among the cheapest EVs after the grantWhere the Alpine A290 and VW ID.3 Neo rank among the best family EVsWhere the Alpine A290 and VW ID.3 Neo rank among EVs under £40,000Where the Alpine A290 and VW ID.3 Neo rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Alpine A290 and VW ID.3 Neo rank among the best city EVsWhere the Alpine A290 and VW ID.3 Neo rank among the cheapest EVs to run
If neither is quite right
Other verified EVs that address where this pair falls short.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .