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Alpine A290 vs VW ID.Polo
Selected trimGT +Change trim234 mi · 52 kWh · £33,995
At a glance
In this comparison, Alpine A290 stays competitive across the board, while the VW ID.Polo leads on value for money, motorway range and family practicality.
Which should you choose?
Choose the VW ID.Polo if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you have a family - it has the best combination of boot space, safety, and rear legroom
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.5p per mile on off-peak electricity
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The VW ID.Polo wins almost every category - it's the clear choice unless price is the deciding factor.
ValueVW
Alpine
4.5
VW
6.3
Motorway RangeVW
Alpine
3.1
VW
5.1
FamilyVW
Alpine
5.9
VW
8.3
ChargingVW
Alpine
5.5
VW
6.3
Cost Per MileVW
Alpine
3.4
VW
9.8
City Driving
Alpine
7.9
VW
7.5
Too close to call
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Alpine A290GT + | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £33,995 | £23,945 (better) |
| Official range | 234 miles (better) | 204 miles |
| Boot space | 326 L | 441 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 30 min | 23 min (better) |
| 0-62 mph | 7.4 sec | Not available |
Size Comparison
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Alpine A290
VW ID.Polo
Length
Alpine A2903,997mm-56mm
VW ID.Polo4,053mm
Width
Alpine A2901,823mm
VW ID.Polo1,816mm-7mm
Height
Alpine A2901,512mm-18mm
VW ID.Polo1,530mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Alpine A290GT + | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3,997 mm | 4,053 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,823 mm | 1,816 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,020 mm | Not available |
| Height | 1,512 mm | 1,530 mm |
| Turning circle | 10.2 m (better) | 10.9 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 577 mm spare | 584 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Alpine A290GT + | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 326 L | 441 L (better) |
| Boot space (seats down) | 1106 L | 1240 L (better) |
Full specifications
| Specification |  Alpine A290 GT + |  VW ID.Polo Life 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.00m | 4.05m+56mm |
| Width | 1.82m | 1.82m-7mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.02m | Not available |
| Height | 1.51m | 1.53m+18mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.53m | 2.59m+58mm |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 326L | 441L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | 1106L | 1240L (better) |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 10.2m (better) | 10.9m |
| Kerb Weight | 1,483kg | Not available |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 52kWh (better) | 37kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 234 mi (better) | 204 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 100kW (better) | 90kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £33,995 | £23,945 (better) |
| Price after EV grant | £30,245 (-£3,750) | £23,945 (not eligible) |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | Hatchback | Hatchback |
| Available | 2025+ | 2027+ |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Alpine A290GT + | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 234 miles (better) | 204 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 155 miles | 170 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 30 min | 23 min (better) |
| Max rapid charge rate | 100 kW (better) | 90 kW |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | Not available |
| Energy consumption | 165 Wh/km | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 52 kWh (better) | 37 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | Not available |
| Battery architecture | 400V | Not available |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Alpine A290GT + | VW ID.PoloLife 116PS |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 7.4 sec | Not available |
| Power | 130 kW (better) | 85 kW |
| Torque | 285 Nm | Not available |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD |
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests. One car has more review coverage than the other - we show that rather than guessing.
Alpine A290
GT +
VW ID.Polo
Life 116PS
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the 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)
Buying options
Get a quote
Alpine A290
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
VW ID.Polo
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Frequently asked questions
Is the Alpine A290 worth the extra £10,050 over the VW ID.Polo?
The Alpine A290 costs £10,050 more than the VW ID.Polo. For that premium it adds 30 miles more WLTP range and 45 kW more power. The VW ID.Polo is not just cheaper - it also offers 115 litres more boot space. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the VW ID.Polo comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Alpine A290 or the VW ID.Polo?
The VW ID.Polo is £10,050 cheaper to buy. The VW ID.Polo is cheaper to charge, roughly £120 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.Polo comes out roughly £10,370 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.Polo like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 155 miles for the Alpine A290 and 170 miles for the VW ID.Polo - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The VW ID.Polo goes roughly 16 miles further between charging stops. Both rapid-charge to 80% in a similar time, around 23-30 minutes.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Alpine A290 or the VW ID.Polo?
The two are within 7 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 584 mm of total clearance for the VW ID.Polo and about 577 mm of total clearance for the Alpine A290. The Alpine A290 also turns in a 0.7 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More Alpine A290 comparisons
More VW ID.Polo 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.Polo rank among the best family EVsWhere the Alpine A290 and VW ID.Polo rank among EVs under £40,000Where the Alpine A290 and VW ID.Polo rank among the best small electric carsWhere the Alpine A290 and VW ID.Polo rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Alpine A290 and VW ID.Polo rank among the best city EVsWhere the Alpine A290 and VW ID.Polo rank among the cheapest EVs to run
If neither is quite right
Explore other verified electric cars that may better suit the priorities this pair does not meet.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .