Alpine A290 vs MG MG4 XPOWER, the French response?

The simplest way to compare two cars is to choose two models at equal price. Luckily, we have that with MG and Alpine.

Alpine shouts it loud and clear, today’s sporty compact is electric. For this, the French brand has developed its latest model, the A290, based on the Renault 5. The arrow A-bomb features an impressive body kit made up of specific bumpers, side skirts, sporty 19-inch wheels, generous fender flares, and, of course, a rich array of delightful aerodynamic appendages. The interior follows suit with an F1-style steering wheel that groups numerous controls, bucket seats, and a whole specific atmosphere. The spirit of the Renault 5 Alpine is present in this A290, mission accomplished.

At MG, they also wanted to develop a sporty compact. So basically, they took an MG4 in Luxury trim, equipped it with a new all-wheel-drive powertrain with two big, powerful motors, specific wheels with orange brake calipers for a sporty touch, and that’s it. No body modifications, no aero appendages, no carbon touches, nothing. Inside, some Alcantara instead of fabric and an aluminum pedal set. Move along, there’s nothing more to see.

Since we’re in a sports car battle, we will take a nice A290 GT Performance with the big 220-horsepower engine at 37,700 euros, after a 4,000-euro ecological bonus is deducted. At MG, we will take an MG4 XPOWER in… well just XPOWER since that’s a trim. Its price: only 35,490 euros thanks to a little push of 5,000 euros from MG valid until 30/09/2024. Therefore, you can choose your color for 650 euros from a palette of 7 very original shades and treat yourself to a small track training session to know how to properly handle the beast.

Compare what is comparable

4.29 m long for the MG and 1,800 kg for the MG against 3.99 m and 1,479 kg for the Renault; we will quickly be accused of chauvinism in favoring the agile little Frenchie over the clunky Sino-British. But this is intentional and fully embraced as we have yet to look at the performance.

The Alpine offers 220 horsepower and 300 Nm of torque for fun on twisty roads or the track. The MG4 is brutal with 435 horsepower and 600 Nm. A beautiful beast for drag racing that is anything but ridiculous on the track thanks to finely tuned suspension, incredible pick-up, and above all, an all-wheel drive that gives it a decisive advantage over the Alpine, which is simply front-wheel drive. The top speed is capped at 200 km/h for the MG4 against 170 for the A290. On the highway, this is obviously not important, but a sports car must also know how to perform on closed roads. Finally, the MG4 needs only 3.8 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h compared to 6.4 seconds for the French model.

Last important point, the range. We suspect that neither sporty model is intended to cover as many kilometers as possible on the highway, but it matters. The Alpine has a 52 kWh battery and a WLTP range of 361 km, while the MG does better with 64 kWh and 385 km. Annoying, isn’t it?

The numbers are stubborn, but in the end, it’s all a matter of taste. The Alpine is really cute while the MG is ultimately quite bland. The stylistic exercise that led to the genesis of the A290 was particularly difficult as it had to respect the Alpine spirit. Jean Rédélé, the founder of Alpine, never made chasing lap times a priority, preferring to prioritize lightness and agility for the joy of driving, and in this respect, the mission is accomplished. The MG is a formidable pure and tough sports car, while the Alpine is more like a bourgeois in luxury jogging wear. If you have the means to splurge on either one, just ask yourself what kind of usage you wish to make of it.

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