Renault 5 crowned 2025 European Car of the Year
The Renault 5 E-Tech and its hot hatch sibling, the Alpine A290, have been named the European Car of the Year (COTY) award at the 2025 Brussels Motor Show.
The all-electric pair was selected from a shortlist of seven finalists, and was awarded 353 points by the jury of 60 motoring journalists from 23 countries .
Other cars in the category included the Kia EV3 (291 points), Citroen C3/e-C3 (215 points), Dacia Duster (172 points), and Hyundai Inster (168). Rounding out the bottom two positions were the Cupra Terramar (165 points) and the Alfa Romeo Junior (136 points).
Launched in 2024, the rebooted, retro-inspired 5 is the eighth Renault to be awarded the prestigious European COTY title. The French manufacturer’s previous winners are the Renault 16 (1966), Renault 9 (1982), first-gen Renault Clio (1991), Renault Scenic (1997), third-gen Renault Clio (2006), and most recently, the Renault Scenic E-Tech (2004).
“Within the Group, the Renault brand and Ampere, we all feel immensely proud to have taken the prestigious Car of the Year award for the second year running,” said Renault CEO, Fabrice Cambolive.
“The Renault 5 E-Tech electric is a real game changer in Europe. It makes electric vehicles desirable as well as inspiring an emotional response. At the same time, it was designed to deliver added value for our customers. If there’s one car with the potential to transform the electric market, it’s this one.”
Prices for the Renault 5 start at £22,995 in the UK for the entry-level Urban Range model in Evolution trim. The car is built by Renault’s Ampere division in northern France, which is dedicated to the development of the brand’s electric vehicles and software.
The 5 is not the only retro design and name in the brand’s EV portfolio. Later in 2025, a revived, similarly-styled Renault 4 compact SUV will join the fold. The Renault 4 will be based on the same bespoke all-electric architecture as the 5, and is expected to rival the Fiat 600e, Jeep Avenger, and the Kia EV3. And in 2026 the reimagined Twingo will go on sale as the brand’s smallest and cheapest electric model.
