The Renault 5 Wins What Car? Car of the Year 2025
The Renault 5 has been crowned the prestigious What Car? Car of the Year for 2025, marking a significant achievement for the French automaker. The electric hatchback wowed the judges with its combination of comfort, desirability, and affordability, earning high praise for being “very well priced.”
This victory for the Renault 5 is particularly notable as it is the first time a Renault vehicle has claimed the top spot at the annual ‘motoring Oscars’ since the original Scenic took home the award in 1997. It also marks Renault’s fourth overall win since the inception of the awards in 1978.
Joining a select group of electric vehicles to have received the honor, the Renault 5 follows in the footsteps of previous winners such as the Kia e-Niro, Kia EV6, and Volkswagen ID Buzz. What Car? editor Steve Huntingford commended the Renault 5 for being a car that appeals to both the head and the heart, offering a compelling option for consumers amidst the challenges of rising motoring costs.
Earlier in the year, the Renault 5, along with its hot hatch counterpart, the Alpine A290, was jointly named Car of the Year 2025 by a panel of 60 European journalists, including Autocar editor Mark Tisshaw.
What Car? Car of the Year Awards 2025 Winners
Overall Winner: Renault 5 52kWh Techno
Category Winners:
- Small Car – Sponsored by MotorEasy: Renault Clio 1.0 TCe 90 Techno
- Family Car: Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid Icon
- Hot Hatch: Mercedes-AMG A45 S Plus
- Small SUV – Sponsored by Solera Cap HPI: Lexus LBX 1.5 Premium Plus
- Family SUV – Sponsored by Quotezone: Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDi 48V 3
- Plug-in Hybrid: MG HS 1.5T Plug-in Hybrid SE
- Small Electric Car – Sponsored by DrivenFi: Renault 5 52kWh Techno
- Small Electric SUV: Kia EV3 Standard Range Air
- Family Electric SUV – Sponsored by Black Horse Finance: Skoda Elroq 85 Edition
- Executive Car: Tesla Model 3 RWD
- Estate Car: Volkswagen Passat 1.5 TSI eHybrid 204 Elegance
- Seven-Seater: Hyundai Santa Fe 1.6T Hybrid Premium
- Luxury Car: BMW X7 xDrive40i M Sport (Ultimate Pack)
- Coupé/Convertible: BMW 4 Series 420i M Sport
The diverse range of winners at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards 2025 showcases the best in automotive excellence across various categories, highlighting innovation, performance, and value for consumers.
