The Renault 5 E-Tech Electric and Alpine A290 have been named "Car of the Year 2025" at a ceremony held during the Brussels Motor Show in Belgium.
This prestigious award, decided by a jury of 60 motoring journalists from 23 countries, recognises excellence in car design, engineering, and innovation.
Renault's Wins: This marks Renault's eighth "Car of the Year" award, making it the first brand to achieve back-to-back wins since Fiat in the mid-1990s. Previous Renault winners include the Renault 16 (1966), Renault 9 (1982), Clio I (1991), Scenic (1997), Megane (2003), Clio III (2006), and Scenic E-Tech (2024).
Award Meaning: The "Car of the Year" award is one of the most prestigious honors in the automotive world. It highlights a vehicle's excellence in design, engineering, innovation, and overall appeal. The award is known for its independence, transparency, and rigorous evaluation process.
"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. 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," said Fabrice Cambolive, CEO of Renault brand.
What Makes the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric and Alpine A290 Special?
- Renault 5 E-Tech Electric: This model has shaken up the small EV segment with its captivating design and joyful, intuitive electric experience. It's built on the unique AmpR Small platform, which allows for high customer value and sustainability.
- Alpine A290: This sportier variant of the Renault 5 offers agility and lightness, continuing the A110 legacy while transitioning Alpine into its electric future.
Philippe Krief, Chief Technology Officer of Renault Group and CEO of the Alpine brand, said: “Within the Renault Group, we have created the new Ampr Small platform, 100% EV-native, not to clone cars but to offer different creations. Renault 5 E-Tech electric has its popular retro design, offering a lifestyle experience with the Reno avatar, transporting you in comfort and pleasure, while A290 is totally sport-oriented in terms of design, engine and chassis tuning, totally focused on fun and even sporty driving with launch control.”
Both models were praised for their practical features, affordability, and strong performance, making them stand out among the competition.
The seven finalists: With 353 points, the Renault 5 won over the Kia EV3 with 291 points, followed by the Citroën C3-ëC3 with 215 points. The Hyundai Inster placed fourth (172 points), followed by the Dacia Duster in fifth place (168 points), the Cupra Terramar in sixth place (165 points) and the Alfa Romeo Junior in seventh place (136 points).