Europe has a new champion in the automotive arena. The Renault 5, alongside its sibling the Alpine A290, has been crowned Car Of The Year 2025. The prestigious award ceremony, reminiscent of Eurovision in its style and suspense, took place at the Brussels International Motor Show, marking the show’s return after the 2023 hiatus. Sixty esteemed jury members of the Car Of The Year award cast their votes, selecting the Renault 5 as the leading vehicle in the competitive European market.
The Renault 5 emerged victorious, surpassing six other strong finalists: the Alfa Romeo Junior, Citroën C3-ëC3, Cupra Terramar, Dacia Duster, Hyundai Inster, and Kia EV3. This year’s competition was particularly notable for its focus on electrification, with all finalist models boasting electric capabilities, and many being fully electric vehicles. This win signifies a shifting trend in the automotive industry and highlights what consumers can expect when considering the 2024 Car Of The Year and beyond.
This victory marks a significant moment for Renault, as the Renault 5 succeeds its stablemate, the Renault Scenic, which claimed the coveted title in the previous year. Soren Rasmussen, president of the jury, and British juror Vicky Parrott jointly hosted the awards ceremony, adding to the event’s international flair.
This consecutive win is a rare feat in the Car Of The Year’s 62-year history. Only once before has a brand achieved back-to-back victories, when Fiat triumphed in 1995 and 1996 with the Fiat Punto and Fiat Bravo respectively. Renault’s achievement places them in an exclusive club, showcasing their consistent innovation and quality in automotive design and engineering.
After votes from 23 countries were tallied, the Renault 5 led the pack with an impressive 353 points. The Kia EV3 secured second place with 291 points, followed by the Citroën C3-ëC3 with 215 points. The Hyundai Inster claimed a surprising fourth position with 172 points, just ahead of the Dacia Duster with 168 points. The Cupra Terramar and Alfa Romeo Junior rounded out the finalists with 165 and 136 points respectively. These results offer valuable insights for those considering the landscape of the 2024 car of the year contenders, even though this award looks slightly ahead.
Fabrice Cambolive, CEO of Renault, and Philippe Krief, CEO of Alpine, accepted the prestigious award, marking a high point for the Renault group and underscoring the significance of the Renault 5 as a potential benchmark for the 2024 car of the year discussions and market trends. The focus on electric vehicles and innovative design evident in this year’s winner signals exciting developments for the automotive industry in the coming year.
