Europe has a new champion in the automotive world as the Renault 5, alongside its sporty sibling the Alpine A290, has been declared the 2025 Car of the Year. The prestigious award was announced in a vibrant ceremony held at the Brussels International Motor Show, marking the return of the event after its 2023 hiatus. Echoing the excitement of Eurovision, the 60 esteemed members of the Car Of The Year jury delivered their verdict, selecting the Renault 5 as the standout vehicle in the competitive European automotive market.
The Renault 5 emerged victorious as the 2025 Car of the Year, triumphing over a strong field of six other finalists. The contenders included the Alfa Romeo Junior, Citroën C3-ëC3, Cupra Terramar, Dacia Duster, Hyundai Inster, and Kia EV3. This year’s competition was particularly noteworthy due to the strong emphasis on electrification, with all finalist models featuring electrified powertrains, and a significant portion being fully electric vehicles.
This win marks a significant milestone for Renault, as the Renault 5 succeeds its stablemate, the Renault Scenic, which claimed the coveted continental title the previous year. Soren Rasmussen, President of the Jury, and British juror Vicky Parrott co-hosted the awards ceremony, adding to the event’s international appeal.
Notably, this consecutive victory for Renault is a rare occurrence in the 62-year history of the Car Of The Year award. The only previous instance of a brand achieving back-to-back wins was in 1995 and 1996, when Fiat celebrated consecutive wins with the Fiat Punto and Fiat Bravo. This year’s triumph for the Renault 5 underscores the brand’s resurgence and innovation in the automotive sector.
After votes from 23 countries were tallied, the Renault 5 secured a decisive win with 353 points. The Kia EV3 secured the second position with 291 points, followed by the Citroën C3-ëC3 with 215 points. The Hyundai Inster claimed a surprising fourth place with 172 points, closely followed by the Dacia Duster with 168 points. The Cupra Terramar and Alfa Romeo Junior rounded out the finalists in sixth and seventh place with 165 and 136 points respectively.
Fabrice Cambolive, CEO of Renault, and Philippe Krief, CEO of Alpine, accepted the 2025 Car of the Year award, presented in a new format this year. The award recognizes not only the Renault 5’s design and engineering but also Renault’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of automotive innovation and sustainability in the European market.
