Renault 5 E-Tech EV wins 2025 European Car of the Year

The Renault 5 E-Tech electric and its high-performance sibling, the Alpine A290, have been named European Car of the Year 2025. 

The result was announced on January 10 at a ceremony organised by the European Car of the Year jury at the Brussels Motor Show in Belgium.

This award highlights the relevance of the electrification strategy and the quality of the new Renault and Alpine ranges, developed as part of the Renaulution plan. 

Unique in Europe, the AmpR Small platform allows both vehicles to deliver high customer value while allowing each brand to express its positioning regarding design, development, onboard technologies, and customer experience.

Second consecutive title for Renault

In the first round of voting last November, the Renault 5 E-Tech electric, entered jointly with the Alpine A290, was named one of seven finalists, alongside the Alfa Romeo Junior, Citroën ë-C3/C3, Cupra Terramar, Dacia Duster, Hyundai Inster, and Kia EV3.

Sixty motoring journalists chose the winning duo from 23 countries. The Renault 5 E-Tech Electric and Alpine A290 took first place with 353 points. Renault’s new EV becomes the eighth brand vehicle to win the European Car of the Year award after Renault 16 (1966), Renault 9 (1982), Clio I (1991), Scenic (1997), Megane (2003), Clio III (2006) and Scenic E-Tech electric (2024).

Renault brand chief executive Fabrice Cambolive says the group is proud to have taken the prestigious Car of the Year award for the second consecutive year. 

“The Renault 5 E-Tech Electric is a real game changer in Europe. It makes electric vehicles desirable and 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,” he says. 

R5, the electrification accelerator

In 2024, Renault reinvented the R5 with an all-electric version designed to accelerate electrification in the European market. Renault 5 E-Tech Electric makes electric mobility desirable with its captivating design and the intuitive experience delivered by its electric and digital technologies.

The entry-level model will be available this year from €25,000, before government incentives, in countries where these aids are applicable. Built locally in northern France within the Ampere ElectriCity pole as part of a sustainable production system, the Car of the Year 2025 has all the qualities necessary to establish itself as the benchmark city car for the energy transition.

For 12 years, Renault has sought to bring electric mobility within everybody’s reach. Following the launch of Megane and Scenic in the C segment, Renault is extending its E-Tech electric range to the B segment with Renault 5 and Renault 4, which will be launched later this year. These last two models play a key role in accelerating the uptake of electric vehicles and strengthening Renault’s position.