Renault 5 and Alpine A290 Named Car of the Year 2025
It was all hoots and toots at the Brussels International Motor Show on 10 January 2025, with the Renault 5 and Alpine A290 crowned the new kings of the road.
It might seem confusing that two cars won the Car of the Year Award. However, the Alpine A290 is simply the hotter version of the Renault 5. Therefore, the jury considered them to be on equal footing.
Car of the Year Award: 62nd Edition
The jury for this prestigious award consisted of 60 senior motoring journalists. They issue their verdict on the best car in the automotive market in Europe. The jury’s criteria includes design, comfort, safety, economy, handling, performance, functionality, environmental requirements, driver satisfaction and price.
The winners were up against the Kia EV3, Citroën C3-ëC3, Dacia Duster, Hyundai Inster, Cupar Terramar and the Alfa Romeo Junior. These were the cars that placed second to seventh, respectively.
All finalists in the competition had electric features, with most of them being fully electric. This goes to show that the future really is moving in that direction.
Furthermore, Renault has made history by becoming the second manufacturer (the first being Fiat) to win the Car of the Year Award back-to-back. The Renault 5 takes over from the Renault Scenic, which was 2024’s winner. This year marks the eighth time Renault has won the Car of the Award, while Alpine celebrated their first big win.
CEO of Renault, Fabrice Cambolive, and CEO of Alpine, Phillippe Krief, received the award on behalf on the companies.
The Thread of Commonality
Whilst each car won in their own right, there is a golden thread – the AmpR Small platform dedicated to manufacturing 100% electric vehicles and compact city cars – tying them together, subsequently pushing them both to first place. Ampere is the group’s specialised unit focusing on the creation of intelligent electric cars.
The Renault and Alpine both have low weight with excellent weight distribution. This is due to the battery housed in the vehicles’ floor. Furthermore, front axles and a multi-link rear axle allow for a dynamic and efficient driving experience.
Cambolive says: “With these cars, we’ve played big by making bold choices and significant investments in our dedicated EV platform… We are also collectively playing big because of the stakes, particularly in the current geopolitical context.”
Krief explains how the “Renault 5 has its popular retro design, offering a lifestyle experience with the Reno avatar, transporting you in comfort and pleasure. [The] A290 is totally sport-oriented in terms of design, engine and chassis tuning, focused on fun and even sporty driving with launch control.”
The Car of the Year Award aims to crown the most outstanding new car to go on sale in the twelve months preceding the date of the title. Renault and Alpine certainly hit the nail on the head with their 100% electric vehicles.
