What Car? reveals the best new models you can buy: Renault 5 EV wins coveted Car of the Year

The Renault 5 is the best new car money can buy in 2025, according to the first major motoring honour of the year. As well as taking home the overall trophy, the Renault 5 was also crowned Best Small Electric Car. Five-star value: The R5 E-Tech costs from just £22,995 which make sit the third cheapest new EV in the UK currently - another reason it took the gong The new R5 is available in three trims from launch – evolution, techno and iconic five – and with a choice of two powertrains But crucially it's how well Renault has reincarnated the legendary car for a new generation that clinched it – as well as raking in the plaudits from both public and reviewers alike in the last year. COTY 2025 category winners OVERALL WINNER Car of the Year: Renault 5 E-Tech CATEGORY WINNERS Small car: Renault Clio Family car: Toyota Corolla Hybrid Hot hatch: Mercedes-AMG A45 Small SUV: Lexus LBX Family SUV: Kia Sportage Seven Seater: Hyundai Santa Fe Small electric SUV: Kia EV3 Small electric car: Renault 5 Executive car: Tesla Model 3 Luxury car: BMW X7 Hybrid : MG HS Small electric car: Renault 5 Estate: Volkswagen Passat Coupe/convertible: BMW 4 Series Family Electric SUV: Skoda Elroq Sports car: Porsche 718 Cayman GTS Sports SUV: Porsche Cayenne Coupé S Performance car: BMW M3 Touring SPECIAL AWARDS Reader Award: Kia EV4 Tow Car Award: Volkswagen Passat 1.5 eTSI 150 R-Line Reliability Award: Mini Technology Award: N e-Shift on Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Safety Award: Volkswagen Passat Huntingford pointed to Renault’s dedication to nailing the R5 design brief as another reason for its glittering success: ‘Given the affection that people clearly have for the 5's retro design, Renault could have penny-pinched on the engineering and still sold as many as it could make.