Renault 5 crowned 2025 Scottish Car of the Year

The Renault 5 has been named the Scottish Car of the Year 2025, marking the second successive win for one of the French brand’s EVs.

The all-electric hatchback was crowned overall winner by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers (ASMW) and led a strong showing of electric models in the annual awards, held in association with Arnold Clark.

Renault’s sharp supermini took top spot in the Small Car category before going on to take the top prize.

Judges praised its “unique fusion of iconic style and cutting-edge electric technology” as well as its lively performance and exceptional efficiency, noting: “With its blend of charm, innovation, and driving dynamics, the Renault 5 stood out in a competitive field. It’s a deserving winner that combines heritage with forward-thinking design.”

The Renault 5’s hot hatch alter-ego, the Alpine A290, also triumphed in the Performance Car class, beating tough competition from the John Cooper Works Mini and updated Kia EV6 GT.

The Compact Crossover/SUV category was dominated by all-electric models, with the Kia EV3 securing top spot ahead of the Skoda Elroq, Renault 4 and Suzuki E Vitara.

And the updated Genesis GV70 beat competition from Audi and Porsche in another all-electric battle for Premium Car of the Year.

The Renault 5’s success comes after its bigger sibling, the Scenic E-Tech took the SCOTY title in 2024, making Renault the first car maker to win the prestigious title two years in succession.

Ally Ballingall, ASMW president, said: “To say competition for this year’s Scottish Car of the Year was tough is an understatement. After a whole year, scores of cars, and thousands of miles, it all comes down to one decision and our judges said the winning car had to make financial sense in these tough times, but it also must appeal to our heart strings just as much as our wallets.

“The overall winner also had to be practical, capable, great to drive, and look the part. That’s a big ask, but the one car did it all and plenty more, and that was the Renault 5.”

Adam Wood, managing director and country head for Renault Group UK, said: “It’s a huge honour to become the first manufacturer to win the overall Scottish Car of the Year title two years in a row. It’s a clear signal of the fun, accessibility and sheer style that the Renault 5 brings to the UK market, and, following last year’s success for Scenic E-Tech electric, underlines the strength and depth of our new pure electric line-up.”