The Northern Group of Motoring Writers has named the reborn Renault 5 its Car of the Year 2025, concluding one of the closest contests the organisation has ever seen. Just seven votes separated the top three contenders, with the Kia EV3 finishing a mere two votes behind the Renault, and the Skoda Elroq only five further back. Tight margins, strong opinions and an impressively competitive field made this year’s decision one to remember.
The slim gap between first and second prompted the Group’s Car of the Year committee to bestow a Highly Commended accolade on the Kia EV3, recognising the strength of its performance and its rapid rise as one of the year’s standout new EVs. Members commented that judging second place was particularly challenging, given how closely aligned the EV3 and Elroq are in purpose, packaging and execution.
Yet when the votes were tallied, it was the new Renault 5 that edged ahead, securing the Northern Group’s coveted ‘Arthur’ trophy for 2025. The award takes the form of a brass miner’s lamp, affectionately named after former miners’ union leader Arthur Scargill, and remains one of the most characterful honours in the UK automotive awards landscape.
A Field of 48 Contenders, Narrowed to the Finest Six
This year’s competition began with a longlist of 48 new or significantly revised models, later refined to a shortlist of six vehicles for the final round of voting. The shortlist reflected the breadth of innovation currently unfolding across the industry, spanning electrified hatchbacks, compact SUVs and all-new battery-electric platforms.
Among those six, the Renault 5 consistently impressed every NGMW member who drove it. Tom Sharpe captured the emotional connection the new model evokes, recalling childhood journeys in his mother’s original Renault 5, fondly dubbed the “green bullet”. Decades later, another green Renault 5 rekindled that affection.
“The new incarnation of the French hatchback is extremely stylish and desirable,” Sharpe said. “However, it was the ride and handling that I appreciated most. Great fun.”
Modern Engineering With a Retro Spark
What ultimately set the Renault 5 apart was its combination of nostalgic appeal and forward-looking engineering. Group chairman Andy Harris highlighted how the model balances modern expectations with its iconic silhouette.
“The new Renault 5 stands out because it blends retro charm with genuinely modern engineering,” he said. “It is not just a nostalgic re-skin, but a well thought-out electric supermini that works in the real world. Crucially, it is priced to undercut many rivals while still offering proper range, fast-charging capability and decent tech. That mix of style, usability, efficiency and price is why it got the nod from me.”
The comments underline how effectively Renault has reimagined the 5 for a new era. Rather than relying solely on design nostalgia, the car appears to deliver the real-world usability that early EV adopters demand, with competitive pricing that strengthens its appeal.
Strong Praise for the Kia EV3 and Skoda Elroq
The close finish also reflected the calibre of the EV3 and Elroq. Kia’s compact electric SUV drew high praise for its practicality and value, with Group secretary Alan Domville noting:
“It is well priced, roomy for a ‘small’ SUV with lots of storage space too – and its range of up to almost 300 miles with the smaller battery is most acceptable.”
The Elroq, meanwhile, impressed many members with its balance of capability and everyday usability, strengthening Škoda’s emerging foothold in the electric compact SUV segment. That it finished just five votes behind the Kia shows how carefully members weighed these two newcomers against each other.
Celebrating a Modern Icon in the Making
With such a close contest, the 2025 award reflects a marketplace where manufacturers are pushing hard to define the next generation of accessible EVs. For the Renault 5, winning the Arthur trophy is more than symbolic. It signals industry recognition that the brand’s electric revival has genuine substance, tapping into heritage while answering the needs of modern drivers.
The award will be formally presented to the Renault PR team in the New Year, marking a celebratory start to 2025 for the brand and cementing the new Renault 5’s status as one of the most significant EV launches of the coming year.
