More than 160,000 UK drivers have named the Renault 5 E-Tech their favourite new car, weeks after it secured both New Car of the Year and New EV of the Year at the AM Awards 2026.
The electric hatchback was crowned New Car of the Year at Autotrader’s Drivers’ Choice Awards, adding further momentum to a model that has already earned recognition from both retailers and consumers.
The Renault 5 also won Best Car for City Drivers and Most Fun Car to Drive in the consumer-voted awards.
AM editor Tim Rose said the Renault 5 had become “one of the most significant new car launches in recent years”, with dealers recognising its blend of design, affordability, technology and showroom appeal.
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Dealers and drivers aligned
The latest results suggest dealers and consumers are closely aligned in their assessment of the Renault 5’s appeal.
The model was Britain’s best-selling electric vehicle in April, according to SMMT registration data, while Renault said electric vehicles accounted for more than 49% of its UK passenger car registrations during the month.
Eligible for the Electric Car Grant, the Renault 5 E-Tech is now priced from £21,495 on the road and recently gained a one-pedal driving function as standard on techno+ trim levels and above.
Chinese brands gain recognition
The Driver’s Choice awards also highlighted the growing influence of Chinese manufacturers in the UK market.
Chery was named Best Value Brand, while the BYD Seal U collected awards for Best In-Car Technology and Best Value New Car.
The results reflect the increasing prominence of Chinese brands among UK consumers as they continue to expand their presence in both the retail and fleet sectors.
Tesla also performed strongly, with the Model 3 winning Best EV for Long Distance, the Model Y securing Best Car for Families and Best Car for Dog Owners, and Tesla being named Most Reliable Brand.
Elsewhere, Defender 110 won Most Loved Car and Best In-Car Design, Porsche took Best Luxury Car and Most Loved Brand, while the Peugeot 208 was named Best Car for New Drivers.
Consumer ownership experiences drive results
The majority of Drivers’ Choice categories are decided by motorists.
Owners were asked to rate their vehicles across 16 criteria, including reliability, performance, running costs, practicality and overall satisfaction.
Rory Reid, YouTube director at Autotrader, said: “What makes these awards so valuable is that they give a direct, real-world view of what drivers actually want from their cars.
“This year, more than 160,000 owners told us how their vehicles perform in everyday life, and the results reveal clear opportunities for retailers.
“EVs continue to dominate across key categories, led by the Renault 5 E-Tech, showing that for many motorists the switch to electric is now delivering on both practicality and enjoyment.
“At the same time, the strong performance of newer brands like BYD and Chery underlines just how much value and in-car technology is influencing buyer decisions.
“Clearly, demand is being shaped by value, technology and positive real-world ownership experiences, and the brands and models delivering on these areas are the ones winning over customers.”
The full list of winners for the Autotrader Drivers’ Choice Awards 2026:
- New Car of the Year: Renault 5 E-Tech Electric vehicle
- Best Car for Families: Tesla Model Y Electric vehicle
- Best Car for City Drivers: Renault 5 E-Tech Electric vehicle
- Best Value New Car: BYD Seal U
- Best EV for Long Distance: Tesla Model 3 Electric vehicle
- Best Car for Running Costs: Škoda Enyaq Electric vehicle
- Most Fun Car to Drive: Renault 5 E-Tech Electric vehicle
- Best Car for New Drivers: Peugeot 208
- Best Car for Dog Owners: Tesla Model Y Electric vehicle
- Best 7-Seater: Volvo XC90
- Most Loved Car: Defender 110
- Best Luxury Car: Porsche 911
- Most Loved Brand: Porsche
- Most Reliable Brand: Tesla
- Best In-Car Design: Defender 110
- Best In-Car Technology: BYD Seal U
- Best Value Brand: Chery
- Editor’s Choice Award: Nissan Leaf Electric vehicle
- YouTube Director Award: BMW iX3 Electric vehicle
- Sustainability Initiative Award: Toyota
- Best Home Charger: Hypervolt
- Best Public Charging Point: Tesla Supercharger
- Most Anticipated New Car: Ferrari Luce Electric vehicle
- Media Campaign of the Year: JLR “House of Brands”
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