All-electric Renault 5 wins top prize at motoring awards
Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres, Renault’s Seamus Morgan and the MMAI’s Mark Noble with the Renault 5, Irish Car of the Year 2026
BMW M5
Dacia Bigster was named Medium SUV of the Year
Dacia Bigster
BMW M5
The super-funky, all-electric Renault 5 has scooped the 2026 Irish Car of the Year award in association with Continental Tyres.
This is the sixth year in a row that a BEV has taken the accolade and, more importantly, double bubble for the French car giant, which saw the Scenic take the top prize last year.
The great and the good of the motoring world gathered at a glitzy bash in the Conrad Hotel last weekend, when print and digital journalists voted for their favourites.
Bachelors Walk actor and car enthusiast Simon Delaney was on hand to act as master of ceremonies at the event, which is the highlight of the industry calendar in Ireland.
Mark Noble, chairman of the Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI), said: “Congratulations to Renault on the success of the Renault 5. What an achievement, coming as it does on the back of last year’s win for the Scenic E-Tech Electric.
Dacia Bigster was named Medium SUV of the Year
“The new Renault 5 really impressed our jurors with its blend of retro‑inspired design, modern driving dynamics and practical electric range. It’s a stylish, accessible EV that brings innovation and character to the market and is a very worthy winner of the Irish Car of the Year title.”
Tom Dennigan, of awards sponsor Continental Tyres, added: “We are proud to again support the Irish Car of the Year awards, which continue to highlight, year by year, the very best cars available to Irish motorists.
“The fact that the Renault 5 is the sixth consecutive electric vehicle to win the overall title shows clearly how the market is shifting. With its distinctive design and the benefits of zero‑emissions driving, the win for the Renault 5 is a fantastic boost for the brand as it heads into the busy January sales period.”
The field of eligible cars for this year’s awards was broken down into nine categories, with the overall winner selected from the category champions. There was also an award on the day for Service to the Industry, which was handed to Frank Cullen, who founded Cullen Communications and has been synonymous with the motor industry in Ireland for over four decades.
Category winners:Small Car of the Year: Hyundai InsterCompact Car of the Year: Renault 5Medium Car / Crossover of the Year: Kia EV3Medium SUV of the Year: Dacia BigsterLarge Car / SUV of the Year: BYD Sealion 7Seven-seater of the Year: Hyundai Ioniq 9Premium Car of the Year: Volvo EX90Performance Compact Car of the Year: MG CybersterPerformance Car of the Year: BMW M5
In the Irish Van of the Year awards programme for 2026, the overall Irish Van of the Year title was awarded to the Volkswagen Transporter.