At a gala ceremony in Dublin’s Conrad Hotel recently, the Renault 5 was crowned 2026 Irish Car of the Year in association with Continental Tyres. The awards, organised by the Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI), bring together 29 of the country’s most experienced motoring journalists, who vote after individually assessing every new model launched in Ireland over the past year. The audience included senior representatives from Ireland’s leading car brands, importers and distributors. This marks the sixth consecutive year that an all-electric model has taken the top honour, reflecting the rapid shift in the Irish market and the growing appeal of zero-emissions motoring.
Mark Noble, Chairman of the 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. 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 a very worthy winner of the Irish Car of the Year title.”
Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres added: “We are proud to again support the Irish Car of the Year awards, which continue to highlight 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.”
Category champions were selected across nine segments, with the overall winner chosen from these class victors. The Irish Car of the Year awards are the longest-established and most respected automotive honours in Ireland and continue to guide motorists toward the best new models each year.
- Irish Small Car of the Year: Hyundai Inster
- Irish Compact Car of the Year: Renault 5
- Irish Medium Car / Crossover of the Year: Kia EV3
- Irish Medium SUV of the Year: Dacia Bigster
- Irish Large Car / SUV of the Year: BYD Sealion 7
- Irish 7-Seater of the Year: Hyundai Ioniq 9
- Irish Premium Car of the Year: Volvo EX90
- Irish Performance Compact Car of the Year: MG Cyberster
- Irish Performance Car of the Year: BMW M5
In the companion programme for commercial vehicles, the 2026 Irish Van of the Year title was awarded to the Volkswagen Transporter at the same event.
