The Renault 5 is the 2026 Irish Car of the Year in association with Continental Tyres, write Trish Whelan and Brian Byrne. It is now the sixth year in a row that an all-electric vehicle has been voted Irish Car of the Year. The award was presented at a gala ceremony this afternoon, Friday 14 November, at the Conrad Hotel in Dublin.
Members of the Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI), the group comprising 29 of Ireland’s most experienced motoring journalists, hosted the awards event attended by Ireland’s leading car brands, importers, and distributors. The awards are voted on by MMAI members individually, who assess each new car model launched in Ireland annually. The eligible cars for this year’s awards were divided into nine categories, with the overall winner chosen from the category champions.
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 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. 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 Irish Car of the Year awards, the oldest and most prestigious automotive award in Ireland, remain the benchmark for excellence in the industry, guiding Irish motorists to the best new models each year.
The Irish Car of the Year 2026 category winners were:
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 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
The 2026 overall Irish Van of the Year title was awarded to the Volkswagen Transporter at the same event.
Pictured above are Tom Dennigan, Continental Tyres Ireland; Seamus Morgan, Managing Director, Renault Ireland; and Mark Noble, MMAI Chairman; with the Renault 5, Irish Car of the Year 2026.
A special award at the event was handed to Frank Cullen, founder of Cullen Communications, who has been synonymous with the motor industry in Ireland for over four decades. Mr Cullen said he was honoured to accept the award.
