BY EOIN CUTTLE
At a gala awards ceremony last weekend in Dublin, the Renault 5 was named as the 2026 Irish Car of the Year in association with Continental Tyres.
Members of the Motoring Media Association of Ireland (MMAI ), the grouping that brings together some of Ireland’s most experienced motoring journalists, including the Galway Advertiser's Eoin Cuttle, hosted the awards event attended by Ireland’s leading car brands, importers and distributors.
The awards are voted on by the members of the MMAI who individually assess each new car model launched in Ireland each year.
It is now the sixth year in a row that an all-electric vehicle has been voted Irish Car of the Year, underlining the rapid transformation of the Irish car market and the growing appeal of zero-emissions motoring.
It is also a second consecutive win for Renault, with its Scenic E-Tech Electric crowned last year's Irish Car of the Year.
Mark Noble, chairman of the MMAI, said 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," he added.
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.
The Irish Car of the Year awards, the oldest and most reputable automotive award title in Ireland, remain the benchmark for excellence in the industry, guiding Irish motorists towards the best new models each year.
The Irish Car of the Year 2026 category winners:
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 Irish Van of the Year awards programme for 2026, the overall Irish Van of the Year title was awarded to the Volkswagen Transporter at the same event.
