The Renault 5 E-Tech was named Autotrader’s New Car of the Year 2026, based on a consumer vote featuring the real-world opinions of over 160,000 car owners, at the ninth annual Autotrader Drivers’ Choice Awards.
Held at HERE at Outernet in central London, the Autotrader Drivers’ Choice Awards celebrated a number of vehicles from various brands.
Rory Reid, Autotrader’s YouTube director, 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 Renault 5 also took the awards for Best Car for City Drivers and Most Fun Car to Drive.
Chery won Best Value Brand whilst the BYD Seal U received two awards for Best In-Car Technology and Best Value New Car.
Other notables wins were Best In-Car Design category and Most Loved Car (Defender 110), Best Car for New Drivers (Peugeot 208), Best EV for Long Distance (Tesla Model 3), Best Car for Dog Owners (Tesla Model Y), and the Best 7-Seater (Volvo XC90).
The Nissan Leaf was crowned the winner of the Editor’s Choice Award, chosen by Autotrader’s editorial team which is led by editorial director Erin Baker.
For the YouTube Director Award, Reid chose the fully electric BMW iX3.
Further wins are listed below
Best Car for Families – Tesla Model Y
Best Car for Running Costs – Škoda Enyaq
Best Luxury Car – Porsche 911
Most Loved Brand – Porsche
Most Reliable Brand – Tesla
Sustainability Initiative Award – Toyota
Best Home Charger – Hypervolt
Best Public Charging Point – Tesla Supercharger
Most Anticipated New Car – Ferrari Luce
Media Campaign of the Year – JLR “House of Brands”
