A group of automotive experts have reviewed almost every single electric car on the market and revealed which model they think is the best. In fact, one car was so good they made it their car of the year for 2025, beating petrol, diesel and hydrogen rivals
Motoring experts have claimed one vehicle is the ultimate electric car after analysing hundreds of its rivals
Renowned car gurus What Car? claimed to have reviewed every single electric car on the market. And, after discovering their favourite, they went as far to crown it their 2025 car of the year – outshining its petrol, diesel and hydrogen counterparts.
So what secured the all-important crown? The new Renault 5. Originally launched mid-20th century, the model has been making waves, amassing plaudits and stellar critiques in every direction.
What Car? experts, on their YouTube channel, praised its combined nostalgic charm and cutting-edge features.
They said: “Few have managed to deliver on the hype and the heritage in the way this new electric hatchback has. And while lots of people might love the styling of the new Renault 5, the great thing is that this car’s talents go far beyond the way it looks.
“It’s a small electric car that offers a very useable real world range (253 miles), its supple ride and tidy handling make it a delight to drive and the well finished technologically impressive interior would never have you think that this is one of the cheapest new electric cars that you can buy.”
They agreed that while high-end options like the Tesla Model 3 offer extended range, speed, and size, they do come with a heftier price tag.
Expanding on their praise, the experts added: “But, the Renault 5 offers an incredible blend of EV talents for an unbelievably compelling price which far undercuts the model 3. And being able to do all of that at this entry-level price point certainly makes the Renault 5 worth shouting about. In fact, we’ve named it the What Car? Car of the year for 2025.”
The team, while delivering their top five of cars, also praised the already-mentioned Tesla M odel 3, Kia EV3, Skoda Elroq, and VW ID Buzz.
This surge for the Renault 5 comes at a pivotal moment for UK’s booming automotive sector, amplifying the urge to shift gears from traditional fuel to electric. Experts and manufacturers are geared up with enthusiasm over recent stats showing a soaring trend in EV purchases.
Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reports that a sizzling number of over 63,000 electric cars were snapped up last month in the UK alone.
After the recent figures release, Close Brothers Motor Finance’s MD of Sales John Cassidy provided insight to the Express on the reasons behind the spike in vehicle registrations. John explained: “A combination of new registration plates, discounting activity and buyers rushing to beat the vehicle excise duty (VED) changes ahead of April contributed to a spike in new registrations..”
Yet, he pointed out that these figures are still not up to par with the zeros-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate goals. Highlighting further anxiety around the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), John noted: “However, the numbers still fall short of the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate targets. This will spark further concerns over widespread electric vehicle (EV) adoption, as data still remains heavily skewed by fleet sales.”
He continued, speaking on the financial struggles of motorists and their ripple effect on future policy: “The Government’s decision to apply VED to EVs only adds to cost concerns which are piling up for motorists, and adds further doubt over the proposed 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles – with 78 percent of motor dealers already lacking confidence that this will go ahead.”
