Electric Road has revealed the official findings from its first-ever EV Owner Awards, and they prove that the transition to electric mobility doesn’t mean sacrificing automotive beauty.
After analysing thousands of owner submissions, three stunning vehicles rose above the rest to claim the top spots in their respective size categories for ‘Style & Design’. From retro-futurist city cars to sleek Scandinavian fastbacks, here is an in-depth look at the top three EVs that are winning over drivers with their striking aesthetics and bold design choices, backed by the real-world experiences of the people who drive them.
The Small EV Winner: Renault 5 E-Tech
Taking the absolute highest percentage across all categories for aesthetics, a massive 87.9% of Renault 5 E-Tech owners selected ‘Style & Design’ as a core reason they love their vehicle.
Winning the ‘Small EV’ category also, the Renault 5 successfully executes a ‘retro-futurist’ design that taps into deep automotive nostalgia while feeling entirely modern. It revives the cheeky, boxy silhouette of the iconic 1970s original, complete with pop colours and distinct styling cues that allow it to stand out with genuine character in a segment often dominated by generic designs.
What the owners say
Owners are delighted by how closely the production model resembles the widely praised 2021 concept car and the joy it brings to the road.
“I love the design references to the original Renault 5. Best-looking retro car made,” stated one highly satisfied owner.
Another owner highlighted how the car’s design was enough to change their entire outlook on electric vehicles: “It looks fantastic, I was a ‘I’ll never go EV’ till I saw the R5 and fell in love with it.”
The Medium-Sized Masterclass: Polestar 2
Polestar has built its entire brand identity around cutting-edge Scandinavian minimalism, and the Polestar 2 proves this formula is a massive hit with drivers. Winning the ‘Medium-sized EV’ category, nearly 80% of owners praised the vehicle’s design.
The Polestar 2 offers a unique elevated fastback silhouette, muscular stance, and sharp, origami-like exterior detailing. It manages to look understated yet completely distinctive, offering an aesthetic alternative for buyers who want something sophisticated and far less common than its mainstream rivals.
What the owners say
The vehicle’s aggressive stance and clever blend of form and function were frequently highlighted in the owner feedback.
“Love its look and stance, plus the ride stability and performance on the road, it feels planted and capable,” noted one glowing review.
Another owner emphasized the clever design touches that make everyday life easier: “Style, fastback design with good access to storage space and clever storage solutions. It’s great-looking, not too common.”
The Large EV Leader: Polestar 4
Making it a double victory for the Swedish brand, the Polestar 4 took home the crown for the ‘Large EV’ category. An impressive 85.7% of owners highlighted the vehicle’s style and design as a standout feature.
The Polestar 4 pushes the boundaries of contemporary car design by taking the bold, avant-garde step of completely removing the rear window to create a sleeker, more aerodynamic roofline and a cocoon-like rear cabin. This daring SUV coupe styling has clearly resonated with buyers looking for a large vehicle that breaks away from traditional, boxy SUV conventions.
What the owners say
Owners were thrilled by the vehicle’s sleek exterior lines and the premium, lounge-like atmosphere of the interior.
“Like the sleek lines. The way it drives and the interior space,” explained one owner, summarizing the car’s dual appeal.
Another owner perfectly captured the overall package: “It’s stylish, comfortable, cheap to charge at home, very economical around the city. Would never go back to ICE.”
The models above had the highest percentage of owners cite ‘Style & Design’ as one their favourite features, within their respective size categories. Only models with a minimum of 20 unique submissions were considered for the Owner Awards. All images were sourced from the respective manufacturers’ media websites.
