Renault's mid-size family crossover Austral has been declared the Slovenian Car of the Year for 2024, edging Hyundai Kona, Toyota CH-R, Jeep Avenger and MG 4 in a vote that reflects changing consumer habits and industry upheaval.

Austral has won despite not being among the best selling cars on the Slovenian market. Chamber of Commerce data for the first eleven months of the year show it places 20th, with 618 vehicles sold.

This was the first time in four years that a Renault model topped the list and the fourth time in the 32-year history of the selection that a Renault has won.

Volkswagen has nine titles to its name, but the last time it had a winner was four years ago.

A Chinese made car, the MG 4 EV, was shortlisted for the first time ever, as only the third fully electric vehicle to make the selection. It finished in fifth place.

The competition saw nine media outlets that report about the automotive industry and cars making a shortlist of five finalists.

Each outlet then voted, along with 27,000 people who participated in an online and mail-in poll, whose votes were added to those of the media outlets.

According to data quoted by the newspaper Delo, new car sales in Slovenia were slightly up last year to 49,000. More than half of the new cars sold were various kinds of SUVs.