Dacia Duster 1.5 dCi Ambiance 4x4 - SPECIAL AWARD

As part of this year’s Tow Car of the Year test, The Caravan Club decided to hand a Special Award to a manufacturer that stood out from the rest. And with 41 cars taking part, the judges had plenty of options. But in the end, it was a unanimous decision that the inaugural Special Award should go to the Dacia Duster.

The judges felt that the SUV deserved to be recognised for its ability to tow the Bailey Orion 400-2 so competently – and that the brand should be commended for managing to produce such a sturdy 4x4 at such a low price.

This mid-range Ambiance model, complete with a tow bar, as well as optional metallic paint and traction control, comes in at reasonable £14,685 – that makes it one of the cheapest 4x4s around.

And you won’t be disappointed with the level of kit – the car gets six airbags, Bluetooth and USB connectivity as standard – or the quality of the interior. But it comes into its own in practicality. The 475-litre boot expands to 1,636 litres with the seats down, and is bigger than some more expensive rivals.

Plus, the seats are comfortable and the rear will easily take three adults. Dacia offers a standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty, but the package can be upgraded to five years/60,000 miles or even seven years/100,000 miles for a small premium. So althoughthe Duster won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s a solid four-wheel-drive tow car at a bargain price.