For the fourth consecutive year the Fiat Ducato has been named the top vehicle on which to base a motor home in the Which Motorcaravan Awards 2010, presented by the UK’s leading motor home magazine.

The Ducato was designed specifically for the motor home market, and the judges praised its blend of power, acceleration, relaxing drive and the smooth gearshifts from Fiat’s six-speed MTA automatic transmission.

“It is the MTA-equipped vehicles which impressed us most,” said Which Motorcaravan awards judge, Peter Vaughan.

“We had no qualms in giving the Ducato MTA victory in the Base Vehicle category last year. And nothing has changed to stop it winning again this time around.

“With power aplenty and smooth shifts, the MTA Ducato is just effortless. It puts you in the holiday spirit straight away,” he said.

Fiat is currently the market leader in mainland Europe and the UK for the supply of base vehicles to the motor home industry.

In Australia eight motor home builders use the Fiat Ducato as the basis for their motor homes, and Fiat Australia general manager, Andrei Zaitzev, said the award was hard-earned and deserved.

“Once again the Ducato has been recognised as the best base vehicle in one of the most important industry awards around.

“The Ducato range keeps on proving it is first choice among motor home users, and I’m pleased that these awards have again highlighted the advantages of the new MTA gearbox. With our extremes of urban driving and long country drives, the MTA gearbox is even more advantageous in Australia and its popularity continues to grow.”

In 2009, 868 Fiat Ducatos were sold in Australia for both motor home and other purposes, holding steady from the 2008 sales figure of 894.