Dash cams come in all shapes and sizes, and there are budget options and premium options. But I've never tested anything quite like the Nextbase IQ Smart Dash Cam.

It's a brand that has become one of the favourite choices for dash cams, with a 76% market share in the UK, so it's no surprise to see such an innovative device cropping up as its hero product.

Let me talk you through what it can do. It's available as a three-camera setup, with a resolution of up to 4K and, using AI, it intelligently keeps tabs on the road around you, monitoring other cars, pedestrians pedestrians and cyclists.

It goes further than that too. Because of the unusual way it wires into your car, through the OBDII port, it's always on, subtly keeping watch on your vehicle when you're not with it. This means the dash cam extends its versatility to become a security device.

You can log in through the excellent Nextbase IQ app to pick up a live feed of the two built-in cameras, and proximity and G-force sensors will alert you if someone is snooping around while you're parked up.

It has a voice-activated panic system which will automatically save recordings if you feel under threat, and then send a message to an emergency contact. All this can be triggered without your input in the event of an accident.

There's even an alarm, which you can set off remotely if you're worried your vehicle may be under some sort of threat.

So it's so much more than a dash cam. It's a tracker, a car alarm, and a guardian angel.

But it goes even further than that. Because it connects to your car's "brain", you can make use of new features Nextbase is working on, such as a system to monitor and even control or limit the way your car is driven if you've let someone else get behind the wheel. It can even act as an infotainment system, responding to voice commands to play music, make phone calls, or control smart home devices.

It must sound amazing at this point, but there's a few important things to address. Firstly, it's quite big. The dual-camera unit that comes in the box as standard is based on a hinged speaker and camera frame, which sticks to your windscreen on a self-adhesive pad. It can be hidden fairly successfully, but it's still going to be quite obtrusive, even in big SUVs.

Another interesting quirk is in the way it's powered. It can be hard-wired using a supplied kit, but most people will connect it to their OBDII port. And that will mean it's permanently live. That's not great if you're nervous about battery levels, but the device will automatically power down if it thinks your battery is getting too low.

it does mean that fitting it is quite a commitment. Hiding the chunky wire is a fiddle, even with the supplied tool for stuffing it behind your trim. And once the self-adhesive pad is on, it's on. So be careful placing it. You do get a spare in the box, but it's something to take time getting right.

And then there's the cost. The IQ range starts at £299, which is big money for a dash cam. And that's just for the 1080P version. The 2K version costs another £50 and you'll be looking at £449 for the 4K version I've been testing.

It doesn't stop there, either, because there are subscription options to consider if you want to use the full feature set.

Essentially, regardless of the device you go for, a free package gives you access to the app, voice control and text notifications.

Paying £6.99 per month will open up things like image-based notifications, live view, the parking monitor, AI tools, the remote alarm and the guardian mode with a remote alarm. You also get 30 days of cloud storage.

Pay for the full package, at £9.99 per month, and you'll get 180 days of cloud storage, multiple user accounts, automated incident back-up, emergency SOS and an extended warranty.

If all this sounds quite expensive, that's because it is. But there's an important point still to consider. The Nextbase IQ is absolutely awesome.

Honestly, I've never known a dash cam like it. Some of the features it has I could take or leave, but as a security device, it's just remarkable.

Because the app is so good, it's a doddle to set up, and the regular firmware updates are simple to polish off - you'll need these to add the features Nextbase is working on.

The 4K version gives some of the best images I've seen on a dash cam, and that's no great surprise, but when you bundle it in with all the extras this device has, and its sheer versatility as a way to keep your vehicle secure starts to justify the initial cost, and the on-going cost. Let's not forget, a tracker can cost easily the same, if not more.

It has to be said, if you're just after a dash cam to record your driving, look away now. This won't suit you at all. But if the features of the Nextbase IQ sound appealing, and they should because they're excellent, it's going to be worth the investment.