Fiat Ducato Reviews

The Ducato originated in 1981 through a joint venture between Fiat and PSA Peugeot-Citroen, which are both now part of the recently formed Stellantis conglomerate. The Ducato has evolved through four decades and several generations, with more than 2.6 million sold in a variety of body styles (including popular motorhomes) and wheelbases.

The lack of a cab-chassis variant could well be a factor in the relatively small Australian sales of the Fiat Ducato, which with only 5.0 per cent market share currently sits near the bottom of a long list of quality competitors. So, is this largely the result of not offering a cab-chassis variant, or are there others factors at work? We recently put a Ducato through its paces to find out.

Fiat's general manager, Chris Swann, is a firm believer in payload when it comes to a commercial vehicle that has to pay its way carrying cargo.While some van makers focus on the volume of cargo a van will hold, Swann reckons it's possible to have both cargo volume and payload.That thinking was front and centre when he was deciding on which Ducato models he would sign up for the Australian market.The Ducato range Swann settled on is topped by the extra long wheelbase medium roof van.With a GVM of four tonnes, the big front-wheel drive Fiat will swallow 15 cubic metres of freight weighing up to two tonnes.Others in its class can accommodate a little more volume, but come up well short of the Fiat's payload.Its sleek lines are protected by broad rub strips down each side, and large bumpers protect the front and rear from bumps and scrapes.Access to the cargo zone, which is separated from the cabin by a fixed partition, is through a wide, easy-sliding door on the left side or barn doors at the rear that can be swung back flat against the van's sides.Inside, there is lighting and heaps of tie-down hooks in the floor and along the walls to secure the load.Up front, the driver has all the comfort and convenience features now expected in a working vehicle.Standard air-conditioning, CD sound, power windows and mirrors, a reach-adjustable steering column, and comfortable cloth-trimmed seating make it easy to get through the day.There's also a plethora of storage possibilities, including an overhead shelf, a large lockable glove box in the centre of the dash, and the centre seat folds down to form a work table.While it's packed with everything needed in a working day, the Ducato's interior is a little cramped.The leg room is limited, the gearshift rubs against the left leg and the overhead shelf is a little too close for comfort. On the road, there is little noise from the engine, road or the wind racing past to disturb the inner peace.Our test van was powered by the 3l, four-cylinder turbo diesel that put out 115 kW at 3500 rpm and 400 Nm between 1700 and 2500 rpm. There isn't the option of an automatic or automated transmission so the test Ducato had the standard six-speed manual gearbox.The gearing is well matched to the engine and the dash-mounted shift is slick and precise.On the road, the Ducato hauled away from traffic lights, easily kept pace with the traffic flow, and the big four was turning over at 1800 rpm when cruising down the highway at 100 km/h. For the duration of the test, the Ducato returned the remarkable fuel economy of 10l/100km.The ride is comfortable, bumps are absorbed with ease, four-wheel discs and ABS stop the four-tonne van easily, and the power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering provides a good feel of the road and a tight turning circle.In addition to the standard ABS, the big Ducato features traction control, and there's an option of electronic stability control.The driver also has the protection of an airbag in the event of a crash.Major services are every 45,000km with oil drops scheduled every 22,500km.The test Ducato is priced at $49,990 and comes with a three-year, 200,000km warranty and three-year roadside assistance. 

In the mean time, it's good to gauge what Fiats are like based on Ducato which is pretty good all things considered.It sells directly against the Renault Master and Ford Transit sitting between the two in terms of desirability with the Renault definitely in pole position.There are seven Ducato models available all with the same powertrain. Our test vehicle was the low roof model. Turbo diesel engine is a 2.8-litre four cylinder, common rail unit with 94kW/300Nm output. Plenty of oomph for big hills and heavy loads. Transmission is a five speed manual with no auto available. Stubby shifter conveniently located high on the dash, within easy reach of fingers. Renault Master has a six speeder. Engine is fairly quiet and smooth and can return excellent economy in mixed driving. We got about 10.0L/100km, with 800km from a full 80-litre tank, . Low roof model takes a couple of pallets and has payload of just under 1.5 tonnes. Load area is 2860mm long, 1808mm wide and 1562mm high. Access to load area is simplified by wide opening rear barn doors and a left hand side slider. Cabin is fully separated from load space, with a small window for rear vision. Roomy with seating for driver and two passengers. Rubber floor mat a big help in stabilising loads but covers tie-down rings. No tie off points provided on walls which is a baffling oversight. Suspension is simple leaf springs at the rear, easily copes with heavy loads, gives reasonable level of comfort too. Drive is to front wheels with benefits in load area. Rear bumper doubles as step. Passenger compartment set up for work with storage compartments and document holders. Big door bins with holders for sports bottles. Seats are upright _ tiring over long drive but have arm rests. Driver's seat is height adjustable and steering wheel is reach adjust- able. Safety equipment includes ABS and dual airbags. Passenger airbag can be switched off if a child's car seat is installed. Good standard equipment level includes aircon, power windows and mirrors, a decent audio system, remote central locking and height adjustable driver's seat. Upper and lower rear vision mirrors are provided, with wide angle vision on lower mirrors. They are individually adjustable. Bad, plasticky smell inside cabin. Tight turning circle for big van. Easy access to cabin. But needs corner hand- holds to go with step. Looks good for a one box van.