2005 Iveco Daily Reviews

Iveco may not be a volume player in the heavier end of the light commercial market, but that doesn't mean it's not worth considering. We've put a nicely optioned example of the Daily E6 50C cab chassis to the GVM test and assessed its liveability on the job with impressive results.

Time is money and big commercial vans need to be capable, comfortable and reliable. Not to mention safe, economical and tough. Italian light and heavy commercial vehicle brand Iveco has built a solid reputation in the Aussie market, and we've put its Daily E6 35S van to the tradie test. We've discovered what it's like to live with and drive with a GVM-threatening load in the back?

The MY21 Iveco Daily E6 cab-chassis range competes in the Light Duty (3501-8000kg GVM) segment of Australia's Heavy Commercial vehicle market, where competition is fierce with a dozen brands and 15 models battling for buyers.

Iveco's Daily commercial range of vans and cab-chassis has been around since 1978 and in that time the Italian manufacturer has sold more than three million of them across the globe, in both LHD and RHD markets. In 2021, after more than four decades and six model generations, Iveco continues this steady evolution with its latest Daily E6 range.

The motorhome is one of the biggest and most versatile home-away-from-home adventure-travel options there is.Well-known RV company Avida has recently launched its new motorhome range, the Avida Busselton, a self-contained motorhome with a kitchen, two beds, a bathroom (with shower and a toilet), and more.How does it perform on a trip away? Well, we took one to a beachside campsite find out.

Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the Iveco Dual Cab 50C17 Turbo Daily with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Derek Ogden road tests and reviews the 2015 Iveco Daily, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

You call that a ute? This is a ute — Iveco's Daily 4x4. The go-anywhere hauler is finding favour with country fire brigades, which are using it as a fire support vehicle instead of Toyota LandCruiser wagons. Iveco will soon introduce a new-generation Daily in Australia, with the 4x4 version arriving here next year.

Respect. There's not enough in the world. But Iveco has fixed the problem - a whopper of a 4WD that towers above traffic and brings out respect in everyone.The dual-cab Iveco Daily 4x4 won't fit in a shopping centre carpark bay. Its price won't fit into most people's budgets and its height sends vertigo sufferers simply dizzy.This is solid-core four-wheel driving and yet, it is practical and perfect for adventurers who like heights, extreme off-road exploration and the best parking bay in every shopping centre in Australia. Take your kid to school in this each day and you'll also win big bragging rights.The Daily 4x4 will tow up to 3500kg and has room for a custom-made body behind the dual-cab unit of about 2.5m - probably 3.5m for the single-cab model.VALUEAt $88,000 for the dual-cab cab-chassis, it's cheaper than an upmarket Land Cruiser but by the time you add the sleeping unit on the back, you're probably on par. I was kidding - this isn't really for the shops. Designed mainly for commercial applications, it does however have appeal for retirees or Lotto winners who love the Outback.The dual-cab is big enough to seat six with exemplary head and legroom, with suspension, full tilt and rake adjustment and heating for the two front seats. The cabin gets an audio system, airconditioning, electric windows, cruise control, electric adjust side mirrors, big storage areas and a cooled glovebox.Rivals include the Fuso FG and Isuzu NPS though both are physically bigger and depending on GVMs, may require a truck license. Volkswagen is yet to import the Crafter 4Motion cab-chassis and van.DESIGNBig, squared off and yet almost cute. It's huge in the flesh though looks Tonka toy-like in photos. It stands 2.7m high and 2m wide - though you have to add more for the giant side mirrors - with an impressive 300mm ground clearance with the sand tyres.It also has a massive 50-degree approach angle and up to 41-degrees at the back which are hard to rival. It has a commanding seating position yet is as simple as many vans. Indeed, the 4x4 is based on the Daily 2WD van.The cabin floor is flat so allows occupants to wander about in its enormity. The rear seat takes four adults and has a storage bin beneath the cushions.TECHNOLOGYThere's a 125kW/400Nm 3-litre, four cylinder, bi-turbo and intercooled diesel engine that will drink about 15 litres/100km. Maximum torque comes in at 1250rpm and stays there until 3000rpm. The engine drives all wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox with two seats of transfer ratios, effectively creating 24 forward cogs.There are three differential locks that can sequentially be engaged - centre diff, rear and front - while the axles are heavy-duty units on leaf springs. It's built tough so has a 4.5-tonne GVM (5.2-tonne optional) and its ability to cope with this doesn't affect its 3.5-tonne towing ability.There's also front disc brakes with rear drums and hydraulic power-assist rack and pinion steering. Tyre choices from Michelin include the aggressive sand tyres (as tested) which are speed rated to 100km/h.SAFETYProbably more of a concern for other road users. The Daily 4x4 carries no crash test result. It has two airbags, ABS brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution but no electronic stability or traction control. The gigantic heated side mirrors have two sets of lenses each and there's an additional kerbside mirror over the passenger's door.DRIVINGOnce you get over the driver's seat height, the Daily 4x4 is as easy as most other vans to drive on the road. The sand tyres whine (the standard road-bias 110km/h-rated tyres are better) and at 100km/h the engine is spinning at 2200rpm making it a leisurely country cruiser.It's comfortable and its size gives occupants a sense of security. Steering is pleasantly firm while the gearbox shift and clutch action feel is as good - and light - as most mid-size passenger cars.The visibility is like the third floor view from an apartment. In the dirt, at the RAC Driving Centre near the Perth International Airport, the Daily 4x4 is almost unstoppable. All the clever stuff starts with the grunty engine and the depth of the reduction box's gear ratios. It's better to let the engine lug rather than rev it.The diff locks are saviours and only - in desperation - will the front diff be needed. Iveco says the truck can tip to a 40-degree lean before falling over - a piece of information I didn't test.VERDICTAn extremely capable, surprisingly comfortable and well engineered machine with a limited audience.Iveco Daily 55SPrice: about $88,000Warranty: 3 years/100,000Capped servicing: NoService interval: 40,000km (on-road)Resale: n/aSafety: 2 airbags, ABS, EBD, TCCrash rating: n/aEngine: 3-litre 4-cyl bi-turbo diesel, 125kW/400NmTransmission: 6-spd manual + 2 reductions (24 gears); constant 4WDThrirst: 15L/100km; 398g/km CO2Dimensions: 5.4m (L), 2.0m (W), 2.7m (H)Weight: 2765kgSpare: Full size 

The Daily delivery vans and cab-chassis derivatives have claimed a lot of firsts during the past 30 years and maker Iveco is just as chuffed with the latest range.The chassis frame on a light commercial vehicle, direct-injection turbodiesel engines, a 17cum van with 210cm interior height, common-rail diesel injection and even an engine that (in Europe) runs on natural gas are among the benchmarks claimed for the Daily van in those 30 years.Thanks to the array of models — seven wheelbases, low, mid and high-roof versions, two engines and various stages of power tune, a wide range of designated payload capacities, dual-cab versions plus single or dual rear wheels — it's possible to make thousands of Dailys without two being identical.It's reckoned that every five minutes, somewhere in the world, someone buys a New Daily van.The latest Daily — or New Daily as it's called, with capital N — retains the rear-wheel-drive configuration.All engines are Euro 4 compliant, some models having exhaust gas recirculation, and don't need a particulate filter.All engines are four-cylinder, in-line and have four valves per cylinder operated by double overhead camshafts. They use common-rail injection.The lighter, single-rear-wheel units use a 2.3-litre diesel with variable geometry blades in the turbocharger. Most Daily models have a three-litre turbodiesel engine. The HPI offers 109kW of power and 350Nm of torque. The HPT version ups this to 131kW of power and 400Nm of torque, but notably that torque is constant from 1250rpm through to 3000rpm, suggesting good engine flexibility.Oil and filters are scheduled for changing every 40,000km, limiting service costs and vehicle downtime.The Daily has independent front suspension and the solid rear axle can be optioned with air suspension for carrying delicate cargoes.Driver and passenger convenience and comfort are a priority with Daily. They have a parking sensor, central locking with remote control in the key, clever cab storage spots, including four DIN-sized compartments. Moving about the cab is easier thanks to the dash-mounted gearshift and shorter handbrake lever (made possible due to its lighter action). Seats are comfortable and supportive.The Daily can be had with a six-speed manual gearbox or six-speed automatic offering sequential shift.Payloads vary from 1265kg through to the extra long wheelbase, cab-chassis at 4260kg.The short van has a wheelbase of 3000mm, the mediums are 3300mm and 3750mm, the longs are 3950mm, 4100mm and 4350mm depending on van or cab-chassis style, leaving the two extra-long cab-chassis models with a 4750mm wheelbase.