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Fiat Professional Ducato Orwell Truck & Van
Hard to fault, Ducato retains our Large Van of the Year title
The basic design is now nine years old but Fiat Professional has kept its Ducato at the top of the CV best-sellers list, says Andrew Walker
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Fiat Professional’s Ducato could have been designed with the growth in internet shopping deliveries in mind. Its improved Euro6D engines, including a new 9-Speed automatic transmission, offer the power and efficiency fleets need while keeping at bay civic mandarins with an eye on nabbing cash through emissions taxes.
As a bonus for the driver, the MultiJet 2 engines come with a variable geometry compressor which delivers a smoother drive, increased flexibility at low speeds and improved fuel consumption, no matter which power output.
The entry level Ducato produces 120hp from the 2.3-litre MultiJet 2 engine at 2,750rpm with a maximum torque of 320Nm at 1,400rpm. It is teamed with the manual gearbox, which improves power and torque delivery by 10 per cent compared to the previous 2.0-litre engine.
The 140hp version offers 350Nm torque at just 1,400rpm and comes with a choice of 6-speed manual gearbox or new 9-speed auto transmission. The 160hp variant reaches peak power output at 3,500rpm and distributes up to 400Nm torque at 1,500rpm in the auto version.
The range-topping 180hp hits peak power at 3,500rpm and 400Nm torque from 1,500 to 3,000rpm, with manual gearbox.
The latest revisions didn’t just focus on the power units. There is now, as standard, Start and Stop as well as new safety measures, including blind spot assist, rear cross path detection and lane departure warning.
A new infotainment system is now available in Ducato. This features a 7” touchscreen by Mopar®, USB port, DAB and SatNav. The new system includes integration for Apple CarPlay and Android AutoTM.
I had the opportunity to spend some time driving a couple of the new models and came away impressed. First up we tackled a 140hp manual LWB version. On a route that took in city and country roads plus the motorway, it proved very capable. With two passengers and a one-tonne load on board, it’s proving the most popular engine choice in the UK.
The addition of Lane Departure Warning gives the driver a quiet nudge when the road narrows, or you are forced off line, but unlike in many vehicles we’ve driven, it’s not intrusive. There’s also a reversing camera built into the 7” screen which provides further assistance when performing a three-point turn.
The interior has also been redesigned and our test model featured a clever notepad-cumiPad rest which can house your tablet. Two decent-sized closing glove boxes, two deep door pockets, storage on top of the dash, twin drinks holders in front of the centre passenger seat and two more storage areas in front of the third passenger seat offer plenty of places to hide away office paraphenalia.
A large LED light has been added to the
loading area, for which the twin rear doors fold almost flat to the side of the van for better access.
The ratios in the six-speed manual gear box make changing up or down simple and the Ducato also benefits from a light clutch. All three pedals are easy to reach, with room to rest your foot on the motorway as well. The steering wheel will only adjust up or down though.
Next up was the more powerful 160hp unit, matched to the new 9-speed auto gear box. Stop/start driving on the motorway makes the automatic option a blessing though there is a manual option if you prefer. The extra 20hp on tap gives the Ducato a bit more pull, especially at the top end. Where the 140hp version tends to fade after 2,000 revs, doing all of it’s work lower down, the 160hp version keeps pulling all the way up to 3,500rpm.
The driving position in the Ducato is excellent, with a clear view of the road ahead and to left and to right, thanks to the large windows and windscreen. The driver’s seat adjusts fore and aft and up and down, so getting comfortable was easy.
Any negatives? In reality, the basic design of the Ducato is now nine years old and while the upgrades are excellent, it’s a relatively old vehicle. This means, for example, that the handbrake is still located to the right of the driver rather than in the centre, which has always been a little annoying. And, although the new tech is much improved, I can’t help but feel that a larger screen than the 7” one offered would make life easier still.
Quality wise, the interior feels better than before, but it does still feature some cheap looking plastics in places. On the plus side, the seat fabric looks and feels hard wearing and there’s a pretty good choice of new colours for your Ducato, including a Farrell and Ball-like Expedition Grey, the colour we got to drive with.
By updating and improving the latest Ducato, especially with the addition of the new cleaner diesel engines, Fiat Professional has given themselves the opportunity to remain number one in Europe in the large panel van sector for some time to come.
CC&V VERDICT
Upgrades to engines and interior have kept Ducato relevant, no matter how old the original design is
