Fiat has high hopes for its all-new Ducato - the launch saw 3,000 dealers and journalists at a gala dinner followed by spectacular fireworks. Was the van worth it? We think so: it is much better to drive than previous models, and seems well put together. But in an intensely competitive market, with new and facelifted models from all the major players this year, that may not be enough.
The Ducato is not pretty: Fiat says its shape is "inspired by the piercing, aerodynamic
lines of high-speed trains", but we suspect that it has more to do with frontal impact regulations. However, the massive bumper should certainly protect the occupants and it is in three parts to reduce repair costs.
The load area looks unchanged, but it is longer and wider: all variants are bigger than before, with load volumes from 8 to 17cu m.
Front-wheel drive keeps the load floor low (535mm) and there is a class-leading 1.42m between the rear wheelarches. Fiat claims one of the best drag coefficients in its class, at 0.31, while kerbweights are the same as for the previous model.
The Ducato is available at 3.0, 3.3 and 3.5 tonnes, with heavy-duty Maxi models at 3.5 and (for the first time) 4.0 tonnes GVW. There are vans at three heights and four wheelbases, with chassis-cab and chassis-cowl variants. There are three four-cylinder diesels: 100hp and 2.2 litres, 120hp/2.3lit and 157hp/3.0lit. The 100hp unit has a five-speed gearbox, while the others
have six speeds.
The 2.3- and 3.0-litre Multijet engines have service intervals of 45,000km, and should be economical. Fiat reckons the 2.3 uses 23% less fuel than the old, less torquey 2.8 JTD. The Ducato goes on sale in the UK from the end of September, and prices will go up by a few percent - but Fiat points out that the driver's airbag, electric windows, central locking and ABS are now standard.
The standard Ducato has 15-inch wheels, while the Maxi is on 16-inchers. There are disc brakes all round, with ABS and EBD. The latest version of ESP, incorporating load compensation and a hill-hold feature, is an option. The door mirrors incorporate the indicator repeaters, and include a wide-angle mirror section; as an option, you can adjust the main and wide-angle sections individually. It also adds demisting, and there is an option to fold the mirrors back electrically for parking.
A reversing camera is another option, with a display screen which replaces the windscreen-mounted mirror. The cab has masses of storage, from a refrigerated "lunchbox" on the passenger side to a hinge-out bin at the bottom centre of the dash which is big enough to take a laptop computer. There is a space behind each door pull for an A4 folder, and an optional pull-out bin under each seat.
The "Blue & Me" option acts as a sophisticated hands-free kit for Bluetooth-equipped phones; unusually, it also allows one to play music from an MP3 player (or a memory stick) on the stereo via a USB port in the laptop-shaped cubbyhole. The side and rear of the body are well protected by plastic mouldings. The load compartment has plenty of DIN-standard tie-down points, as well as four light-duty lashing rings halfway up the side. A welcome option is a 12V power point near the rear doors. Surprisingly, the steel bulkhead is not a standard feature.
The overall impression is that the Ducato is well put together, with close panel gaps and clean welds throughout. The interior plastic doesn't look as refined as some, but it seems pretty strong. Cab access is easy, and the multi-adjustable seat is comfortable. Ride quality is excellent whether laden or unladen, soaking up the cobbles of Turin with ease, while noise levels are impressively low. There is some wind noise around the A-pillar at speed, but this only shows how quiet the engine is - we could talk normally at motorway speeds.
The 120hp 2.3-litre diesel is terrific, with snappy response and strong torque, while the six-speed gearbox allows relaxed cruising. The 157hp 3.0-litre engine offers more of the same: it is exceptionally smooth, and shrugs off a full load at 3.5 tonnes. Braking is sharp and strong - there seems to be no compromise from the 15in wheels - but the left-mounted handbrake (in a LHD vehicle) is awkward and set too low. The steering is light and a little "dead" around the straight-ahead, but very good for manoeuvring, and the turning circle seems tight.
The dash-mounted gearchange was notchy (the vans were barely run-in) but our only real complaint is with the clutch pedal: the hinge point is too high and the biting point is low, so you have to extend your foot a long way. City drivers would be grateful of a two-pedal option, but this will only be available on the 3.0-litre version, and not until next year. Overall, the Ducato (and its sister vans from Citron and Peugeot) should be very popular with drivers. Productivity should be good too, so if the price and backup are right it could sell like hot cakes.
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