Published: Commercial Motor, 20 Jan 2000
Driver's Delightby: Peter Lawton
The Maxi is in the heavyweight contender in Fiat's Ducato range. It carries an extra half-tonne of payload with 4.54m3 more volume than the flyweight Ducato 10 we gave a workout we gave a workout to at the end of last year.
We took the George Foreman of Ducatos around a winter wonderland in Kent to see if it's all mouth and no trousers - or if it packs a real punch...
Verdict
The Ducato cab is certainly better but, like most vans in this class, doesn't have the creature comforts or convenience of smaller models on the market.
Fuel consumption figures were almost certainly hit by the prevailing conditions at the time we tested but are nonetheless acceptable - and the load quality is exceptional.
But the Fiat proved to be as confident on the road as the best of vans on the best of days, never worrying and never faltering in its stride - a great drive.
Vehicle Specifications
Fiat Ducato Maxi 2.8id TD
| Fuel Consumption: | 26.7mpg(10.6lit/100km) |
| Average speed: | 59.8km/h |
| Gross weight as tested: | 3,500kg |
| Net payload: | 1,450kg |
| Price as tested: | £19,290(ex-VAT) |
