IVECO Daily 50C Dual Cab 2023 Review

The IVECO Daily range recently got a revamp with the introduction of the new model year.
On offer was more comfort, safety and functionality. The update wasn’t a major event, being described as more of an evolutionary change then a radical step away from where it was.

That said, we thought it was time for another look at the Daily, which we have always thought was a solid platform on which to build a dependable workhorse for many applications.

The Daily 50C Dual Cab is a versatile package for any tradie or business person who is stepping up from a dual-cab ute. Sure, it’s probably not going to have the dual-purpose work-and-play aspects of a ute, but it can still tow your boat or trailer and fit six, yes six, people in the cab.

The 50C that we had on our test run was fitted with the larger 155kW/470Nm engine and the optional eight-speed automatic transmission. This is the same combination that we had in the big seven-tonne van which we reviewed early last month.

The eight-speed Hi-Matic is actually a ZF torque-converter automatic box that has a great spread of gears from the low 4.696:1 first through to sixth which is a 1:1 direct, and then seventh and eighth which are overdrives.

The Daily 50C is available with a GVM of 4995kg for those with only a car licence or 5200kg for those with a truck licence. From there, you can go up to the 7000kg 70C with a GCM of 10,500kg.

Our Daily was the 5200kg version, which offers a payload of 2100kg – a lot more than your average dual-cab ute. All of the Daily cab/chassis models have a towing capacity of 3500kg, so you can haul a hell of a lot of gear with the truck and trailer.

Our truck was also fitted with the optional air-bag rear suspension which gives the ability of raising and lowering the suspension to suit loading bays of different heights. It also gives better ride and handling under different weights and adds to the load-hauling ability.

The interior of the Daily is very comfortable for a light commercial. The seat is a heated suspension seat that has been revamped a bit for this model with a memory-foam squab and a different design to make it easier to get in and out. There is also more room and longer seatbelts for bigger drivers.

The dash has been redesigned too with the introduction of white backlighting for all dashboard panels, switches and instrument cluster, while a transition to a uniform dark dashboard colour with matt-chrome finish, provides additional sophistication giving a ‘more premium car-like appearance rather than that of a hard-working commercial vehicle’, we’re told.

The addition of electric steering allows for rake and reach adjustment on the steering wheel and in general it is really easy to get comfortable in the Daily.

The dashboard is comprehensive with a 3.5-inch TFT display and silver dial rings. The display includes a digital speedo, ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems) dashboard, ADAS quick menu, TPMS, oil, battery and service information. There is also navigation and phone multimedia, fuel economy, trip computer, vehicle settings, display settings and diagnostics.

The multimedia system includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, DAB digital radio, MP3 player, USB and AUX connectivity, and Bluetooth with steering wheel controls.

Floors are sensibly covered in a hard-wearing plastic that can be easily swept or even hosed out.

There are plenty of storage areas for all the necessities of life on the urban road, and drink holders aplenty for the driver and front passenger.

Over the back, there is a long bench seat with lap-sash belts for four, though you’d have to be pretty friendly to get four full-size blokes across there. Maybe four light apprentices…

Our test truck was carrying a large water tank on the back weighing around one tonne. It was strapped down to the aftermarket tray which necessitated taking off the tray sides. This accentuated the low line of the tray which would be great for loading and unloading, but it also meant that the centre of gravity of the vehicle was low.

With the low centre of gravity, the Daily felt flat and sure-footed through corners, and this was no doubt aided by the air suspension in the rear which kept the back axle totally under control.

Up in the cab, the new electric steering was positive and direct, with the overall feeling of a really great-handling little truck. I’d venture to say that it’s probably one of the best-handling light-duty trucks on the market today.

There’s power and torque aplenty from the 210hp/470Nm 3.0-litre engine, and although there are both Power and Economy modes in the transmission, I only used the Power mode once to try it out. For the rest of the time, Economy was quite sufficient to keep up with the traffic or for freeway cruising.

Braking from the standard four-wheel discs is top class. I found I was over-braking at times as the brakes were that good; I had to moderate my boot on the pedal to stop with the traffic. The park brake is an electric affair operating on the rear wheels.

Comfort on the road is terrific, the seat is a beauty and it’s easy to find just the right spot for a long drive. Vision is also good with a wide, deep windscreen up front and the big wing mirrors for rear vision. All Dailys now get reversing cameras as standard.

Under the snub nose, once you find the bonnet catch which is expertly hidden down low on the left, there is very easy access to the necessary checks like coolant, oil, filters and washer bottle. It’s all very neat and tidy and logically laid out.

Along with the introduction of optional new Proactive Lane Keep Assist, new Daily models feature a wide range of active and passive safety features. In addition to front and rear disc brakes with ABS, and driver as well as passenger front and curtain airbags, the range includes an Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS), adaptive cruise control, and ESP9, IVECO’s suite of nine electronic stability technologies.

Further safety such as Queue Assist, City Brake and Lane Departure Warning System can also be optioned at additional cost.

Queue Assist is ideal for slow-moving stop-start traffic and allows the vehicle to automatically accelerate and brake to a complete stop, helping to reduce driver fatigue.

At the end of the day, the IVECO Daily 50C with the 210hp engine and Hi-Matic eight-speed auto is a really neat package for the tradie or delivery driver. It can be specified with any or all of IVECO’s upgrade packages to semi-customise it to the owner’s requirements, but it’s just as good right out of the box. Add a body of your choice and you’ve got a really good package.

Although most manufacturers are reticent to give pricing details, we can tell you that at the time of writing the Daily 50C Dual Cab we had, including the big engine and the auto gearbox, would set you back $78,257 excluding GST and on-road costs.

Considering the cost of some of the dual-cab utes on the market, a light truck certainly stacks up given their increased payload and almost comparable levels of comfort and technology.

Model: IVECO Daily 50C Dual Cab
Engine: Euro 6 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel with electronically controlled variable geometry turbo (e-VGT)
Maximum power: 155kW (210hp) at 3500rpm
Maximum torque: 470Nm (347ft-lb) at 1500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed ZF torque-converter automatic (Hi-Matic 8HP70L, standard for 210hp engine)

Weights
GVM: 4495kg (5200kg option available)
GCM:7995kg (8700kg option available)
Towing capacity: 3500kg (braked)
Fuel: 100L
AdBlue: 20L

Front axle and suspension
Capacity: 2100kg
Suspension Type: Independent with adjustable steel torsion bar

Rear axle and suspension
Capacity: 3700kg
Suspension type: Rear parabolic spring
Optional suspension: ECAS rear air suspension (as reviewed)
Rear axle ratio (dual cab): 4.44:1
Optional: Driver-controlled diff lock

Brakes
Front: 290mm discs
Rear: 289mm discs
Parking brake: Electronic