Review: Fiat Ducato 2016

Fiat Ducato Maxi MWB
2016 Large Van Comparison Test

You’ve got to hand it to the Italians – they can take something even
as utilitarian as a van and make it look good. Case in point, Fiat’s
updated Ducato Maxi.

Introduced at the end of 2014, the model’s latest iteration sports a
sleek new look, an updated cabin (with new 5.0-inch multimedia
touchscreen system) and roll-over mitigation.

On paper the Ducato presents some compelling figures. It’s the most
powerful vehicle on test, its Multijet 180 engine producing 130kW/400Nm,
and it has the longest service interval at 48,000km (albeit with oil
changes at 24,000km).

Our medium-wheelbase, low-roof test vehicle also has the shortest
wheelbase in this company, at 3450mm, yet it still boasts a healthy
internal volume of 10 cubic metres and a payload of 1480kg.

There are no A-pillar grab-handles to aid cab entry, and in the wet
care must be taken on the sturdy but slippery plastic step and flooring.

The cab itself has some pleasing aesthetics – it’s the only vehicle
on test to feature a touchscreen and the centre stack has a piano black
fascia – but the panel fit is a bit hit and miss and some controls, like
those for the air-conditioning, feel a bit flimsy.

The
attractive seating is supportive and the driver’s seat has six-way
adjustment (plus an armrest and lumbar support), but the seating
position is low in relation to the steering wheel (which is adjustable
for reach but not tilt). Increasing the seat height offers no solution,
raising the driver’s line of sight to the very top of the windscreen.
It’s tricky to get to the seat adjustment too, as the right-hand-mounted
park brake tends to get in the way.

Cab storage isn’t its strong suit, either. There’s no overhead
shelving and just the one concealed dash-top tray (on the passenger side
– it’s chilled). The glovebox is tiny but there are a couple of trays
for knick-knacks, while the two main cup/bottle holders are right down
low, at the bottom of the centre stack. There’s no storage under the
twin passenger seat either – that’s taken by a dedicated compartment for
the wheel jack – and we noted the twin-deck door side pockets has some
sharp edges.

There are two more cup holders on the back of the folding centre
seat, however, along with a handy clip-board, with a further clip-board
holder flipping up on the dash.

The dash does slope steeply down to the base of the windscreen so you
could store all and sundry there, if you don’t mind everything being on
display.

The steering wheel is the most stylish of all the vehicles on test,
featuring a perforated leather wrap plus integrated controls for volume
and the Bluetooth telephony. A USB and 3.5mm auxiliary audio jack are
located low on the centre stack, by the mobile phone holder.

The
‘UConnect’ multimedia unit offers touchscreen operation of the radio
and CD player. There’s no sat-nav but the screen can be hooked up to an
optional reversing camera.

Forward vision is hampered to a degree by wide A-pillars and plastic
shrouding around the quarter windows, but the side mirrors are the
largest on test and both the standard and convex mirrors feature
electric adjustment.

Once underway the standard steel bulkhead with sliding window dampens
cab noise to a degree, but a reasonable amount of engine noise still
encroaches. The engine pumps out dependable urge from just off idle and
it’s fair to say the Ducato is a brisk performer on the road, barely
noticing the weight in the back even when tackling some steeper climbs.

The automated manual transmission (AMT) encourages smooth and
measured progress, aiding fuel economy, and it gears down nicely to aid
descents. Fiat says the AMT (the only one on test) can improve fuel
economy by up to five per cent over six-speed manual models – no auto
option is available.

We did however note a little ‘twitchiness’ to the throttle when
making small inputs, like when parking, and the transmission shudders a
touch when reversing up an incline.

Speaking of parking, reversing sensors are standard, while our test
vehicle also came with a reversing buzzer. The latter was effective –
and sure to please the neighbours on early morning departures!

On the fuel economy front, the Ducato returned an economy of
9.6L/100km. That’s roughly mid-pack in this company, which is actually
pretty good considering the top power and torque on offer.

The
instrumentation is on the ‘busy’ side, especially the central digi
display, but there’s a gear shift indicator along with all the usual
trip meter functions. Overall you’d have to say the Ducato’s dash and
instrumentation are a cut above the Daily, but not in the same league as
the Transit, Master, Sprinter or Crafter when it comes to refinement.

The load bay has a low floor height – at 515mm, only the Master’s was
lower – and the biggest measurement between its wheel arches (1420mm).
It’s a fairly tidy affair, with 13 large tie-down anchor points and
mid-height plastic protection. This particular model boasts a healthy
1480kg payload capacity and a 3000kg towing capacity, the latter only
outdone by Iveco’s Daily.

The stability control system now adds roll-over mitigation to other
features including traction control, electronic braking assistance,
load-adaptive control and a hill-holder. Traction+ (for difficult
terrain, also featuring hill-descent control) is offered as an option
($1500), as is a Vision pack with lane-departure warning system and auto
lights and wipers ($900), and LED daytime running lights ($500). A
driver’s airbag is complemented by a dual passenger airbag.

Fiat’s Ducato comes with a three-year/200,000km warranty. As
mentioned, service intervals are indicated at every 48,000km, but oil
changes are recommended every 24,000km.

It’s stylish, capable but quirky, as Latin creations often are.
However, the Ducato’s competitive pricing is catching buyers’ eyes as
much as its sleek exterior, which is why the model’s sales were up by
23.9 per cent last year.

Related reading:
>> Large Van 2016 Comparison: Introduction
>> Ford Transit (from $47,680 plus ORCs)
>> Iveco Daily (from $49,501 plus ORCs)
>> Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (from $44,490 plus ORCs)
>> Renault Master (from $40,990 plus ORCs)
>> Volkswagen Crafter (from $41,990 plus ORCs)
>> Large Van Comparison - The Verdict

2016 Fiat Ducato Maxi MWB pricing and specifications:
Price: $44,000 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 130kW/400Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automated manual
Drive: Front
GVM: 3510kg
Wheelbase: 3450mm
Payload: 1480kg
Load space: 10.0 cubic metres
Towing (braked): 3000kg
Fuel: 9.6L/100km (as tested)