The What Van? Road Test: Fiat Professional Ducato (2021)

Date: Friday, May 13, 2022

Cabin

Interior and equipment

No complaints about storage space in the three-seater cab, which was decorated with some fancy optional trim. Each of the doors has no less than four bins – two very small ones towards the top, a medium-sized one about halfway down with a moulding that can grasp a can of soft drink, and a big one at the bottom.

The lidded, but not lockable, glove-box has a shelf above it, with a lidded compartment above that set into the top of the dashboard. 

Look towards the bottom of the dashboard and you will spy a tray with a couple of cupholders. You will also spot another cupholder next to a shelf as your eyes travel upwards.

Good to see that the fascia features a pair of 12V power points as well as two USB sockets. You can honestly never have enough of either; and our vehicle had an optional 240V power point as well.

Both the driver’s seat and the (slightly offset) steering wheel are height-adjustable and the seat boasts an armrest plus lumbar adjustment. The wheel features remote controls for the DAB radio. 

Something we have never liked about the Ducato is the oddball positioning of the handbrake lever, between the driver’s seat and door. If you are wearing an anorak or a donkey jacket then you can pretty much guarantee you will get caught on it as you leave the driver’s seat, and you have to be extra careful the lever is fully released before you pull away from rest.

An electronic parking brake release is listed as an option.

When you are climbing back into the van you will notice an annoying omission; no grab handle on either of the A-pillars, or above either the driver or the passenger door.

The aforementioned projecting tray limits the legroom available to the middle passenger. On the positive side, however, the centre section of the middle seat’s back can be folded down and transformed into a handy desk complete with a couple of cupholders, a pen tray and a clip to keep paperwork tidy.

Standard kit includes automatic climate control, a wireless phone charger, electric windows and big, electrically adjustable and heated exterior mirrors with a separate wide-angle section. Opt for Business Edition trim and you get mirrors that fold electrically.

The dashboard is dominated by a large 10in touchscreen. Satellite navigation is included in the deal as well as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity and wireless phone charging.

Voice response allows you to switch seamlessly away from BBC Radio 4’s increasingly annoying Today programme to Times Radio without even having to use the touchscreen. 

Said touchscreen will ensure that your favourite radio stations and destinations are remembered anyway, and allows you to set the heating and ventilation system to your
ideal personal pitch of comfort. The touchscreen heating and ventilation controls are replicated with separate push buttons. 

While the manual model does not achieve level two autonomy status in the way that its automatic stablemate does, our test van was by no means short of onboard safety features.

They included ABS, electronic stability control, emergency braking assistance and electronic brake force distribution. Our demonstrator was additionally equipped with an optional safety pack which embraces autonomous emergency brake control with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition and sensors that turn on the wipers when it is raining, the lights when it starts to get dark and dip the headlights as and when required.

Blind spot assist and rear cross path were installed as an optional pack. The latter alerts you to oncoming vehicles if you are reversing onto the highway.

While all this technology is undoubtedly laudable, sometimes it can be a bit overeager. No driver wants to be told by means of an onboard display – a 7in digital instrument cluster is fitted – to put his hands on the steering wheel when they are already there.

The driver’s airbag was supplemented by an optional double passenger airbag.

The traction control, lane departure warning and stop/start systems can all be switched off if necessary. Optional front fog lights with a cornering function were fitted and should help when visibility is poor.

The Ducato comes with electrically-assisted rack-and-pinion power steering with energy consumption and the level of assistance offered altering in line with the speed of the vehicle, says Fiat Professional. 

Turning to the suspension, an independent MacPherson-type set-up helps support the front with wishbones, coil springs and an anti-roll bar. At the rear, you will find a rigid tubular axle with parabolic longitudinal leaf springs.

Telescopic shock absorbers are fitted all round.

Our demonstrator’s 16in wheels were shod with Continental VanContact Eco 215/75 R16C tyres.



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