Ducato’s warranty lasts for five years/125,000 miles under the 555 banner, with roadside assistance provided for the duration as part of an impressively comprehensive package that also includes regular servicing for the first 100,000 miles. Service intervals are set at two years/36,000 miles.
Our test vehicle was finished in optional Lanzarote Grey paint which also graced the front bumper. Looks nice, and so it should for an extra £1,100 in total – but just remember that it will not earn your business any more money, any more than the fancy optional crepe black interior cab trim or the optionally leather-trimmed gearlever and steering wheel will.
Side rubbing strips protect the Ducato’s body from minor damage and the van we tested came with a full-size spare wheel.
We averaged 35mpg – slightly better than the official figure.
Fiat Professional Ducato 35 LH2 2.2 MultiJet III 140hp Business Edition
Price (ex VAT) £37,950
Price range (ex VAT) £30,755–£46,900
Gross payload 1,472kg
Load length 3,705mm
Load width (min/max) 1,422mm/1,870mm
Load bay height 1,932mm
Load volume 13m3
Loading height 590mm
Rear door aperture 1,562mm x 1,790mm
Side door aperture 1,250mm x 1,755mm
Gross vehicle weight 3,500kg
Braked trailer towing weight 2,250kg
Cost per mile 78.8p
Engine size/power 2,184cc/140hp @ 3,500rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 1,400rpm
Gearbox 6sp
Fuel economy 34mpg (combined WLTP)
Fuel tank 90L
CO2 216g/km (WLTP)
Warranty 5yrs/125,000mls
Service intervals 2yrs/36,000mls
Insurance group 43A
Price as tested £42,905
* after 48 months/20,000mls p.a – source – KWIKcarcost
Options
External pedestrian alarm £35
Safety pack £595
Leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear lever £170
Lanzarote Grey paint £600
Painted front bumper £500
Double passenger airbag £255
Crepe black interior £150
Digital central rear view mirror £595
230V socket £150
LED daytime running lights £280
Front fog-lights with cornering function £150
Black front grille and chromed bars £120
16in black alloy wheels £560
Blind spot assist and rear cross path £495
270° rear doors £300
Ford Transit
Price (ex VAT) £32,985–£54,135
Load volume 9.5–15.1m3
Gross payload 895–2,209kg
Engines 105hp, 130hp, 170hp, 185hp 2.0 diesel, 135kW, 198kW electric motor
Verdict: Ticks almost all the boxes. Plus points include a slick manual gear change, an exemplary 10spd automatic transmission, a wide range and strong aftersales support. The E-Transit looks like the model to watch from now on, with a competitive price tag and a claimed maximum range between recharges of just shy of 200 miles on the WLTP cycle.
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Price (ex VAT) £29,435–£58,575
Load volume 7.8–17m3
Gross payload 731–2,813kg
Engines 150hp, 170hp, 190hp 2.0 diesel, 85kW electric motor
Verdict: A heavy stress on on-board safety characterises the Sprinter, a durable fleet workhorse, which should offer healthy residuals, and is wired for connectivity. Front-wheel and rear-wheel drive variants are both available. Check out the automatic models and do
not neglect the electric version, although, admittedly, its range is woefully short.
Volkswagen Crafter
Price (ex VAT) £29,280–£46,905
Load volume 9.3–18.4m3
Gross payload 761–2,472kg
Engines 102hp, 122hp, 140hp, 177hp 2.0 diesel
Verdict: Crafter and its MAN TGE identikit stablemate tend to be overshadowed by the all-conquering Mercedes Sprinter. That is a pity, because they share the Sprinter’s emphasis on safety and durability. Like the Sprinter, they are supported by dedicated commercial vehicle networks; and MAN has managed to launch an electric TGE in the UK.
Design 8/10 – Using refined onboard technology to gain an edge is a praiseworthy ploy
Cabin 8/10 – Well-equipped and comfortable, with plenty of gizmos and lots of storage space
Ride 6/10 – Not its strong suit, especially when lightly-laden
Refinement 7/10 – In-cab noise needs to be suppressed, but much better built than its predecessors
Load area 8/10 – Roomy and easy to access with plenty of tie-down points
Handling/performance 7/10 – Over-assisted steering harms the former but performance is sufficient
Engine/transmission 7/10 – Well-matched, but the manual is not great. Splash out on an automatic instead
Standard equipment 7/10 – A worthy selection of goodies, but gaps require a check of the options list
Operating costs 9/10 – A remarkably comprehensive package should help keep them nicely under control
What Van? subjective rating 7/10 – A cleverly thought-out vehicle, but the automatic is much more preferential
Overall Rating = 74/100