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

Date: Friday, May 13, 2022

 

Rear 3:4

Operating

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

Rivals

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.

The Final Verdict

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

 

 

 

 



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