Stellantis launched their Pro One Commercial Vehicle offering last year, a rebranding of all the Stellantis van ranges under a single umbrella. As electric vans increase their driving ranges the Stellantis batteries become multi-functional fitting electric Fiat Professionals, Citroens, Peugeot’s & Vauxhall’s. But a 230 mile driving range cannot yet touch the 700 miles achievable in a large diesel van, so CC&V recently spent a week in the Fiat Ducato, Europe’s No 1 large van driving the 140 Primo auto & we’re happy to report it still cut’s the mustard.
Inside & out
Series 8 features a new front bumper, LED headlights & daytime running lights. The other main changes are with the dashboard, tech & on board safety. So, depending on the model you choose, expect a 10″ infotainment touchscreen, wireless smartphone connectivity, a wireless charger, a digital rear-view mirror, adaptive cruise control & automatic lane keeping aids, a far cry from the previous incarnation.
Engines
All versions are FWD only with three 2.2 power units. A 120hp manual-only model with 320Nm. Our test van the 140hp auto & there’s a manual too, with 350Nm & a 180hp manual & auto with 400Nm. On the auto 160hp model power goes up to 380Nm & on the 180hp auto version, it increases to 450Nm.
All engines are Euro 6D-Final compliant, with the heavier versions coming with Heavy-Duty type approval. Fiat claim the engine is 7% more efficient than before, primarily because the latest engine is 15kg lighter than the old 2.3 unit.
Model range & versions
Fiat says it produces over 10,000 versions. With three body heights, five body lengths, a choice of panel van, window van, chassis-cab, people-carrier, chassis cowl, or other conversions, plus the four engine choices, of which three can be had as manual or auto, this seems infinitely possible.
Fiat have simplified the model choice with two Ducato’s offered. Entry-level Ducato is the Standard version, which comes with a 5″ screen, DAB, Bluetooth, single USB, Cruse control, Lane Departure Warning, an electric parking brake, fixed steel bulkhead, three front airbags, advanced emergency braking, traffic sign recognition & a driver drowsiness detection monitor.
Range topper Primo adds a 7″ touchscreen with Apple Car Play, Android Auto, a voice control button on the steering wheel, wireless phone charging, an electric parking brake, keyless entry/start, 360 degree cameras, automatic climate control, a 230v socket, twin USB’s, a digital rear view camera, a leather steering wheel, a compartment under the drivers seat, upgraded seat trim, blind spot recognition, rear cross traffic detection, high beam recognition, LED headlights & fog lights with cornering function.
Fiat offer numerous packed to add extras to your Ducato as well. So chose from three Work Packs; Worksite Heavy, Cargo, Conversion or Safety. A Safety Pack, City Plus. Three Technology Packs, Techno Plus, Handsfree or Handsfree & Camera, plus two style Packs; Premium Cab or Style & Visibility Plus. You can also access a suite of aids through Fiats connected services. These include MY Assistant, MY Journey, MY Remote & MY Fleet Manager all software which simplify the day to day running with data around your Ducato or Ducato’s.
Payload, load length & load width
Three lengths, L2 5413mm, L3 5998mm or L4 6363mm. And two body heights, H2 2379mm or H3 2779mm
The MH2 2.2 Multijet III 140hp, offers a payload of 1,472,kg & a load volume of 11.5m cubed. Gross Vehicle weight is 3,500kg & maximum towing weight 2,250kg. Load length is 3,705mm, load width 1,870mm. Our test van featured LED load space lighting, 8 lashing rings, twin 180 degree opening rear doors & a sliding side door.
Prices
These range from £32,490 Ducato Van 35 L2H1 Multijet3 2.2 140PS S&S Manual MY25 up to £39,490 for Ducato Van Maxi 40 L4H2 Multijet3 2.2 180PS S&S Auto
Cabin storage
Ducato impresses with storage bins below the centre console, twin centre cup holders, large door pockets with a drinks holder in each & two levels of storage, an overhead shelf & a small covered dash-top cubby. The glove box though is tiny. You also get storage space underneath the dual passenger seat & the centre seat folds-down creating a useful on-board desk. Options include a pop up clipboard/phone/tablet holder, which can be fitted to the centre console. You also get two USB sockets a 12V socket, plus a 250 volt main outlet.
Safety
Ducato now comes with both autonomous emergency braking & lane-departure warning system as standard. Choose a version with an automatic gearbox & you have the option to add adaptive cruise control with lane centring. Furthermore, you can also opt for Cross-Wind Assist, Trailer Stability Control & Active Park Assist. These upgrades make the latest Ducato available with ‘Level 2 autonomy’, the first Ducato to achieve this.
Cabin
Although the tech & general layout of the Ducato’s dashboard is excellent, the quality of the plastic used on the surfaces isn’t up to that which you’d find in a Crafter, MAN TGE or Sprinter. The Ducato also has a very short cab-to-body ratio, so for taller drivers, there’s not much room to push the drivers seat back, which at maximum is up against the bulkhead creating a very upright driving position. At 1.73m, ( 5ft 8″) I found it plenty comfortable & to be fair to Fiat, you can pump the seat height up or down & there’s a drivers armrest which is perfect for the motorway, so it’s not all bad.
Product support
Ducato comes with a warranty coverage of 5 years or 125,000 miles with 5 years servicing & roadside assistance.
On the road
Series 8’s electric power steering makes a large van feel small, so handling has improved straight away. It’s now light, easy to manoeuvre & really shines when you’re driving in town. For example, I drove our test van to my local gym every day that it was with me. Parking in a bay was really simple, aided by the large wing mirrors & camera built into the drivers mirror. The turning circle is impressive as well, with me having to perform a neat reverse onto our short drive, hindered by vans parked opposite, each day to park. And it goes without saying that having an auto box makes light work of urban driving & gives the driver a far more relaxing drive.
I took the Ducato onto the motorway, which is where cruise control makes a massive difference. Once up into top-gear the 140hp engine is smooth, quiet & powerful enough to overtake when required. There’s three driving modes; Eco, Normal or Sport on the Primo. I tried them all & umnladen & driving alone I didn’t really notice much change in the way the van drove when we switched between these. Nonetheless, Eco makes sense on the motorway, Normal in town & Power when the load is larger or your climbing steeper roads.
Wireless Apple Car Play features in the Primo & it’s a joy to use, enabling hands-free phone, text & Whats App whilst on the move. The addition of a wireless charger which hides your phone is also good news. As far as motorway noise is concerned, this isn’t an issue.
I spent my week in the Ducato driving alone & with the loadspace unladen. On even road surfaces it’s splendid, but introduce some poor road surfaces, which currently means all side roads in Trafford & it’s not as happy, with both noise & bounce entering the cabin.
Fuel economy & emissions
Fiat claim a combined fuel economy of 30.4mpg & we got close, averaging 30.2mpg. CO2 emissions come in at 216g/km.
Pros
Biggest model choice & most competitive load volume of any large van. The 10″ touchscreen is brilliant. Great on the motorway. Competitively priced. Safety & tech on all versions take the Series 8 right to the top of the class.
Cons
It’s old design means that it lags behind some of the competition for cabin comfort & space. Cabin plastics aren’t as good as some of the competition.
Conclusion
Whilst some of you reading this would have chosen a Ducato based solely on it’s carrying capabilities & price point, many would have discounted one due to its lack of equipment, safety features & perceived quality. This now is not an excuse, as the Series 8 Ducato is now class leading for both safety & tech & can now be considered a sector leader for both. As far as perceived quality goes, it’s the best Ducato yet & that’s why the Series 8 Ducato is our reigning Large Van of the Year 2024.
4.5/5
