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Right on track
Page 14
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Since taking to the road with the new Eurocargo 18-tonner (see page 54), we've also managed to get our hands on the crucial 7.5-tonne version.
Words: Andy Satter
WHEN A COMPANY launches a new product, there's always a risk that in the dash to be innovative, the metaphorical baby gets thrown out with the bath water. To be honest, we don't feel there was much wrong with the old Cargo. Sure, the looks were getting a bit dated and the interior was in need of a makeover, but its ride, handling and driveability were up there with the best in class. Thankfully, the Italian engineers have addressed the two former points and left the latter items well alone.
Our drive of 75E180 — that's a 180hp 7.5-tonner, for the uninitiated — equipped with both manual and automated transmission showed the Eurocargo has lost none of its assured handling and quality ride performance.
Iveco's 7.5-tonners have always taken corners with confidence, and the new vehicle sits comfortably through the bends at speed with minimum cab or chassis roll. Likewise, the cab gives a smooth ride over the bumps, and the new suspended driver's seat takes the Eurocargo to the top of the class in this respect.
Where it doesn't score so well is on in-cab noise levels. Ever since the air intake was moved from the rear of the cab to beside the engine, a low growl has been audible, particularly on the cab's right-hand side, and it's especially bad when braking hard.
The manual gearchange is now located on the dash. While this is in reach of the driver, there's quite a lot of play in the gear linkage. As a result, the gearshift in the six-speed is somewhat ill-defined. Gearchanges go through OK. and the gear match is good, but there's room for improvement.
Good behaviour
We don't like the positioning of the three buttons for the automated gearshift mode selection — they're mounted low on the dash and use some cheap-looking switches — they seem to be a bit of an afterthought. We'd like to see these incorporated into the row of switches in the centre of the dash.
The auto-shift works well. The driver has the option to override the auto control with a flick up or down of a steering column stalk: changes go through swiftly and the intelligence of the shift pattern makes progress easy.
There isn't much to dislike about the Eurocargo's on-the-road behaviour. The brakes, now with uprated discs all round, give good progression and pulled the part-freighted truck to a smart halt when one of Turin's sons decide to cut us up on a roundabout the horn works well, you'll be pleased to know.
In-cab, the instrument panel is effective, if a little basic, and we like the design of the dash, which allows good cross-cab access. The relocation of the handbrake and a reduced-height engine tunnel aid this movement.
However, we were disappointed with the fit and finish of the internal fittings. For example, the coverfor the diagnostic plug was ill-fitting and loose in one of the trucks we tried.
The new Eurocargo is a decent step forward over the previous generation, and in making the six-speed automated transmission standard in the UK on 7.5-tonners, Iveco is leading the way. However, there are still a few things we'd like to see tweaked, particularly around the quality details. In a new truck, we'd like to think these would have been ironed out... • • Turn to page 54 for our driving impressions of the new 300hp Iveco Eurocargo 18-tonner.
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