Iveco Daily 35S21
Page 42
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it is CM ’s new long-term test van: a blue Iveco Daily, complete with Superman logos. “Why?” I hear you ask. We’re not entirely sure why, but we know that Popeye (Iveco’s previous fictional brand ambassador) has gone and everyone’s favourite hero has taken over to launch the restyled Daily (which now has new Euro-5-compliant engines).
Our model is a 3.5-tonne, long wheelbase, high-roof Daily, fitted with a 3-litre twin-stage turbocharged, common rail diesel engine, producing 205hp and delivering 470Nm of torque from 1,400rpm to 2,600rpm.
Options have been applied generously to the Daily, with £2,330 worth of extras fitted. These include the Super Van option, which adds 270° rear doors, third brake light, rear camera and spotlight, and a coated plywood floor for the loadspace. The Daily Top pack adds cruise control, overhead storage, air conditioning, dual-passenger seat storage and electric heated mirrors. The clever TomTom provision (adding a solid, removable fitting to the dash for a satellite navigation system) is also included, along with a driver suspension seat. None of the above are particularly
lavish additions, but all are welcome – particularly the suspension seat, which cushions the harsher ride you experience in long-wheelbase vans.
The extras raised the final cost of our new long-termer up to £34,170. It’s a hefty sum, but this is a hefty and flexible vehicle that is capable of carrying both volume and load. Atop the 3,950mm wheelbase is a 3,520mm-long, 1,800mm-wide and 2,100mm-high loadspace, giving 17.2m3 load volume and 1,145kg maximum payload. Its size will no doubt see it seconded for testing in the Lake District – London parking bays are ill-prepared for such a beast – where its fuel economy will further improve, but until then the drivers at CM HQ will continue to enjoy its cushioned ride, astonishing low-down torque and commanding driving position.
Quick check
• Price: £34,170 (plus VAT) Super Van pack, Daily Top pack • Engine: 3-litre twin turbo 205hp/470Nm • Payload: 1,145kg • Mileage: 5,957 • Expenses: None • Faults: None • Average MPG: 28.9mpg