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Is it Dob La
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heaven.
Most of Fiat's Doblo Cargo range is on sale in the UK. The exception is the platform cab variant, which will arrive in May. CM grabbed the chance to drive the new van for the first time on UK roads, and with the state they're in, a stern test it was, too.
Words: Colin Barnett Fiat views the new light van as a key
element in its global strategy, one that involves it building nearly 500,000 vans annually.
Across Europe, Fiat claims a 12.9% share of the van market, giving it second place in the rankings. Of this market, about 25% of sales are in the Doble Cargo's sector, thanks to physical downsizing and environmental concerns, and 75% are to corporate fleets.
It follows, then, that to expand. Fiat must ensure the Doblo appeals to fleet buyers as much as the retail market and has good environmental credentials To this end, it has seven dedicated fleet sales staff in the 11K, reporting directly to Fiat Professional UK managing director Gerry Clarke. Its aim is to nearly double its market share from 2% to 5% in the first year.
Solid and safe
The original DoblO, launched in 2001, was a solid and dependable van. but, as we said at the time, it had an interior designed by Fisher-Price and a face only a mother could love. Its mid-life facelift softened the effect somewhat, but the styling of the new model — inside and out — is still distinctive, but less controversial.
The line-up is based on two wheelbases, two roof heights and two trim levels. There will also be a five-seater Maxi Combi window van version. The load length is 1,820mm or 2,170rnm. with 1,230mm between wheel arches. while load volumes range from 3.4e to 42m3.
As well as the obligatory 1.4-litre petrol engine for those who insist, there are three turbo diesels, of 1.3-litre, 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre capacity.
The diesels are available as Euro-4 or, optionally. Furo-5, in which case a diesel particulate filter, engine stop-start and gear shift indicator light are included.
The Euro-5 1.3 produces 126g/kin of CO2, which Fiat says translates to 58.9mpg while retaining the ability to reach 98mph, although presumably not both at the same time. The two largest units come with a six-speed gearbox.
The vans come with a choice of nominal payloads of 750kg or 1,000kg. Only the very smallest body with the petrol engine sneaks under the 2,000kg mark for the higher speed limits', GVWs on the rest range from 2,020kg to 2,410kg.
But what are they like on the road? We gave two versions an extensive appraisal on mixed roads arounds Fiat's UK base at Slough. First up was the model likely to be the biggest seller, the 1.6-litre diesel-powered shortwheelbase, low-roof version with base trim, which came complete with a pallet of sand in the back.
Interior finish
The interior is now much more conventional, with a standard of finish to match the hest, although some of the interior trim choices available verge on the lurid.
Instruments and switches are clearly laid out, although a high level of gadgetry means a good read of the handbook will be repaid. Items such as the smoked screen effect on the radio add a touch of class. In two-seater form, the cab provides generous space for the occupants, to the extent that you fall over sideways when you go to rest your elbow on the doorframe.
On the move, the high level of refinement is noticeable, both in terms of noise intrusion and road surface feedback.The 1.6-litre engine's 290Nm of torque provided enough urge for virtually all foreseeable applications. with good flexibility. The new bi-link independent rear suspension. extravagantly sophisticated for a van, certainly repay: investment by seeming to handle the varied road conditions encountered with aplomb.
We then moved on to the 'big boy; a 2.0-litre Dobl Cargo Maxi SX with Euro-5. Having said the previot. van had enough power, the 133hp example is verging too much. Unladen. the 320Nm engine is so flexible t feels it could get by with four gears, not six, but the downside is that some mild torque steer is noticeable although not enough to be uncomfortable.
We suspect that for fleet operators, at least, the 2.0. will be a minority seller, if only because the 1.6 does E perfectly adequate job. II