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144 
SMALL VANS & PICKUPS
Page 26
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TESTERS' CHOICE FORD COURIER 1.0 TOth
• by Colin Barnett
Our smallest contenders all originated from a pair of four-letter F-words: Fiat and Ford. The mixed bag ranged from the Ranger, in its top-of-the-range XLT guise, down to the boarded-up hatchback that is the Punto van.
In chronological order, first up was the all-new Fiat DoblO Cargo high-cube van, in this case powered by a 1.9-litre naturally aspirated diesel. Its packaging raises the level of the game in this sector, as does its chassis behaviour. Unfortunately, the whole vehicle is badly let down by the 62hp engine, which struggles to propel its gross weight of nearly two tonnes even with the extralow final-drive ratio that our test van arrived with. The resulting 37.0mpg was as inevitable as it was unimpressive. A considerably more efficient JTD common-rail turbo-diesel is promised (and already on sale on the Continent, apparently) but the UK still eagerly awaits its arrival. With more power the DoblO will undoubtedly mature into a fine product, but it's not there yet.
Powered by effectively the same engine, but with considerably less work to do, the latest incarnation of the Punto van proved dynamically more impressive. Fuel consumption of 48.7mpg is acceptable but not outstanding, and that sums up its performance. Compared with the previous Punto van the newcomer boasts a slightly increased pay
load but with a slightly reduced load volume.
As is usually the way with these car-derived hatchback vans, the Punta has inherited the generous trim and equipment spec of the passenger version. We remain unconvinced of the virtues of its "Dualdrive" power steering with switchable assistance levels—it would make more sense if the heavier level were not already quite light enough for most tastes.
Unlike the all-new Diable, we weren't expecting too much from our long-term Ford Courier. After all, it had been around for years and, while never short of space, its performance and comfort had never been what you might call cutting edge. However, the latest (and probably final) variation on the Courier theme, the 50 TDdi, proved the folly of such pre-judgement.
While nothing much could improve the appearance of the high-cube load space (a box is a box is a box, when all's said and done) the new frontal treatment blagged from the Focus gives it a fresh new look. The new cab interior, inspired by the same source, is also impressive, only let down by some parsimonious instrumentation and a seating arrangement which is slightly too cosy for a big-boned driver and passenger. Under the bonnet the 1.8-litre DI turbo-diesel gives the Courier enough performance to take full advantage of its well developed chassis with go-kart-like steering, powerful ABS brakes and vicefree handling. With laden fuel consumption at 52.8mpg and improving, and total reliability during its year-long CM trial, the Courier's productivity was as impressive as its performance.
We ended the year with a Ford that certainly wasn't lacking in accommodation: the Ranger 4x4 2.5TD Double Cab, in its latest super-luxury XLT trim level. We'd already grown accustomed to the Ranger's impressive all-round ability and this encounter did nothing to change our views. The rather expensive XLT trim package might be a little OTT for a working CV, but the basic level is by no means Spartan. While it may not quite lead the class in each area, its strengths combine to make it probably the best allrounder in the one-tonne-pickup sector.
Picking a group winner should have been easy. The Punta and Ranger, fine vehicles as they are in their own right, both occupy too small a niche to take the title. With its clean-sheet design the DoblO should have walked it...but sadly, walking pace is about all it can manage. I hat leaves the Courier, but its victory is by no means by default. The latest round of improvements have resulted in a van that manages to combine high levels of profitability and driving pleasure.