Fiat Doblo – UK's cheapest 7-seater

The entry-level Fiat Doblo Family is Britain's cheapest seven-seater

Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 74%

The Fiat Doblo MPV range is an excellent choice for cost-conscious motorists looking for a flexible and spacious vehicle.

It might be based on the Doblo van, but there's not much evidence of its roots as a commercial vehicle. And in its 1.3 Multijet Family guise, the Doblo is the UK's cheapest seven-seater.

Looks | Looks Inside | Practicality | Ride and Handling | Performance
Running Costs | Reliability | Safety | Equipment | X-Factor

1. Looks

The Doblo might not be conventionally attractive, but its utilitarian looks are appealing for some. There's a rugged look about the Doblo which its rivals, the Citroen Berlingo and Renault Kangoo, miss out on. The side windows are reminiscent of the Skoda Roomster, with its deep front windows sweeping up to much shallower ones towards the rear. The rear doors slide, which makes getting in and out easy in tight spaces, and the tailgate opens vertically and has a usefully low sill.

6/10

2. Looks inside

The interior is very functional, from the dashboard right through to the rear seats. A neat console houses the car's instrumentation and includes a trip computer which is operated by a button on the wiper stalk. The indicator stalk caused some frustration as it would continually cancel unless the steering wheel was dead-ahead or pointing in the intended direction. The gearstick is mounted on the dash, rather than the floor which allows for a couple of drink holders and a storage space under the handbrake. There's a shelf in front of the passenger, along with a small glovebox. But there's more storage space to be had on shelf mounted above the sun visors. Two 12v electrical sockets are a bonus.

7/10

3. Practicality

The Doblo is likely to be bought by those looking to lug large loads, with the occasional need to ferry up to seven people. The Active and Dynamic models have five seats, while the Family (tested here) adds a third row. Like many MPVs of this size, legroom is limited, although there is a huge amount of headroom. Access to this third row is easy, with the second row seats only requiring one hand to fold, although getting the seat to tumble requires a second manoeuvre. There's sufficient space in the second row of seats to occupy all but the tallest passengers. Bootspace is good with 750-litres of room, rising to a cavernous 3,000-litres with the second and third row of seats folded. Sadly bootspace suffers in the Family version with the rear seats in place – there isn't any, although they can be removed.

9/10

4. Ride and Handling

The Fiat Doblo handles surprisingly well, with responsive steering and limited bodyroll for what is basically a commercial vehicle. The steering is light enough to make urban driving simple, but offers enough feedback at speed to allow for safe cornering. There's tremendous visibility, despite the tall but narrow wing mirrors, as the upper half of the car is almost entirely made of glass.

8/10

5. Performance

The Doblo is available with a choice of a 1.4-litre petrol, a 1.3-litre diesel and two 1.9 diesels producing 105bhp and 120bhp. None of the engines provide blistering performance (0-62mph times vary between 17 and 12.2 seconds, while top speeds range between 92 and 110mph), but the 120bhp 1.9 we tested could maintain a decent A-road and motorway pace. The 1.3 and 1.4 engines are unlikely to offer much ability with a full complement of passengers or luggage.

7/10

6. Running Costs

The entry level Doblo 1.3 Multijet Family is the UK's cheapest seven seater at less than £12,000; but the range starts at just over £10,000 which is slightly less than the starting price for the Citroen Berlingo and Renault Kangoo. Fuel consumption ranges from 37.2 to 51.4mpg, with the diesels covering an average of 48.7mpg-plus. And the diesel models all fall into road tax Band C or D, costing £115 or £140, while the petrol emissions push it into the costly £165 Band E.

9/10

7. Reliability

The Doblo is built of tough stuff, and it has to be, particularly in its van guises. It has a range of engines which have been around long enough to have niggles ironed out.

7/10

8. Safety

The Doblo scored three out of five stars for adult occupant protection in the EuroNCAP crash test programme; one less than the Berlingo and Kangoo. Children are served better, with three stars – the same as the Berlingo, but better than the Kangoo. Equipment-wise, the Doblo features driver and passenger airbags, the latter of which can be deactivated; ABS with EBD and collapsible pedals.

6/10

9. Equipment

Given the entry-level Doblo's bargain price tag, there's an impressive level of kit, with all the basics covered (apart from air-con), including remote central locking, electric windows and headlights which stay on shortly after the ignition is turned off. Step up to the Family model, and body coloured bumpers and the third row of seats come as standard. The range-topping Dynamic model adds full body colour coding, electric and heated mirrors, 15-inch alloys and air-con.

However, the Blaupunkt radio would come on with the ignition, but had to be turned off manually by holding the volume dial for several seconds, which became tiresome.

7/10

10. X-Factor

If you're in the market for a bargain basement people and luggage mover which also happens to be a rather good steer, the Doblo is the MPV for you. Just don't expect huge refinement or premium-feeling trim.

8/10