While its platform may be one of the oldest used to build vans and motorhomes on, the Fiat Ducato (and the other Stellantis-platform-sharing large panel vans) has been modernised enough to remain relevant in today’s market. Available in diesel or electric flavours, prices start from £41K OTR which places it close to the stalwart Ford Transit, less expensive than the premium Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and more expensive than the excellent Renault Master. The modernised cabin in the Fiat Ducato panel van we were loaned has a slightly retrofitted feel when compared to other large vans in-market, but its load space remains cavernous and practical, and its powertrains reliable and efficient… with special note given to the 260-plus-mile range offered by the electric versions. Users praise the vehicle’s high payloads, its sturdy frame for motorhome/campervan conversions, the latest upgrades to the cabin, and tight turning circle. Although some negative attention is directed towards the sometimes awkward upright driving position, basic plastics in the cabin, low ground clearance, and noisy drive while unladen. Our opinion is easy to sum up: while other badges might get more attention in the UK, Fiat’s vans are a quiet competitor waiting to be snapped up on good deals by savvy buyers… if you can find the right version for the right price.
Built in Europe, the Fiat Ducato boasts a smaller embedded carbon footprint than its competitors built in other continents. It’s all part of Stellantis’s commitment to sustainability: today, 60 per cent of its European plants run on renewable energy, with a goal of 100% by 2030. Plus, by the same year, it plans to slash factory water usage by 50% compared to 2021. The Fiat Ducato is available with a choice of two powertrains, with the electrics offering a maximum range of over 260 miles if you opt for the models fitted with the biggest battery pack. It is still sold in greater numbers with a diesel engine, but we’re confident the needle will start to shift as time marches on.
Fiat Ducato cargo space
Cargo & practicality
The Stellantis large panel vans, including the Fiat Ducato, all offer the same big load spaces making them very practical commercial vehicles. Depending on which model and size Ducato you opt for, load volumes can peak around the 17 cubic metre mark and it’s possible to carry payloads of over two tonnes, with that load spread over anything up to four Euro pallets. And, with three roof heights and three lengths to choose from, there’s bound to be a Ducato for everyone in the range… couple that with the powertrain choices and we’ll double down on that statement. There are plenty of lashing points on the floor and walls of the load space, making securing your load an easy job. The vehicle’s low ground clearance, cited as a concern among consumers worried about bashing the bottom of the van on obstacles, has a benefit in making the load lips at the side and rear a convenient height. It’s rare to find a van you don’t have to make some compromises on, but we like it when some cons can be flipped to pros without too much of a leap. Really, the only major point is that five large vans (now Iveco are using this for the eSuperJolly) use the same platform as the Ducato and offer the same practicality levels in the back. The choice of which one to drive will come down to money, which Fiat might sometimes win.
Expert rating: 3/5
Fiat Ducato cabin
Interior
The version we were loaned for review was a high-spec Primo trim level, so we got all the bells and whistles including crisp and clear digital displays for infotainment and driver information. The cabin is big and wide with room for three people thanks to a bench seat on the passenger side. The driver’s seat is deep and comfortable, but the driving position is high and feels slightly canted forward… something you’ll notice in the other vans this one platform shares with. The seats are material lined and dark durable plastics cover nearly every dash-connected surface. Head room is great, leg room is plentiful and it’s one of those vans you’ll never feel cramped in. It’s just… well… it’s just a bit lacklustre compared to other vans like the Ford Transit or Renault Master. More basic models feel VERY stripped back with minimal tech, but they’re more affordable. That’s the rub. You need to strike a careful balancing act between good cost and useful tech. You can ‘option up’ if you want to but it’s way more convenient to just get the van with everything already included.
Expert rating: 3/5
Fiat Ducato front grille
Running costs
Running costs will be heavily affected by your choice of powertrain. Opt for the electric and the largest battery packs will give you over 260 miles (WLTP), but they cost more outright and charging will cost you – although home charging will be based on your home energy tariff, while public charging will leave you at the mercy of the company that owns the charger. Opt for diesel and the overall price of the van will be lower, but fuel costs are higher with efficiency ratings quoted around 30-44 mpg from the van’s 2.2-litre diesel units – although the automatic models will be less efficient than manual ones. Breaking down the acquisition costs on a lease or finance package is the route most people take, so it will really come down to your choice of powertrain.
Expert rating: 3/5
Fiat Ducato windscreen and side door
Reliability
Well, this is where my recent review of the Vauxhall Movano Dropside went slightly off the rails. The Stellantis large van platform is one of the oldest still in use, and that shows either an unwillingness to develop a new platform for whatever reason (maybe cost) for the large vans or simply that it still works so why improve it. The older a platform gets, the harder a company has to work to keep it feeling relevant, especially as newer more modern vans come to market. This is not to say there’s anything inherently unreliable about the Fiat Ducato, and if anything does arise its warranty is reflective of basic industry standards and set at three years. Not for nothing, the Ducato is a popular van for conversion into campervans and motorhomes which need to be reliable because of the potential long distances they are driven.
Expert rating: 3/5
Fiat Ducato side view and side door open
Performance
The 140 horsepower engine in the model we test drove is a solid all-rounder engine that has enough guts to do, we think, most large van jobs with minimal fuss. There is a slightly more powerful version of the engine on offer, and automatic gearboxes, but if you like to put the power where you want it then manual versions are a great choice. Overall, the van performs its duties well, but you’ll want it loaded to stop it from banging and bumping all over the place.
Expert rating: 3/5
Fiat Ducato steering wheel and infotainment screen
Ride and handling
A high driving position is one thing, but the canted forward seating position may be great for visibility but not so great for your back. Steering is light and the turning circle small, but this van can wobble with the best of them round corners. It’s never happier than when it’s loaded, and make sure you give it some welly because it’s one of those vans that doesn’t give you anything you don’t ask for.
Expert rating: 3/5
Fiat Ducato driver information display
Safety
A raft of updates from 2022 to now have moved the Ducato to being one of the safer large vans in-market. You get autonomous emergency braking and a lane-departure warning system as standard, with the automatic models packing adaptive cruise control with lane centring. Other systems available, but not standard, include cross-wind assist and trailer stability control. Early issues with the speed limit recognition system showing car speeds (not van speeds) has been rectified. The model we tested was fitted with a digital rear-view camera, reversing camera and all-round parking sensors. Great additions a van this size really does need.
Expert rating: 4/5
Fiat Ducato floor-level drinks holder
Equipment
Every model comes as standard with a five-inch screen with DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity and USB connections on the dashboard. The further up the trim levels you go the more kit you get with the rear-view digital mirror and a bigger infotainment screen. The top trims are better equipped (as you’d expect) and for sheer ease of use we’d recommend the Primo trim because it basically has everything.
Expert rating: 3/5
Autotrader's Tom Roberts in Fiat Ducato cabin on a hot day (in shorts)
Why buy?
You’ll buy the Fiat Ducato Panel Van because you’re looking for a workhorse large van and this one came up on a good deal. The cabin is big although beginning to feel a little dated, but the load space is highly practical and the van’s turning circle is very small. If a deal comes up on a Fiat Ducato, just take the time to check the spec sheets and work out how/if the van answers your individual and business needs.
