Expert Review
Fiat Scudo Onyx (2025 - ) review
Fiat’s Scudo Onyx goes all in on moody style and some extra power while providing the same levels of practicality as its base model
Words by: Tom Roberts
Published on 29 January 2026 | 0 min read
The Autotrader expert verdict:
3
The Fiat Scudo Onyx is a limited edition version of the Fiat Scudo medium van. It is the top-tier specification of the van, rubbing shoulders with similar souped-up versions of the other Stellantis mediums, namely the Vauxhall Vivaro GS, Citroen Dispatch VTR and Peugeot Expert Sport... all of which we’ve reviewed. However, it’s only available as a crew cab and, being limited to just 100 units in its first run, is slightly more expensive than the other top-spec vans it shares so much with. Starting at around £46K (ex VAT) for a diesel model and nearly £51K (ex VAT with plug-in van grant included) for an electric model, it’s not the most competitive way to acquire a business vehicle. But it’s not meant to be one thing, it’s aimed at small business owners looking for a dual-purpose vehicle, designed to be suitable for business and pleasure. There’s no denying it looks good with its piano black paint, yellow decals, aesthetic body upgrades and fantastic interior design, and the diesel and electric powertrains are solid. It can also carry over a tonne of weight, be that cargo or passengers, so it’s still practical. It will work for people looking to make a statement, but wider success will be limited by its availability and price. However, life isn’t always about what’s practical, sometimes it’s about what looks and feels good. We drew stares from everyone who saw us in the Onyx and were stopped for questions several times while photographing it. It’s easy to see why.
Reasons to buy:
- Payloads of over 1,000 kg
- Very stylish version of the Scudo
- Choice of diesel or electric powertrains
Cargo & practicality
“The Onyx scores well in this section because it doesn’t lose any practicality in its transformation”
The Stellantis medium vans are known for their practicality and flexible load spaces. This is all intact in the Onyx. Regardless of the powertrain you choose, you’ll get a payload of at least 1,000 kg. Towing is also possible with both, with the diesel managing 2,500 kg and the electric closer to 1,000 kg. The rear doors open 180 degrees allowing easy access to the cargo space, and there are plenty of lashing points to secure your load. The crew van format also means carrying passengers (in style) is easy. The second row of seats is accessed by dual side sliding doors with tinted windows, and they back onto a bulkhead with a viewing window into the load space. Storage is good in the cabin and doors, and there’s always a cubby or connection free. Being 1.9 metres high also means it’s easy to park in most height-restricted car parks. The Onyx scores well in this section because, like the other top-trim Stellantis vans, it doesn’t lose any practicality in its transformation. Being a crew cab the load space is smaller than those in the Scudo panel vans, but it is what it is.
Expert rating: 3/5
Interior
“It’s a very easy van to jump in and out of, as comfortable as it is eye-catching”
Similar to the other top-spec Stellantis medium vans, the interior of the Onyx is a lovely place to spend time. The hand-crafted and fitted eco-leather seats are embossed with the Onyx logo, and feature yellow and blue stitching and little Italian flags. The seat materials are also perforated allowing for good ventilation on your back and bum. You get dual-zone electronic climate control, keyless entry and start, a wireless charging cubby under the 10-inch infotainment screen, a heated not-leather steering wheel, a heated driver’s seat, and Onyx-branded floor mats and badging. You also get a three-person bench seat in the front, although the drive selector switch’s console juts out into the middle passenger’s footwell. It’s also a far more bold interior than the one you’ll find in the Vauxhall Vivaro GS, but that’s largely thanks to the bold yellow decals and stitching. It’s a very easy van to jump in and out of, as comfortable as it is eye-catching. We like it a lot.
Expert rating: 4/5
Running costs
“Being expensive and only available in limited numbers puts the Onyx in a difficult position”
The Scudo Onyx is available with a choice of fully electric or diesel powertrains. The electric version features a 75 kWh battery matched to a motor outputting 136 brake horsepower, has a WLTP range of up to 230 miles, and is rapid-charge capable. The 2.0-litre diesel version delivers 180 brake horsepower and is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Both are as efficient as their standard versions, but the higher cost to buy either one is going to be the key consideration. True, the higher acquisition costs can be broken down on a good finance or lease deal, but a standard diesel Scudo crew van is just over £35K compared to over £46K for the Onyx. Being more expensive and only available in limited numbers when compared to the other top-spec Stellantis medium vans, the Onyx is in a difficult position to justify.
Expert rating: 2/5
Reliability
“The standard warranty covering the Onyx is three years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first”
Just like every other Fiat van, the standard warranty covering the Onyx is three years or 60,000 miles. Service intervals are every two years / 25,000 miles, but you need to have an initial service at 12 months. The Stellantis platform is solid with an abundance of parts and service centres across the UK. That’s the beauty of platform sharing with five other brands.
Expert rating: 3/5
Performance
“The Onyx can’t have full marks for performance because of the standardised feel of the Stellantis vans”
The base Fiat Scudo Crew Cab is a solid load carrier and smooth vehicle to drive, a classic example of a medium van. It’s not too big to be a hassle to park, it’s got enough room in the cargo space for tools, parts and materials, it’s easy to load and can fit six adults inside the cabin. There’s not a lot more you can ask for, but it can’t have full marks because of the standardised feel of all the Stellantis vans… even the Onyx trim level doesn’t add enough to dramatically change performance. It’s better than some, the same as most of the rest.
Expert rating: 3/5
Ride and handling
“There’s not much roll in the corners when under load, but without load cornering is light”
The model we tested was running the electric powertrain and we found it smooth and quiet, much like the base eScudo but with a little more power. There’s not much roll in the corners when under load, but without load cornering is light. Motorways and town driving pose no problem to the van, and thankfully it doesn’t feature the offset driving position of the Vauxhall Vivaro that we’ve previously noted causes neck aches. Other than that, if you’ve driven a Stellantis van, you’ve driven this.
Expert rating: 3/5
Safety
“The Onyx gets most of the systems you’d expect and carries a four-star Euro NCAP safety rating”
Safety kit is generous on the Stellantis vans anyway, so the Onyx as the top-spec model features a lot of systems. Particular highlights being the surround and rear-view camera, rear park assist, flankguard detection, blind spot detection, foldable door mirrors and more. The Onyx gets most of the systems you’d expect and carries a four-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
Expert rating: 4/5
Equipment
“The most obvious additions are the aesthetic upgrades, but the equipment list (in general) is pretty good”
The equipment list on the Onyx is also strong with lots of nice features and additions. The most obvious are the Onyx body kit featuring a new front lip spoiler, side skirts, black rear bumper, and a bright yellow spoiler above the rear doors. You get exclusive Y-Spoke 18-inch alloy wheels fitted with Nankang tyres, metallic ‘Cinema Black’ paint and the Onyx badging all over the place.
Why buy?
“Choosing to buy this will come down to how much you want a limited edition Fiat Scudo”
Well yeah, why buy the Fiat Scudo Onyx over the standard model or any of the other top-spec special editions of the Stellantis medium vans? It’ll come down to how much you own a limited edition version of a Fiat Scudo. It looks great, drives great and has enough safety, specification and practicality to be used as a family or work vehicle. But then so do all the vans using the Stellantis medium van platform… and most of them are cheaper, with some being better equipped. It’s very much a case of buying one if you want one.
Expert rating: 2/5