Fiat Doblo Cargo Review

Fiat Doblo Cargo 1.3 MultiJet 16v (SWB)

Manufacturer’s RRP: £9,475.00 (excluding VAT)

The Fiat Doblo Cargo demonstrates exactly what it says on the tin - it's reliable, versatile and comes with a host of optional extras. It's a great choice for a plumber, florist or any small city-based business.

Technical

The Doblo Cargo comes in three Euro 4-emissions-compliant engines. We test drove the 1.3 litre sixteen valve MultiJet which combines compact dimensions with sophisticated MultiJet technology. The Doblo is also available in 1.4 eight valve and 1.9 MultiJet. The 1.3 offers 75bhp combined with 140 1b.ft of torque at only 1750rpm, reducing fuel consumption significantly whilst lowering noise and vibration levels.

Fiat Doblo Cargo	Tailgate creates easy access
Twin sliding doors	Stereo could be more user friendly
A good load space	Takes a full payload easy
A trusty badge	The box challenge!

Drive

The Doblo is a very manageable and amenable van, perfect to manovere within built-up areas due to its large wing mirrors coupled with a competitive turning circle of just 10.5 metres and glazed panels in the bulkhead and rear tailgate. We found the dash mounted gear box a little stiff, particularly when shifting to first gear, but there was little else to dampen our ride. Coupled with a maximum payload of 730kg (up to 850kg on the SX), the van gained momentum well and the steering remained responsive and steady. There was a noticeable increase in cabin noise when gathering speed, but overall the ride was smooth.

Cabin comfort

The cabin was very basic, with grey plastic a plenty. The door pockets were deep which allowed for a 1.5 litre bottle and your lunch, but there was a lack of cup holders and the glove box was very space limiting. The dash-mounted gear stick helped increase the floor space. We did find the seat adjusters slightly stiff, but the upholstery was plush and comfortable for long journeys. The protective, full steel bulkhead between the loadspace and cabin was impressive and did help reduce noise levels when fully loaded. Air con is included as an optional extra.

Load area

The Doblo Cargo provides easy access to your load, with an option of twin sliding side doors and a practical, full height, top hinged tailgate. There is also an option of 60:40 split rear doors. In comparison to the Citroen Berlingo, the load dimensions fall slightly short, but this can be compensated by the increase in load volume which is 3.2 cubic metres, expanding to 3.8 cubic metres in high roof versions. The van is not designed to carry heavy loads and we discovered that the tailgate restricted us from loading a Euro sized pallet into the van; we would recommend the standard fitted twin rear doors as a better option for this type of load.

Standard Safety features

Fiat claim that their own safety tests are harsher than those carried out by Euro NCAP and the American STD 208 so expect to be in for a safe ride. Built-in crumple zones are designed to collapse progressively and absorb impact forces with side impact bars and reinforcement added to the doors and cabin. Fiat's patented Fire Prevention System cuts off fuel flow to the engine in the event of an impact.

Verdict

A solid, versatile and dependant work horse, perfect for a small-medium business.

Data file

Engines: 1.3 MultiJet
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Power output: 75 bhp
Economy: 62.8mpg
Insurance group: 4a
Maximum pay load (kg): 730-850
Load volume (cu.m): 3.2
Load height (mm): 1680L x 1470W x 1305H
Wheelbase (mm): 2583
Warranty: 3 years / 100,000 miles
Vansunited.co.uk verdict : ***