New Fiat Ducato review

We all know Fiat for its tiny 500 supermini but the Italian manufacturer also makes a range of vans – including this behemoth, the Fiat Ducato.

Indeed, the biggest version of the Ducato measures more than 6.3m long, with enough room in the back to fit an entire Fiat 500e with room to spare.

As a Stellantis group van, the Ducato is almost identical to the Citroën Relay, Peugeot Boxer and Vauxhall Movano. Fiat sells far fewer Ducatos than Citroen, Peugeot and Vauxhall sell of their versions – but is that justified or are van buyers missing out?

Well, a recent facelift tries to keep the Ducato relevant, with a new interior, a more modern infotainment system, enhanced safety tech and improved efficiency.

The updates are welcome, but rivals – also including the market-leading Ford Transit, the Mercedes Sprinter and the Renault Master (our Van of the Year) – offer serious competition. Read on to find out whether the latest Fiat Ducato is a worthy rival to the best large vans...

There’s a 2.2-litre diesel engine in the front of the Fiat Ducato and it performs well. Power is capped at 138bhp on most versions, but if you step up to a 4.25-tonne model, you can have 177bhp.

With only one power output available under the 3.5-tonne limit, the Ducato needs to be a jack of all trades, coping with stop-start last-mile deliveries alongside long motorway cruises. Happily, it’s pretty good at both, with the 258lb-ft of torque and relatively lightweight body making progress easy, even with a 400kg load on board.

It shows its age when comparing ride quality with its rivals, although with almost 20-year-old underpinnings that’s perhaps not surprising.

The suspension feels reasonably composed, absorbing longer bumps and undulations well, but potholes and surface cracks still send noticeable jolts through the cab. The Ford Transit and Renault Master are notably smoother and more engaging to drive.

High-speed stability is marred a little by light steering, but that pays dividends in town where the Ducato is a cinch to manoeuvre. Its 12.6m turning circle is wider than the Transit’s 11.9m, but broadly similar to other large van rivals.

The Ducato is available with a six-speed manual gearbox or an eight-speed automatic transmission. The auto makes for a more leisurely drive and is generally responsive, with few instances of hesitation when selecting gears. However, the convenience comes at a cost, with official figures showing a roughly 10% drop in fuel economy.

Diesel isn't the only power option for the Ducato – there's also an all-electric version. To read about that see our Fiat E-Ducato review.

“The Ducato is a long way from being enjoyable to drive. I'd say that if you’re spending a long time behind the wheel, other options will make the days easier.” – Phil Huff, Van Reviewer

The Fiat Ducato's redesigned dashboard fascia, new steering wheel and updated infotainment system do a lot to make it appear more modern, but it only brings it up to the average for the large van class. It still feels dated compared with a Ford Transit or Renault Master.

While no new benchmarks will be set, the changes are an improvement, at least in the higher-spec models. The entry-level Ducato feels very much like a fleet special, with a tiny 5in infotainment screen looking rather pathetic amongst the vast swathe of the plastic dashboard.

The plusher Primo model gets a 10in screen, which looks better but is a bit clunky and slow to respond. Both versions get DAB radio, USB connectivity and Bluetooth, but you need the Primo to get TomTom navigation, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a wireless phone-charger and a fully digital driver’s display.

With the full kit list, the Ducato starts to feel more modern, yet – thankfully – still has proper physical controls for the climate settings and other functions, rather than tucking them all away in touchscreen menus.

The rocker switches for temperature changes, a volume dial, and buttons for essential operations make it easier to operate without taking your eyes off the road. That said, some of the positioning is a little unexpected – the volume knob is way down the centre of the dashboard, for example – so you might need a quick glance.

The Ducato's new steering wheel adds a host of buttons to control the volume and so on, or there’s voice control if you’d rather battle with a computer that’s not particularly good at recognising voices.

Seating arrangements follow the typical large van format: a two-person passenger bench alongside an adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support and an armrest. Space is generous, even when carrying three occupants, and the centrally mounted gear lever ensures the middle passenger isn’t left feeling cramped.

Storage is another strong point, with 10 compartments to accommodate everyday clutter. A vast glovebox, a document clip, lidded dashboard compartments and an overhead shelf provide ample space for everything from paperwork to personal items.

“I think it’s worth splashing out a little extra on the Primo van because the infotainment screen and extra connectivity transform the cab.” – Phil Huff, Van Reviewer

You can get the Fiat Ducato in a choice of three body lengths and three roof heights. The shortest L2 model is available with H1 or H2 roof options, while L3 and L4 can be paired with H2 or H3.

Cargo capacity spans from 10m³ to 17m³, putting it ahead of the Ford Transit (up to 15.1m³). The Renault Master does better than the Ducato at the smaller end of the range, but the Ducato edges ahead as it gets larger – although there’s not much in it. The budget-friendly Maxus Deliver 9 trails further behind at 12.9m³. Despite being a whole metre longer, the most cavernous Mercedes Sprinter tops out at just 15.5m³.

On paper, the Ducato outclasses the Sprinter in total cargo volume, but the Sprinter can accommodate longer items, with a maximum load length of 4410mm compared with the Ducato’s 3920mm. So while the Ducato wins for sheer capacity, load dimensions might make a difference depending on your business needs.

Depending on the specification, the Ducato can carry a payload of up to 1500kg, surpassing the Transit (1472kg) and Sprinter (1200kg), al though it falls well short of the Master’s impressive 1971kg maximum.

While the Ducato has an edge in total load volume over some large van rivals, its payload is mid-pack, and some competitors can fit longer loads.

Access to the cargo area is practical if predictable, with twin rear doors that swing open to 180 degrees and a standard passenger-side sliding door. Optional extras include a second sliding door and rear doors that fold back against the sides of the van, improving accessibility for tight loading areas.

For those requiring extra capacity beyond the standard 3.5-tonne gross vehicle weight limit for a standard Category B driving licence, Fiat offers heavier-duty versions up to 4.25 tonnes, increasing the payload to 2030kg – although a van that size brings all sorts of licensing, maintenance and driver legislation to deal with.

“It’s still big and boxy, and has been for a decade or two, but I'm afraid rivals have now caught up with and surpassed the Ducato.” – Phil Huff, Van Reviewer

The Fiat Ducato does well when it comes to competitive pricing, undercutting all its mainstream rivals. Its starting price is a little less than for our favourite large van – the Renault Master – and a huge amount less than for the Mercedes Sprinter. Only the Maxus Deliver 9 is appreciably cheaper, but that’s a less capable van.

In terms of fuel economy, some aerodynamic tweaks mean the Ducato is 5% more efficient than previously and roughly on par with the competition. Fiat says the L3H2 model delivers 44.0mpg under WLTP testing conditions, reducing to 40.6mpg with an automatic gearbox.

Repair costs and downtime should be lower than with previous models thanks to a significant increase in safety technology. The Ducato has a Gold rating from the safety experts at Euro NCAP. That’s a strong result, although the Transit, Sprinter and Master all secured a Platinum award (the ratings run: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Not Recommended).

All Ducatos come with a three-year, 100,000-mile warranty, mirroring the coverage offered by related Stellantis models. Ford offers a less generous 60,000-mile cap for the Transit, while Mercedes provides unlimited mileage over the same three-year period. The Deliver 9 edges ahead with a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

The Toyota Proace Max is an intriguing alternative, especially for owner-operators who generally keep their vehicles beyond the term of a typical lease agreement. Built by Stellantis but rebadged for Toyota, it’s identical to the Ducato in all meaningful ways, but Toyota charges around £3000 more for its version.

There's a smattering of extra equipment, including a 10-year or 100,000-mile warranty (with some conditions). That’s worth looking at and is enough to make it our pick of the five closely related vans.

The fully electric Fiat E-Ducato commands a significant premium over the diesel version, adding roughly £17,000 to the price tag. However, it does qualify for the Government’s plug-in van grant and operators should benefit from reduced costs, especially if off-peak home charging is available.

“It's cheaper than most rivals, and quite economical, but I don't think the difference is enough to make up for the Ducato's shortcomings.” – Phil Huff, Van Reviewer

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