Fiat Doblo
For a smaller commercial vehicle, the Fiat Doblo offers a lot of flexibility.
The turn of this century saw Fiat launch its new mid-range commercial vehicle – the Doblo. The first generation was updated in 2006 and was named ‘International Van of the Year’ in the same year. When the second generation launched 2010, the following year it took the prize again, so the Doblo has some serious pedigree in the commercial vehicle world.
There’s a lot of variations in the Doblo range. For a start, there’s two wheelbases – short and long – as well as two heights. Then there’s the body styles – panel van, combi, and even the ‘Work Up’ pick-up conversion which has a 4.2m cargo and a 1,000kg load capacity. In panel van form, load capacity is a maximum of 1,105kg with a volume of 5.4m³.
Petrol and diesel power are available in the Doblo, with the 1.3 and 1.6-litre ‘Multijet’ turbo diesel units proving the most popular. The 1.3 with its 94bhp output is capable of 61mpg, while the 1.6 can return just over 60mpg. The sole petrol option, a 1.4-litre turbo is capable of a touch over 40mpg on a combined cycle. Depending on your choice of engine, a 5 or 6-speed manual gearbox will be provided for cog-swapping duties.
The Doblo’s cabin is designed to fulfil the 3 main commercial vehicle interior requirements – comfort, durability and usability. Fiat says that it has improved material quality inside the cabins to assist with sound insulation and reduce driver fatigue. There’s also a good few storage spaces and cubbyholes for the bits and pieces carried around while out on duties. A CD/MP3 player is provided along with radio in all Doblo models, and there’s a good sized options list to choose extras as well. Bluetooth, cruise control, navigation, even a choice of tyres for economy, winter or larger for heavier loads. Soundproofing for the bulkhead and climate control are also recommended extras to help reduce driver fatigue.
Economical, flexible and extremely well priced, the Fiat Doblo is a solid choice for any business needing a reliable workhorse that can satisfy a range of needs.