In Germany, the home of Mercedes-Benz, the Fiat Ducato is the bestselling van. According to the statistics of the German equivalent of the AA, it is also the most reliable.
Anyone who has ever driven a Ducato will tell you how good a van this is to drive and the Iveco engines have for many years been among the most reliable and frugal diesels.
In April Fiat released the 6th Ducato and with a range from7.9 cu m to 17.1 cu m, Fiat has the widest range of front wheel drive vans available.
Nearly 90% of motorhomes are built on the Ducato chassis and you will see many examples from the 1990’s going strong and touring Europe on a regular basis. So why does the van not sell in larger numbers in the UK?
So, if the decision process is not about drive quality, engine choice or reliability and it’s not about carrying capacity or price, is it about safety or a requirement for a given emission? Probably not as Fiat are among the safest and cleanest vans. Spec wise, DAB and Bluetooth are thrown in as a gift, and some models have navigation and reversing camera. Fiat have gone as far as including hill descent control, anti-slip, and brake assistance, so equipment is right up with the best.
Later in the year, Fiat will be adding road sign recognition, a first for any van. Maybe it’s time to look at the Ducato van.
