Fiat Ducato is one of the best large vans on the market. Its closest competitors are the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Volkswagen Crafter. This van has a fantastic payload, outstanding safety features, and it’s spacious. But is the Fiat Ducato a good car?
Yes, the Fiat Ducato is an exceptional van. This is because it is spacious, easy to maintain, reliable, efficient, safe, and affordable. The only things that this van is lacking are comfortable seats, advanced features, a luxurious interior, and exceptional performance. So, if these are the things you’re looking for in a van. Consider getting the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.
History of Fiat Ducato
The Fiat Ducato is a light commercial vehicle or van produced jointly by FCA Italy and PSA Group (Stellantis). This car has been in production since 1981 to date. It is also called Citroen Jumper, Citroen Relay, Peugeot Boxer, Ram ProMaster, Vauxhall Movano, Alfa Romeo, and many other names.
Besides, this car has gone through different generations, making it one of the oldest van models on the market. While the first and second generations were excellent, the third generation stood out due to their reliability. The manufacturer also offers different trim and engine options, allowing users to select a van that suits their budget and needs.
Some of the notable engines offered over the years are 1.8-liter PSA 169B I4, 2.0-liter PSA 170 I4, 1.9-liter Fiat 149B I4, 2.4/2.5-liter Sofim 8140.27 turbo I4, 2.0-liter PSA XU10 I4, 2.2-liter PSA DW12 turbo I4, 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 24V, and 2.3-liter Iveco F1A I4 16V engines.
Features of Fiat Ducato
Appearance
Fiat Ducato doesn’t have the best exterior design. However, it still looks spectacular and modern. What’s more, the E-Ducato looks even more spectacular and modern than the older gasoline-powered variants. While the interior is large and spacious, it is lacking in quality and comfort. Competitor vans like the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Volkswagen Crafter have better interiors.
Performance
The performance of the Fiat Ducato is slightly subpar compared to its two main competitors. Nonetheless, it is still okay as the manufacturer offers various engine options. So, the more powerful the engine the costlier the variant. Besides, Fiat also offers an electric version known as Fiat E-Ducato.
One of the best-performing Fiat Ducato engines is the 3.0-liter multijet turbo diesel engine that delivers up to 177 hp. The 2.3-liter multijet turbo diesel engine produces up to 150 hp.
Comfort and cargo space
While the Fiat Ducato has a huge payload, it is not ideal for carrying people as it can only carry up to two people. Besides, users have complained about the seats being cramped and uncomfortable. Hence, if you prefer a comfortable and spacious seating area, consider selecting the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or Volkswagen Crafter.
The Fiat Ducato has up to 2.2 tons of payload and up to 17m3 of load space. This is quite outstanding for such an affordable van.
Safety
Unlike most Fiat models, the Fiat Ducato is a pretty safe car. Thanks to the variety of safety features that this car comes with. Some of them include crosswind assist, active park assist, trailer stability control, lane keeping assist, and autonomous emergency braking. With such safety features, this is a safe car and great for daily driving.
Fuel efficiency
The fuel efficiency of Fiat Ducato varies from one engine to another. For instance, the 2.3 TJTD Combi has a rating of 36.2 mpg, while the Combi 2.3 Multijet 120 short wheelbase has a rating of 39.2 mpg. The average fuel-efficiency rating for the Fiat Ducato is 38.2 mpg, which is one of the best in its class.
Price
The Fiat Ducato is considerably cheap compared to its competitors. However, its high-end trims are pretty expensive, considering they don’t have luxurious or advanced features like most of its high-end competitors. The base price for the 2022 Ducato 2.2 Mwb/lr is around $35,100, while that of the 2022 Ducato XLWB/mr is about $41,000.
FAQ
Is Fiat Ducato worth buying?
Yes, the Fiat Ducato is worth buying if you’re looking for a spacious, efficient, reliable, and affordable panel van. On the contrary, this car is not worth buying if you’re searching for a luxurious, comfortable, advanced, and high-performance van.
What are the common problems with Fiat Ducato?
The Fiat Ducato may be a large van with a huge payload and exceptional safety features, but it also comes with lots of issues that interested buyers should know about. Some of the common problems include electronics failure, EGR failure, camshaft failure, engine problems, gearbox issues, coolant leak, faulty intercooler pipe, fuel line problems, camshaft failure, and wrong tires.
Which Fiat Ducato is the least reliable?
Fiat Ducato offers some of the best and most reliable large vans on the market. Unfortunately, not all Fiat Ducato model years are very reliable as some have several issues. The least reliable Fiat Ducato model years were made between 2001 and 2006. These Ducato model years register more problems than the 2011 to 2022 model years.
How fast is Fiat Ducato?
Fiat Ducato is not a powerful, high-performing, or fast car. If you want a high-performance and faster car, you will have to look elsewhere. Nonetheless, the Fiat Ducato is considerably fast compared to its competitors. It has a top speed of 100 mph and it can take around 20 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 62 miles.
Why does Fiat Ducato stand out from other similar vans?
The Fiat Ducato stands out from other large vans because of its excellent payload. Additionally, it is very spacious with exceptional safety features. On top of that, this car is very reliable and fuel-efficient. With such features, the Fiat Ducato is way ahead of most of its rivals. However, its rivals have better performing, luxurious, and more advanced vans.
Conclusion
Generally, the Fiat Ducato is a good car for those who desire a powerful, reliable, spacious, efficient, and safe light commercial vehicle. On the contrary, individuals searching for a luxurious, sleek, high-performance, advanced, and smooth ride should look away.
With a great payload, several variants to pick from, and an excellent automatic gearbox, the Fiat Ducato is one of the best vas or minibusses on the market.