FleetWatch Online - 17-Little Big Van

The light commercial vehicle market has seen strong growth over the last twelve months with new mini-vans posting strong sales figures alongside bakkies. Secondary distribution fleets are moving towards a more mixed approach to vehicle selection, including 1/2 to 3/4 ton vehicles alongside their bigger transporters. With 'Just-in-Time' (JIT) inventory philosophies becoming more prevalent, secondary distribution businesses must be equipped to dispatch orders of various sizes at short notice, and do it profitably. At the end of the day, it's about optimising payload while cutting running/fuel costs and if it's a small load that needs delivering, a small van should be used to do the job. Fiat takes a bold leap in delivering sub one-ton loads with its new Doblò Cargo, writes Paul Collings.

Mention the words 'one-point-three litre diesel van' to a hard-nosed trucker and he'll probably laugh in your face. "What payload can you expect to carry with such a small engine?" he or she may ask incredulously. Try 850 kg, in the new Fiat Doblò Cargo. "The highest in its class," says Craig Westray, Fiat Light Commercial Brand Manager. "It was voted International Van of the Year for 2006 at the European Road Transport Show in Amsterdam because of its productivity and low cost-per-kilometre."

Diesel ingenuity
The new Fiat Multijet common-rail engine is an impressive piece of automotive engineering and should prove a hit with diesel fans of all descriptions for its power delivery and super-light thirst. "It's a Euro-4 spec engine," adds Westra, "and we've been running it in South Africa for over a year now in the Fiat Punto, so our dealer network is well skilled and equipped to service it."

The spec sheet tells us the 1248cc, 4 cylinder Multijet engine is small, less than 50 centimetres in length and 65 cm high, weighing a mere 130 kg. It's not short on power though, delivering 55 kW at 4000 rpm and a torque of 190 Nm at 1750 rpm. Test-driving the van, albeit unladen, showed just how gutsy (and quiet) the power plant is, with an eye-opening first-gear power-band kicking in at around 2000 rpm. But the real marvel is its fuel consumption data, a claimed 5.4litres per 100km! Reason enough for any fleet owner's interest to pique.

It was voted International Van of the Year for 2006 at the European Road Transport Show in Amsterdam because of its productivity and low cost-per-kilometre.

Big van feel
Driver comfort should be a priority when buying a commercial vehicle, no matter the engine size. Having to climb in and out of a low-slung seat several times a day can add to driver and passenger fatigue and ideally, commercial vehicle seats should allow for a minimum of climbing. The Doblò Cargo has well elevated seats and a spacious cab with enough legroom for the lock forwards of this world. The seats are easily adjustable with the comfort of passenger car. A document shelf is positioned above the windscreen for handy storage of delivery and sundry documentation.

Sitting behind the wheel, one gets the impression of driving in a much bigger van, a Fiat Ducato, for example. Road holding is excellent and the windscreen sweeps forward offering a wide view of the road ahead. The gearlever is dash-mounted and the five-speed box is sensibly configured and easy to engage. Add electric windows and an optional air conditioner and you're driving a plush package.

Load ability
The business end of any commercial vehicle is the load area and according to Westray, the new Doblò is top of its class with a volume of 3.2 square metres. Dual rear doors open a full 180 degrees and for an extra R5000, Fiat will fit a sliding door on either side of the Doblò. For safe load securing, the cargo hold is equipped with 6 floor mounted lashing points. The combination of class leading load area volume and mass carrying capacity should be a strong selling proposition for commercial transporters.

Safety simply
"Fiat has not gone overboard on safety features in order to keep the Doblò price competitive," adds Westray. "The van is however equipped with all the necessary features to help prevent serious injury in the event of an accident. The vehicle includes a new chassis designed to absorb impact with maximum efficacy, with occupant protection provided by the body, bonnet, doors and facia beam. Other standard safety features include a driver airbag, anti-submarining seats, side impact bars on cab doors, Fire Prevention System (FPS) with an inertia switch on the fuel pump, steel fuel pipes in the bulk head area, a third brake light, and three-point front seat-belts with reel and height adjustment."

Interestingly, the Doblò Cargo does not have ABS, but comes equipped with a hydraulic, servo-assisted system (front discs and rear drums), consisting of two independent crossover circuits that offer prompt, smooth braking and short stopping distances. " The vehicle can brake from 100 to 0 km/h in just 40 metres," says Westra. "The brake servo also facilitates braking and makes it more effective by reducing the effort required on the pedal. The pedal stroke is short to exploit the qualities of the 10 inch brake servo to the full."

A fixed sheet steel partition between cab and load area effectively seals the load area, protecting cab occupants from flying cargo as well as the cargo from prying eyes. If drivers feel they need a rear view through the vehicle, glass windows can be fitted to the partition and rear doors. A great touch is the rear fog lamp.

Fuel consumption data is a claimed 5.4litres per 100km

Price & service
The new Fiat Doblò Cargo retails for a competitive R129 900 inclusive of VAT and sets the pace for small commercial van up-time with a 20 000 km service interval. Westray is keen to point out that all 37 dealers around the country are trained and equipped with a comprehensive parts inventory to offer full after-sales support and
peace of mind.
"Fiat Auto South Africa offers Fiat owners a 24-month Manufacturer Warranty, unlimited mileage and an additional 12-month Dealer Extended Warranty or up to 100 000km in total, three years on paintwork and five years on rust anti-perforation," he concludes.

Stylish Italian package
In today's increasingly competitive commercial fleet environment, adaptability is key. So is projecting a slick company image and the gutsy, good looking yet pragmatic Fiat Doblò Cargo is a genuine commercial vehicle that looks well set to challenge the Volkswagen Caddy's number one position.