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If you're looking for a large van from the 2021-2024 period, Fiat's Ducato might not be the first name on your LCV shortlist, but the much improved 'Series 8' model sold over this time definitely merits your attention, with enhanced Multijet3 diesel power and a full-EV option too. Spun off the same platform as the Peugeot Boxer, the Vauxhall Movano and the Citroen Relay, in this guise the Ducato continued to score in four key areas; robustness, low running costs, a wide range of body options and load area flexibility. And in 'Series 8' form, it offered a fifth attribute: increased cabin sophistication with impressive media connectivity.
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History
The Fiat Ducato. It's the company's largest van, the flagship of its commercial vehicle range since 1981 and, according to the Italian brand, the most important model in its LCV line-up. That's certainly the case in mainland Europe, where it's the best selling commercial vehicle of any kind, regardless of category, number one in terms of sales in twelve different countries. Here though, it's a less familiar sight than it should be on our roads, something Fiat set out to change when it launched the much improved 'X290'-series sixth generation version in 2014, a design enhanced first in 2020, then again in 2022 to create the much improved 'Series 8' model we're going to look at here.
The fundamentals here were pretty familiar because they were shared with three other competing models in the large van segment, the Peugeot Boxer, the Citroen Relay and the Vauxhall Movano. Fiat used its own powerplants though and as part of the 'Series 8' update, gave the Ducato a bit more visual and technological sophistication to set this LCV apart, not only from its design cousins but also from other key segment rivals. The core reasons you might want one though, were much as before with the wide range of body styles and the affordable running costs, aided with this 'Series 8' design by the introduction of a fresh Multijet 3 diesel powertrain and the option of a new 9-speed auto transmission. There was also a full-electric version too. The 'Series 8' Ducato sold in this form until early 2024, when it was substantially updated. It's the 2021-2023-era 'Series 8' versions though, that we concentrate on here.
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What you get
The Ducato remained recognisable but a bit more contemporary-looking in this post-2021 'Series 8' form. The front gained a bolder look, featuring a smarter Fiat badge in its centre, flanked by re-styled three-section headlamp units which could feature full-LED beams. The engine housing and the skid plates were also redesigned. As previously, there were three vehicle heights and five lengths available.
And inside? Well by 2021 this sixth generation Ducato design was getting on for a decade old but it'll feel pretty current if you've got a high spec including the two new optional screens that in 2021 Fiat added into the cab of this 'Series 8' model. The seats were better with this 'Series 8' Ducato, with a more contemporary look, smarter padding and offering more space and comfort.
You can't fault the cabin for stowage options either. There are two gloveboxes, with an open recess between them, plus there are three storage levels (and a bottle holder) in each of the restyled door cards. And you get lots of space beneath the two-person passenger bench, plus there's a cubby under the climate controls, with a cup holder to the left of it.
Out back, the full-height twin rear doors open conventionally; many owners specified the optional 270-degree feature which allows you to fold them back along the vehicle sides. Depending on variant, cargo capacity varies between 8 and 17m3. The '35 LH2' variant offers 13m3 of volume, a load length of 3,705mm and a load width of 1,870mm. Gross Vehicle Weights range between 3,340 and 4,170kgs. Choose the E-Ducato and you'll find no practicality compromises with the under-floor battery installation (but there's a bit less payload capacity).
There's the usual sliding side door (from new, there was the option of another on the other side) and if you use it to swallow really heavy loads, you'll want to choose the right payload variant - there are Ducato payload options of up to 2.1-tonnes. The popular '35 LH2' variant can take up to 1,472kg.
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What to look for
These vans are pretty tough, but there are a few things you'll need to look out for. It's the usual advice with large LCVs to buy on condition rather than year and look for a van that has tended to have performed lightweight delivery duties rather than consistently butting up against its payload limits. Make sure that all the connectivity works properly - Bluetooth-linking and so on. Check for load bay scuffs and scratches. And insist on a fully stamped-up service history.
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Replacement parts
(approx based on a Ducato 2.3D 160hp - 2022)
Air filters are around £23-£41. Oil filters are around £8. Front brake pads are around £53. A pair of front brake discs cost in the £72 bracket. A pair of rear brake discs are typically in the £82 bracket. Wiper blades are around £40.
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On the road
By the end of the century's second decade, Fiat had established itself as a centre of excellence for diesel engine technology and the Euro6D MultiJet3 engines found under the bonnets of this improved post-2021-era Series 8 Ducato reinforced that reputation. As usual in a van, diesel is the only combustion option, the whole range based around the same 2.3-litre Multijet engine, improved as part of the 2021 update for efficiency, refinement and durability, developing either 120hp, 140hp (as in this case), 160hp or 180hp and usually supplied with a 6-speed manual gearbox. Those original buyers who avoided the entry-level unit got the option of a freshly-introduced 'AT9' ZF 9-speed auto transmission with three driving modes - 'Normal', 'Eco' and 'Power'. That torque converter gearbox was far better than the previous rather jerky robotised auto.
In the 2021-2023 period, the only powertrain that this Fiat shared with its Peugeot, Citroen and Vauxhall Stellantis Group LCV design cousins was that used in the full-electric E-Ducato, which was offered with two battery sizes - 47kWh (which has a 120 mile range) or 79kWh (which has a 192 range). The 47kWh model gets to 30mph in under 6 seconds and has a top speed of 62mph.
On the move, we were impressed with the supple ride and relatively easy manoeuvrability of this 'Series 8' model: vans this big are rarely this easy to drive. A key change with this revised post-2021-era model was the redesigned electric power steering system, claimed to be more precise and manageable in all driving and load conditions, with a smaller steering wheel with a reduced turning circle.
Class-competitive efficiency figures were offered, with Panel Van CO2 emissions as low as 204g/km and a combined cycle fuel economy figure of up to 36.2mpg. Obviously, these figures will vary with body size and engine output. The diesel unit has 30,000 mile service intervals to help lower service bills and reduce time the vehicle spends off the road for maintenance.
As for the alternative full-electric E-Ducato, well the base 47kWh derivative takes 2 hours 25 minutes to charge via AC or DC chargers. The bigger-battery 79kWh E-Ducato takes four hours to charge.
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Overall
Pounding the streets of Naples or Palermo is about as tough an assignment as you could think to put a commercial vehicle through, but it's here that Fiat's Ducato has earned a loyal following. If it can put up with that sort of traffic, heat-cycling, and punishment from potholes, cobbles and other road users, British conditions aren't going to make it break a sweat. In 2021, this improved 'Series 8' model built on the toughness of its predecessor and added a welcome layer of technical sophistication in both combustion and full-Electric forms.
A wider range of derivatives give this vehicle one advantage over its Citroen, Peugeot and Vauxhall design stablemates from this period, but a more significant differentiating factor lies with the MultiJet diesel engines that during the 2021-2023 period remained exclusive to this model, here usefully improved in more efficient Multijet3 form. You can see why Fiat didn't want to share them. It was all indicative of the way that the Italian brand had clearly thought long and hard about what operators actually wanted from a large van. Take things like this improved model's media connectivity and autonomous driving tech for instance. As a result, if your business is in the market for a large van from the 2021-2023 period, it may very well be that you really need to go for an Italian.
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