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The third generation version of Fiat's Doblo van has evolved - particularly in all-electric form. Much about this now-smarter design is now shared with competing brands in the sector for compact LCVs, but this one still deserves a look if you're seeking a modern value-based package.
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Driving experience
One day in the not-too-distant future, you won't be able to acquire a new van of this size with a combustion engine, but for the time being, fossil-fuelled powerplants are very much alive and well in the Doblo range. There's no longer a petrol option, but Fiat still offers two 1.5-litre units, one with 100PS and manual transmission, the other with 130PS and an automatic. A neat touch is Fiat's 'Grip Control System', designed to aid traction on slippery surfaces. And for those awkward deliveries on building sites, there's a Hill descent control set-up for gradients of over 3%.
Your Fiat Professional dealer is also going to want you to consider the option of the alternative all-electric E-Doblo, which uses exactly the same now-improved powertrain as its Peugeot E-Partner, Citroen e-Berlingo, Vauxhall Combo Electric and Toyota Proace City Electric segment cousins. This sees a 100kW motor drive the front wheels powered by a 50kWh battery, which when fully charged can now take the E-Doblo up to 205 miles. As usual with this powertrain, there are three driving modes, 'Normal', 'Eco' and 'Power'.
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Design and build
This Doblo might be a re-badged version of an existing Stellantis Group small LCV design but at least from the front end, it doesn't look it. The nose (smartened up for this revised model) gives this van its own sense of urban style, with Fiat's latest retro brand badge where you'd normally expect the grille to be: cooling is taken care of by a large intake lower down. As you'd expect, there are long and short wheelbase van and 5-seater Crew Cab versions. Sadly though, there's no option for the kind of high roof variant that was so useful to operators with the previous generation Doblo Cargo.
Inside, the dash and instrument layout is of course as you'll find it with this model's other Stellantis cousins. You'll like the 'Magic Cargo' feature, which enables the van to carry up to three people in the front seats or, alternatively, increase the cargo area's length and loading volume. The passenger-side seat can be raised and the compartment underneath used for boxes or fragile items. On the E-Doblo, one neat touch, unique at launch, is the 'Magic Plug', which makes it possible to use the battery energy to power tools or other electrical appliances.
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Market and model
Prices start from just over £21,000 for the combustion variants and from around £26,000 for the E-Doblo (the latter figure following subtraction of the government's £2,500 Plug-in Van Grant). There's a choice of standard or plusher 'Primo' levels of trim. The base price just quoted is for the short wheelbase L1 version. It's probably worth stretching to the long wheelbase L2 variant, which only costs £950 more. With base trim and the L2 body shape, there's also a Crew Van variant with a second fold-out seating row, available from around £24,000 in combustion form - or from around £29,000 in EV form - ex VAT after grant deduction. With all E-Doblos, a 7.4kW on-board charger is standard with an optional 11kW one as an alternative.
This Doblo might be a re-badged version of an existing Stellantis Group small LCV design but at least from the front end, it doesn't look it. The nose (smartened up for this revised model) gives this van its own sense of urban style, with a prominent Fiat brand badge. As you'd expect, there are long and short wheelbase van and 5-seater Crew Cab versions.
Inside, where this revised model offers a smarter Fiat-branded steering wheel and upgraded fabrics, the dash and instrument layout is of course much as you'll find it with this model's other Stellantis cousins. You'll like the available 'Magic Cargo' feature, which enables the van to carry up to three people in the front seats or, alternatively, increase the cargo area's length and loading volume. The passenger-side seat can be raised and the compartment underneath used for boxes or fragile items. On the E-Doblo, one neat touch is the ePTO 'Magic Plug', which makes it possible to use the battery energy to power tools or other electrical appliances.
With plusher trim, you get 10-inch screens for the instruments and the infotainment, the latter one with 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring. There is no lack of storage space in the cab: 16 storage points according to Fiat, these including a 15-litre area in the centre console.
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Summary
We'd be disappointed if Fiat stopped fundamentally designing its own cars, but it does seem logical in the current climate for the brand to be sharing the design of its vans. As it's done for decades with its medium and large-sized models. Even the city-shaped tiny Fiorano van was a shared design. But the Dobo LCV has always been a stand-alone Fiat - until this third generation model arrived.
At least in this revised form it still has its own unique front-end look. And the E-Doblo's improved driving range and its clever 'Magic Plug' might be selling points that make you think once more about a switch to a full-EV fleet. Either way, combustion or EV, the Doblo's worth a place on your shortlist.
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