Fiat Doblo 1.6 Multijet Eleganza

Having an original Fiat Doblo parked on your drive says a lot about you. While you’re not too worried about what your transport looks like, you value practicality, versatility and durability. But crucially, you love a good deal. Basic versions of the original Doblo offered van-sized luggage space for Ford Fiesta money, with a seven-seat model for less than £14,000 – so the car was always a bargain-hunter’s dream.

The challenge for Fiat was to transfer all of that super-sensible appeal into an all-new model. It would no longer be enough to point out the huge boot, and wave a price list in front of potential buyers when they surveyed the styling. Drivers expect much more from this sector than they used to.

The new Doblo clearly has more showroom appeal than its predecessor. The front end wears the face of the latest Punto Evo supermini, the rakish windows prevent the car looking too slab-sided in profile and the tailgate features similar gloss black trim to the smaller Qubo.

Although all these details are effective in isolation, step back from the Doblo and they’re lost in its bulky, awkward proportions. At first sight, it looks like the Fiat is bigger than it needs to be – the Partner Tepee appears much better proportioned.

It’s hard to believe that underneath the Italian model’s body lies the basic architecture of the Punto Evo, especially when you peer inside. The Doblo’s cabin provides masses of space. The seat and steering wheel adjust enough to accommodate even the tallest of drivers. Slide open the practical rear doors, and you can travel in three comfortable back seats offering ample headroom and more leg space than the Peugeot.

The load area, meanwhile, is absolutely enormous. Even with all seats in place, there’s 790 litres – that’s 115 litres more than the Partner. The split bench folds but isn’t removable, although with only two people on board, the luggage capacity still increases to an impressive 3,200 litres.

A seven-seat layout is available for £900, and this price includes upgraded front disc brakes to cope with the weight of the extra passengers. Another option worth thinking about are the £100 twin-glazed rear doors. These replace the huge tailgate, which is not only impossible to open in tight spaces, but also heavy to shut.

So far so good, then, but how does the Doblo perform on the road? As it shares mechanicals with a nimble supermini, you might expect the Fiat to be a driver’s delight. Yet there’s no disguising the car’s size. The steering is precise, but body control is lacking in corners; the Doblo lurches and rolls where the Peugeot feels stable and agile. The 1.6-litre diesel engine is also disappointing. It’s all too easy to catch the turbo off-boost, leaving you reaching for a lower gear.

At least the Fiat has more confidence-inspiring brakes than its opponent. Arriving late to a class where value is still key, the Doblo is sadly lacking in some areas – and unfortunately, at £16,785, a question mark hangs over this version’s list price, too.

Details

Chart position: 2
WHY: All-new version of practical Doblo is here. Can it keep up with rivals that offer more refinement, driveability and versatility than ever?