Fiat Talento van on sale now from £20k

The new Fiat Talento is now on sale in the UK, with prices starting from £19,795 (excluding VAT). It’s offered with turbo or twin-turbo diesel engines with outputs from 95bhp to 145bhp and fuel economy of up to 47.9mpg.

The Talento is available in nine different bodystyles with standard and high roof panel vans in short and long wheelbase form. There are long wheelbase people carriers and crew vans, and a long wheelbase platform cab too.   

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The maximum load volume is 5.2m³ in short wheelbase models, 6m³ in long wheelbase versions and 8.6m³ in the long wheelbase high-roof derivatives.

A storage area is situated under the passenger seats, allowing people to carry objects up to 3.75m in length (or 4.15m for LWB versions) by sliding them into a bulkhead opening. Thanks to a variety of compartments, inside cabin storage is an impressive 90 litres.

The Talento’s entry-level 1.6 litre turbo diesel engine has a power output of 95bhp with 260Nm of torque. Fuel efficiency is 43.5mpg, with CO2 emissions of 170g/km. In Ecojet spec with start stop technology, the engine can return 46.3mpg with CO2 emissions reduced to 160g/km. Opt for Multijet spec and the engine produces 120bhp with 300Nm of torque but mpg remains at 43.5mpg and CO2 emissions stay at 170g/km. 

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Quicker twin-turbo versions of the engine are offered too, delivering power outputs raised to 125bhp or 145bhp with torque rating of 320Nm and 340Nm respectively. Despite increases in power there are no efficiency compromises. The 125bhp version is actually the most fuel-efficient unit in the range, returning 47.9mpg with emissions of 155g/km. The most powerful 145bhp twin-turbo unit returns 46.3mpg and CO2 of 160g/km. 

Standard equipment in base spec Talento models includes remote central locking, electric front windows, electric and heated door mirrors, a full bulkhead, height adjustable driver’s seat with armrest, full size spare wheel and steering wheel controls. The audio system features Bluetooth, DAB, USB and AUX connectivity. 

‘SX’ trim commands a £1,000 premium over the standard model. Adding air conditioning, mobile office kit, rear-parking sensors, with upgraded interior trim and enhanced exterior detailing. 

The entry-level Talento Combi Active passenger carrying version adds a rear tailgate with window wiper and de-mister, luggage cover, passenger airbag, and folding/removable rear seats. For an additional £2,000 over Active trim, the Combi SX adds 17-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps, automatic lights and wipers, a leather steering wheel, cruise control, upgraded audio system, sat-nav and enhanced exterior and interior detailing. 

Prices (excluding VAT and OTR charges) start at £19,795 for the 1.6-litre Multijet 95bhp SWB standard roof van. The range topping twin-turbo 1.6-litre Ecojet 145bhp version is priced from £21,245.

The Talento slots into the Italian manufacturer’s commercial vehicle range between the bigger Ducato and smaller Doblo. It’s a joint venture model that shares Renault Trafic, Nissan NV300 and Vauxhall Vivaro tech, and it replaces the old Fiat Scudo. While the new vans are all similar under the skin and from an engineering point of view, the Talento looks a bit different at the front thanks to more complex grille treatment.

The newcomer will need all the help it can get in a market place full of other stylish rivals like the Ford Transit Custom and VW Transporter. Fiat says: “The grille is designed to wrap around the headlights and form a mask that together with the bumper and the grid conveys a solid and striking appearance, while offering a functional element of protection at the same time.”

In case you were wondering, the new Fiat van is named after an ancient coin – the Talent, or Talento in Italian.

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