Fiat Ducato Review & Prices

The Fiat Ducato may be the oldest vehicle design still being currently produced. It was originally launched in 2006, but underwent substantial facelifts in 2011, 2014, 2019, 2021 and now in 2024.

It’s the sister van to the Peugeot Boxer, Citroen Relay and Vauxhall Movano, as well as forming the basis for the Toyota Proace Max, so it’s a design that gets around a lot. As a large panel van, it has all of those models to think about, not to mention the other large van alternatives - namely the Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, Renault Master, Volkswagen Crafter and Iveco Daily.

Despite its age, Fiat has kept the Ducato well up-to-date in terms of engines and driver tech - but like a Hollywood actor with a turkey neck and liver spots on the back of their hands, there’s only so far facelifts can go.

The Ducato does do well with a big load area, high payload and a general feeling of toughness, and it’s available in three lengths and three body heights as well as two chassis weights for maximum flexibility. There are two diesel engines on offer as well as the fully-electric E-Ducato, and six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic gearboxes.

You can choose from a panel van, window van or chassis cab, as well as variations such as a minibus or the campervan-specific chassis.

On top of all that, there’s a pair of trim levels to choose from - so it’s fair to say that you should be able to find a Ducato to suit your business needs regardless of how heavy-duty they are. It’s the diesel Ducato we’re reviewing here.

A pair of 2.2-litre, four-cylinder engines are offered, with either 140hp or 180hp. Gearbox options are six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic, but no matter which you go for the Ducato feels quite antiquated to drive. The suspension is extremely firm when the van’s lightly loaded, making it feel very bouncy, and the engines are noisy.

In terms of trim levels, the standard base model gets air-conditioning, rear parking sensors, cruise control, electric mirrors, steel wheels, and all mandatory safety equipment. For infotainment, you get a rather weedy 5.0-inch screen with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, but no smartphone tethering.

The Primo model comes very well-equipped, though - keyless entry, a digital rear-view mirror and reversing camera, LED lights, a digital instrument cluster, leather steering wheel, and a 10.0-inch infotainment display with wireless smartphone connectivity and a wireless charger. That’s an impressive roster that most vans can’t match without some pricey optional extras.

The Ducato’s payloads are generally high, and the best 3.5t models can carry a seriously impressive 1,785kg.

If you’re thinking about changing your vehicle, you’re in the right place. Check out the best Fiat deals available through Carwow, and remember that we can even help you to sell your old van when the time comes.

The Fiat Ducato does come in at quite a lot cheaper than most alternatives. At just over £32,000 for the basic van in its entry-level trim, it represents a saving of nearly £8,000 from a Ford Transit.

Admittedly, the basic Ducato is quite a lot less well-equipped than the Transit, and so the gap is narrowed if you opt for the plush Primo trim. But the Ducato is still a very good-value way to get into a large panel van.

Engines are powerful enough but the Ducato is noisy, bouncy and the gearboxes aren’t the best

Driving the Fiat Ducato does feel a little like stepping back in time. While more modern large vans have much-improved driving positions and car-like refinement, no such luck with the Ducato. You sit bolt upright with the steering wheel set at a shallow angle and the pedals below you rather than in front of you.

While it’s not necessarily uncomfortable, it does take some getting used to and it’s not quite as relaxing to drive over long distances as a Ford Transit or Mercedes Sprinter.

The same lack of refinement applies elsewhere in the driving experience. The diesel engines have a rough note and aren’t very well insulated, so it can get quite noisy in the cab especially on the motorway. The manual gearbox is a bit notchy, and the optional eight-speed automatic can be a bit dimwitted - again, a Mercedes Sprinter is much better in this regard with a smooth nine-speed auto.

More annoying still is the Ducato’s suspension, which is set up to deal with heavy payloads - but as a result is incredibly bouncy with a lightly laden van. The rear in particular feels very tightly sprung when you’re going over rough surfaces or speed bumps, and given the Ducato’s length it can be quite disconcerting if your front wheels are trying to do one thing while the back ones are still reacting to the last obstacle.

It’s not all bad. With 140hp or 180hp on tap, both of the Ducato’s engines are well up to the task of hauling a fully laden van. The steering may not give you much feedback about what the front wheels are doing but it’s light and direct, and there’s a ‘City’ button to lighten it even more for tight manoeuvres.

The Ducato also has a good turning circle, visibility from the huge front windscreen is excellent, and the assisted driving technology isn’t too obtrusive - even the oh-so-annoying speed limit warning is a relatively quiet bong that’s easy enough to ignore.

A big cargo area and high payloads make the Fiat Ducato great for load-luggers

The Ducato’s cab is intentionally pushed as far forward as possible, in order to leave as much room in the body length for cargo as possible. This space efficiency is one reason the Ducato is so popular with campervan and motorhome converters - over 75% of Europe’s motorhomes are based on the Ducato platform.

A full-height bulkhead is standard in the panel van, though you can switch this out for a simple frame protecting just the driver if you’re happy with the safety implications. There are lashing rings aplenty, and you can have plywood covering the floor and either half-height or full-height on the walls. The rear doors also open to a useful 270 degrees.

Internal and external measurements

Exterior dimensions (L2/L3/L4)
Exterior length: 5,413mm/5,998mm/6,363mm
Exterior width without mirrors: 2,050mm
Exterior height (H1/H2/H3): 2,254mm/2,522mm/2,760mm

Interior load length (L2/L3/L4)
At floor: 3,120mm/3,705mm/4,070mm
At mid-height: 2,914mm/3,555mm/3,920mm

Interior loading width
Maximum: 1,870mm
Between wheel arches: 1,422mm

Interior loading height (H1/H2/H3)
Maximum: 1,662mm/1,932mm/2,172mm

Rear door aperture height (H1/H2/H3)
All versions: 1,520mm/1,720mm/2,030mm

Rear door aperture width
All versions: 1,562mm

Side door aperture height (H1/H2/H3)
All versions: 1,485mm/1,755mm/1,755mm

Side door aperture width
All versions: 1,250mm

Towing capacity

Most versions of the Ducato can tow either 2,400kg or 3,000kg braked, with the latter figure reserved for the more heavy-duty Maxi models. Unbraked capacity is 750kg for all models.

Payload

The Ducato’s payload is among the best in class, and the best 3.5t models can carry a seriously impressive 1,785kg of payload. That’s more than 500kg more than the best 3.5t Mercedes Sprinter.

Opt up to the 4.25t chassis and max payloads shoot up to 2,050kg. Opting for the more powerful engine or the automatic gearbox will see your payload reduce slightly.

Cramped for tall drivers and with some strange design decisions, but the tech is good

The Ducato’s cabin is another area where you can tell that it’s an old design that’s had new features grafted onto it. Though there’s a good level of technology, especially on the Primo model, the dashboard architecture is very clearly a product of the 2006 original.

There are two screens available for the diesel Ducato. The base model gets a pretty rudimentary 5.0-inch screen with Bluetooth, DAB and USB connectivity - this feels a bit stingy, especially when every version of the Ford Transit gets a huge infotainment screen as standard.

Opt for Primo trim, though, and you get a very nice 10.0-inch display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad underneath. While it’s not quite as slick as the Ford Transit’s display, it’s pretty easy to use and it’s pleasingly responsive.

Primo models also get a digital driver’s display, flanked by LED readouts for the battery level and the power gauge.

Comfort is a mixed bag. The Ducato’s driver’s seat is pretty firm and doesn’t have much lateral support in bends, while adjusting it for height is an awkward two-step process. The short cab also means it doesn’t go back very far, limiting space for taller drivers.

There is at least plenty of width on the double passenger seat, though the central occupant doesn’t have much foot space due to the low-set cupholders. The driver gets a fold-down armrest and the centre seat has a section with a table and clipboard.

Storage consists of a decent-sized glovebox, multi-level door bins, and a pair of cupholders set into the lower portion of the dash plus one extra opposite the gear selector.

Fiat Ducato fuel economy is about average as far as large vans go. A mid-sized model fitted with the 140hp engine and the manual gearbox returns an official consumption figure of around 34mpg - expect around 30mpg in the real world, or in the late 20s if you’re reasonably well-laden.

A 62mph or 56mph limited can be fitted as zero-cost options, and while the auto gearbox returns poorer economy on paper you can actually expect slightly better returns on longer cruises as it has a higher top gear than the manual.

You get a massive 90-litre fuel tank, so overall range shouldn’t be a problem even if you’re guzzling diesel. There’s also a large 18.6-litre AdBlue tank.

The Ducato comes loaded with safety tech. The basics are all standard - driver and double front passenger airbags, autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping aids, plus the usual mandatory driver drowsiness detection and intelligent speed assistance. These can be toggled on or off via a dedicated menu on the touchscreen, though a shortcut button would make this even easier.

Cruise control is standard too, but stepping up to the Primo gives you an adaptive cruise system plus blind-spot assistance, rear cross traffic alert, a reversing camera and all-round parking sensors. You also get a digital rear-view mirror, a real boon especially if you’re used to driving vehicles with back windows.

Euro NCAP doesn’t crash test vans, but it did give the Ducato a gold award in 2024 for the performance of its safety assistance kit.

Deadlocks and a perimeter alarm come as standard, and all models unlock the cab and the cargo area separately for better security.

This Ducato has been around in some way, shape or form since 2006, so it’d be quite poor form if reliability issues hadn’t been ironed out during that time. While older 2.3-litre engines did have a reputation for being a bit temperamental, the newer 2.2-litre units are proving quite dependable indeed.

There haven’t been many safety recalls either, impressive given the Ducato’s near-two decades on sale.

Fiat’s basic warranty is just two years, with a further year’s coverage offered by the retailer. However, you can opt for Fiat’s 555 package to extend this for a very reasonable cost - something of a no-brainer.

The resulting five-year/125,000 mile warranty is excellent, and more generous for high-mileage drivers than the ten-year/100,000 mile warranty you get on a Toyota Proace Max. It also comes with five years of servicing and roadside assistance.

Ducato service intervals are set at two years or 30,000 miles, whichever comes first - some of the longest of any van.