£12,515 – £17,945

Our Verdict
A superb package and without doubt one of the best light commercials that Fiat has ever produced.

Fiat has redesigned the Doblò Cargo from top to bottom and the newcomer was launched in the UK in 2010. In its latest incarnation it comes with a choice of two wheelbases, a cleverly-designed suspension system and three impressive diesel engines.

The big changes to the suspension have taken place at the rear where a sophisticated bi-link independent set-up has been installed with an eye to enhancing the van’s ride and handling. Light in weight, it’s compact too.

As for the diesels, you can pick from three different MultiJet 16-valve four-cylinder lumps. Listed are a 90hp/200Nm 1.3-litre, a 105hp/290Nm 1.6-litre and a 135hp/320Nm 2.0-litre. A 95hp/127Nm1.4-litre petrol engine can be specified too. Comendably a Stop&Start system is standard across the Doblò range.

Payload capacities range from 750kg to 1,000kg while load cubes are 3.4m³, 4.0m³ or 4.2m³ depending on the model you select.

ABS comes as standard along with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution with Electronic Stability Programme offered as an extra-cost option.

Two specification levels are offered; base and SX. Opt for the latter and the additional features you’ll enjoy will include a sliding door on each side of the load box.

Fiat’s newcomer boasts a roomy, comfortable and well-equipped cab and useful in-cab options include Blue&Me TomTom. Developed by Fiat, TomTom and Microsoft, it features a colour touch screen that acts as a hub for a mobile phone and a trip computer as well as a sat nav system.

Doblò Cargo rides remarkably well thanks to its independent rear suspension, it handles well too, it’s frugal with low CO₂ emissions and the more powerful versions have ample performance on tap. Build quality is exemplary.

So far as the diesels are concerned — and diesels will power the vast majority sold — service intervals are set at 21,000 miles. Doblò Cargo is protected by a three-year/120,000-mile warranty and combi and platform cab variants are also available. There's also a dropside conversion, the Work Up, which launched in the UK in 2011. With a gross payload of up to 1,000kg, it's no lightweight workhorse.