Fiat Doblo (2001 - To Date) : TURIN BREAKS

Tuesday October 28

Models Covered: Five-door van-based MPV (1. 2 petrol 1.9 diesel, 1.9JTD diesel (SX, ELX, Active, Dynamic, Family)

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Although Fiats Doblo wasnt the first van-based MPV to hit the shores it has developed into one of the best. Functional rather than flashy, the Doblo answers the need for those motorists who want space and a lot of it. Although sales to date have been unspectacular, the right used Doblo offers a lot of car for the money.

To get a perspective of where the Doblo fits into the marketplace, its probably best to consider its rivals. These include the Renault Kangoo and Citroen Berlingo Multispace. Whilst these are by no means common sights on UK roads, sales in this class have rocketed by nearly 300% over the last four years. In many ways, this is good business for Fiat.

Built using low-cost labour in Turkey, the Doblo is the last Fiat to utilise a conventional steel chassis rather than the more advanced spaceframe system used for the Multipla. As such, it represents rugged and, above all, cheap engineering that keeps the basic costs down. Two variants of the Doblo design are available: the Doblo car, as we have here, and also the Doblo Cargo, a commercial van with no fewer than 154 different body permutations. To further emphasise the Doblos status as a world car, a factory in Brazil will start producing Doblos to cater for the huge South and Central American markets. If you are trying to build a reliable, bulletproof mode of transportation, you need low maintenance, dependable workhorse engines. This is both the Doblos greatest asset in emerging markets and its Achilles heel in the eyes of more sophisticated Western European consumers, accustomed as they are to more refined fare.

What will be of more relevance to prospective purchasers is the cavernous load bay. That rudimentary rear suspension comes into its own here, as it allows for a near perfectly flat floor, and the almost vertical sides of the Doblo help to create a 750 litre load space with the seats in place and a gargantuan 3000 litres with the seats folded. Fiat claim the Doblo can carry five mountain bikes and their riders, but without recourse to a junkyard compactor, this seems difficult in practice. Fiats Multipla paved the way for wacky MPV styling, and won a crop of awards, but how many do you see on the roads.

It seems that UK buyers preferred the more conservative lines of the Vauxhall Zafira, and its entirely possible that the same will happen to the Doblo. The strange amalgamation of curves and that monstrous front grille are both striking and challenging, although lacking the cutesy appeal of the Renault Kangoo. The interior styling is more conservative, with high-mounted seats giving a commanding driving position, whilst never fully concealing the Doblos van-based origins. It certainly represents a cost effective and modern way to haul the family about in something less than limousine levels of comfort.

Nevertheless, the Doblo includes some thoughtful touches such as front and side airbags, pop-up roof rails and a swivel-opening roof hatch, two big sliding side doors and a cargo shelf above the windscreen. The seats are trimmed in a suitably hardwearing fabric for transporting young families about and all surfaces are made of sturdy materials which are intensely practical. As well as the high level shelf, numerous cubbies dot the interior, including some genuinely vast door bins.

The Doblo opens at around £3,000 for a 2001 51-plated 1.2 or 1.9D in SX trim. ELX trim for the diesel will cost another £200.

The more desirable JTD SX model will command around £3,250 for a 2002 51-plated example. Insurance is, as you would expect, very reasonable, the 1.2, 1.9D and 1.

9JTD SX models rated in Group 3 with the range-topping 1.9JTD ELX version scraping into Group 4.

As with all cars that get used to ferry children back and forth, check for rips, stains and other damage to upholstery and minor trim parts. This isnt such a great problem in the Doblo because its so utilitarian that only the most wilfully demented child will be able to damage. Have a good look at the load bay area, as many Doblos will have been used for some pretty heavy duties. The mechanicals are proven technology and shouldnt cause any significant worry.

Despite this, check for its service history but even if its not completely pristine, the Doblo can usually cope. Just get it in to the garage for a once-over after purchase.

(approx based on a 2002 1.2 excl VAT) An alternator is around £80 and front brake pads are around £35 for a set. Expect to pay around £7 for an air filter and about £15 for a fuel filter, about £6 for an oil filter and about £4 for spark plugs.

Theres a non-turbocharged 1.9-litre diesel, offered in SX guise, and an infinitely preferable turbocharged JTD unit with 100bhp. The JTD makes sixty from rest some 12.4 seconds quicker (down from 20.

9s to 12.4s) on the way to 104mph (up from 88mph). It also records much lower CO2 emissions and is 17% more frugal. On top of that, the unit develops a useful 148Ib ft of torque, so that theres pulling power in every gear.

This is really the engine to go for even if youd normally prefer the petrol option. The 65bhp 1.2-litre powerplant is rather thrashy and takes 18 seconds to reach sixty amid some frantic gear swapping. Despite this, on the road, the Doblo is surprisingly good fun to drive.

A combination of very quick steering and a crude but effective rear suspension set-up means the Doblo is far more capable in the corners than its ungainly appearance would suggest. The Doblo performs well at the pumps with the 1.9D version returning a combined figure of nearly 40mpg and the JTD 44mpg, helped in no small part by a drag coefficient of only 0.32 - itself astounding for such a bluff-fronted, slab-sided vehicle.

The Doblo is a car that gets better the more you spend. To be honest neither the 1.2 or the 1.9D engines are up to snuff, especially if you plan on hauling the Doblo about fully laden.

You really need to opt for the 1.9JTD version if you plan any distance work. The Doblo will appeal if you place sound economics, rugged practicality and no-nonsense mechanicals high on your list of priorities. If you need something a bit plusher, quicker or more sophisticated youll probably find the Doblo a little third world.

Used examples are still rather thin on the ground so guaranteeing your exact trim and colour choice may be a tough task. Not half as tough as a Doblo mind