What's the difference?
It's only taken the whole decade so far, but the 3.5-tonne van – you know, the really, really big ones – has finally been dragged into the 2020s with the latest version of the Renault Master.
Now in its fourth generation since 1980, this oversized box on wheels from France is said to leapfrog all its ageing rivals as a result, including the Fiat Ducato, Ford Transit, LDV Deliver9, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Volkswagen Crafter that all debuted some years ago now.
So, how does France’s big new van fare? And where’s the promised all-electric version? Read on to find out.
About a decade has passed since the Fiat Scudo mid-size (2.5-3.5 tonne GVM) van was last sold in Australia, when it shared its underpinnings with the Peugeot Expert before Fiat-Chrysler and PSA (Peugeot-Citroën) merged to become the giant Stellantis group in 2021.
In 2026 the Scudo (which means ‘shield’ in Italian) has returned under the Fiat Professional Australia banner as the Series 3 or third-generation, again sharing its underpinnings and core styling with the Peugeot Expert but now based on the latest Stellantis 'EMP2' platform.
We recently spent a working week aboard Fiat’s new commercial offering to see how it measures up from a tradie’s perspective in this popular van segment.
There is a lot to like about the latest Renault Master. Leaning on five decades of experience, it proves France knows how to build a comfortable, versatile, practical, enjoyable and quite attractive large van for this decade. A few disappointing specification anomalies do not ultimately detract from a fine, premium workhorse/plaything proposition.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.
The Fiat Scudo LWB Primo offers a large payload rating, excellent fuel economy, peppy performance and practical features like its load-through flap. However, it also has shortcomings like a tiny tow rating and no sequential manual-shifting. So, only a potential buyer can determine if the positives outweigh the negatives when deciding if this largely badge-engineered European van is the right fit for their business.