Our test vehicle is the (Series 6) Ducato Long Wheelbase Mid-Roof, which is part of a local five-model range that also includes Short Wheelbase Low-Roof, Medium Wheelbase Low-Roof and Mid-Roof variants, plus an Extra Long Wheelbase Mid-Roof. All are powered by Fiat’s 2.3 litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine.
In standard specification with six-speed manual, our Long Wheelbase Mid-Roof retails at $46,990 but with the optional Comfort-matic (six-speed manual with automatic shift function) as fitted to our test vehicle, that price climbs to $49,890. Like apples and oranges, there’s no point in comparing these prices with cab-chassis class rivals, but the Ducato’s pricing is more than competitive with a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van equivalent.
As you’d expect, the standard equipment list has a no-frills work focus, including 16-inch steel wheels with 225/75 R16C Continental tyres and matching spare, height and reach adjustable steering wheel, manual air-con, rear parking sensors, cruise control, 5.0-inch touchscreen mulitmedia system with steering wheel controls, USB/AUX connectivity, CD player and Bluetooth, steel cabin bulkhead with sliding-glass partition, two-passenger bench seat with three-point centre seatbelt, rear barn doors with 270 degree-opening, multi-adjustable driver’s seat (including lumbar adjustment) and an electronic stability control menu optimised for load-hauling.