Fiat Doblo - Car review

I can take all the giggles and pointing fingers when I drive some cars – those that may look a little odd and not along the lines of luxury writes Sharon Walters.

Because most of the time those cars are doing just what they say on the tin and that is what a road test is all about.

It isn't all about swanning around in Audis, Jaguars or Porsches. It's about finding if a car which will do what it is claimed it will do.

• See more pictures of the Doblo in our gallery to your right

And that covers everything from cheap and cheerful runarounds to people carriers, multi-use vehicles and commercials.

And so I ignored friends' comments when driving the Fiat Doblo. "It's just a van with windows", was the comment I received more than once. And, well yes it is.

It's a car that can seat up to seven and also be a workhorse. A two for one car that is becoming increasingly popular in these still hard-pressed financial times.

It's versatile, practical and value for money for the family driver.

Whether it's for leisure or for work it has comfort, economy, safety and good running costs. It has the best in class interior space and lowest exhaust emissions.

There are eight versions of the Doblo with prices ranging from £12,295 to £17,145 on the road.

There is a choice of three hi-tech engines.

The 1.6 16v and 2.0-litre turbodiesels use Fiat's ground-breaking MultiJet technology which give best-in-class fuel consumption and exhaust emissions but are still lively enough.

The two have a six-speed manual gearbox while the 1.6 also has an automatic option.

The 1.4 16v petrol engine at the start of the range has 95bhp, and like the diesels complies with Euro 5 emissions standards.

All models have Start&Stop and also feature a gearshift indicator to tell you when it's the most fuel-efficient moment to change gear. Both which helped me keep my fuel consumption down.

Inside you get five seats as standard but a third row can be had which adds another two.

The two back rows of chairs fold and tumble to free up a large amount of space in seconds. They can also be removed if you need more space.

You get a roomy 790-litre boot that can be expanded to that class-topping 3,200 litres. When used for five people that 790 litre space is plenty.

To make the most of the boot room there's a clever height-adjustable parcel shelf. This can either hide what's in the luggage compartment or be dropped to a lowered position. In this mode it's capable of supporting up to 70kg and can combine with folded rear seats to provide a perfectly flat load area.

To ensure all this space is easily accessible the Doblo comes with twin sliding rear doors as standard. A large, wide tailgate with a conveniently low lip makes getting things in and out of the boot as easy as possible.

Proving its family credentials, a wide range of accessories for active families are offered such as towbar, bike racks and ski carriers.

Safety systems feature highly with ESP Electronic Stability Programme is standard. This also has a Hill Holder function.

ABS anti-lock brakes are standard, with EBD Electronic Brake Distribution to maximise stopping power. Also standard fit are front and full-size side airbags, and crumple zones designed to shield passengers from the forces of an impact.

Fiat built the Doblo so that in the event of damage, it's simple to repair, keeping insurance costs to a minimum.

There are three trim levels – Active, Dynamic and Eleganza versions. The dashboard, instruments, upholstery, seats and steering wheel are not terribly plasticky as you would expect with a van conversion.

Height-and-reach adjustable steering wheel, rear head restraints, electric front windows, remote central locking and a radio/CD player are standard in all models. Optional items include climate control, cruise control, parking sensors, anti-whiplash front head restraints and the Blue&Me hands-free system.

Blue&Me TomTom can also be specified. This revolutionary system features a practical colour touch screen that acts as a hub for a mobile phone, navigation system and information about the car. It is even sophisticated enough to point the driver to the nearest fuel station when it detects the tank is nearly empty.

Included is Fiat's ground-breaking eco:Drive system to give real-time fuel consumption information and advice on how to get the best economy out of the Doblo.

As well as showing you where to go, it talks to the Doblo's in-car computer to provide information about your driving. But this is much more than a simple trip computer. It uses Fiat's widely acclaimed eco:Drive programme.

Designed in conjunction with software giant Microsoft, eco:Drive gathers information on vehicle efficiency and driving style. This data can be transmitted through the USB port of the Blue&Me infotainment system to a standard USB key.

Read that on a computer and a website will analyse how efficient the driver is in terms of fuel consumption and emissions, provide a score out of 100 on an eco:Index, and offer tutorials to help improve that score and achieve more eco-friendly driving.

But Blue&Me TomTom has allowed Fiat to take eco:Drive a step further by giving real-time indication of fuel consumption and advice on how best to drive economically.

The award-winning eco:Drive is such a powerful tool, it can improve economy by up to 15 per cent, saving drivers between £105 and £175 a year in fuel costs. And when the Doblo's tank does eventually start to run dry, Blue&Me TomTom will flash directions to the nearest fuel station.

As with the front, the rear is characterised by a large glass area with excellent visibility. New-look rear light clusters with clear lenses neatly frame the sides while the body-coloured rear bumper forms part of the rear tailgate and blends seamlessly into the rear wings. The overall impression highlights the Doblo's load-carrying credentials.

Doblo is a comfortable and versatile MPV that might not be the best looking but does just what you want.