The improved version of Fiat's third generation Scudo mid-sized van is a more polished proposition. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Background

A change of name doesn't always mean a change of fortunes. Back in 2016, Fiat switched its mid-sized van range away from two generations of 'Scudo' branding, re-christening it the 'Talento' and basing it on a Nissan Renault Alliance platform. That model failed to make much of an impression on the market, so in 2022, the Italian maker switched back to the 'Scudo' nameplate and ditched the Renault underpinnings to create this Stellantis Group-engineered model. It's the usefully improved version of that design, updated in Spring 2024, that we look at here. It shares almost everything, as you might expect, with the other Stellantis mid-sized vans in this sector, the Peugeot Expert, the Citroen Dispatch and the Vauxhall Vivaro, with the same design and engineering also used by the Toyota Proace. That does at least mean that everything you get here is thoroughly proven. Let's look in a little more detail at Fiat's spin on it.

Driving Experience

All the engineering on offer here is familiar and proven from other Stellantis Group mid-sized vans. So, bolted to an EMP2 platform, there's the choice of conventional diesel or full-electric power. Things kick off with a 1.5-litre diesel, now offered only with 120PS, mated to 6-speed manual transmission. There's also a 2.2-litre Multijet diesel with 150PS and the choice of either manual or 8-speed automatic transmission. The Crew Van also gets this unit in 180PS auto form. If your business has moved on from smoky diesels, you'll be more interested in the single E-Scudo EV variant, which uses a 136hp electric motor and is now only available with a 75kWh battery pack that offers an EV range improved with this enhanced model to 230 miles. If you're wondering what driving a full-electric mid-sized van might be like, well, there's not too much to get your head around. You turn the key in the ignition, wait for the starting beep, then flick the gear toggle into Drive. There's a drive-mode selector that allows drivers to switch between 'Eco', 'Normal' and 'Power' modes. The 'Normal' setting restricts you to 109PS and will feel a bit like driving a lower capacity diesel. 'Eco' mode restricts you further to 81.5PS and reduces the power consumption of the air conditioning and other accessories. If you want the full 136PS of the electric motor, selecting 'Power' mode unlocks it. There are also brake regen gearshift paddles that can be used to plough extra regenerated energy back into the battery, offering more resistance while you're slowing down. Top speed is just 84mph. Whatever your powertrain choice, diesel or electric, on the move drivers will appreciate the car-like driving position. And ride quality is a strong point, thanks to load adaptive variable damping shock absorbers, a system which varies the damping with the vehicle's ride height. Top-spec variants get camera-driven kit like speed limit recognition, lane departure warning, Side Blind Spot Alert and Driver Attention Alert systems. There's also a clever 'Intelligent Speed adaptation' system that enables you to maintain a constant speed at a cruise.

Design and Build

Diesel versions of this Scudo are British-built at Luton alongside it's Stellantis Group electric LCV stablemates; the E-Scudo is built at Hordain in France. This revised model gets updated front styling and top models gain redesigned LED headlights, plus there's a fresh colour option - 'Colosseo Grey II'. With either drivetrain, there's a choice of short wheelbase 'L1' or long wheelbase 'L2' variants, but Fiat doesn't offer a high roof option. Visually, it looks pretty similar to its design stablemates the Vauxhall Vivaro, the Citroen Dispatch, the Peugeot Expert and the Toyota Proace, but to differentiate the Scudo, there's a Fiat-specific front grille, which is flanked by the swept-back headlamps. Inside, where the efforts made to set this Fiat apart from its Stellantis Group LCV cousins are cursory, this revised model gets a refurbished dashboard with a digital instrument display and a now-larger 10-inch central infotainment touchscreen. As for E-Scudo changes over the diesel, well the gear lever gets replaced by a drive selector and, next to it, a rocker switch for clicking between the various driving modes. In the instrument binnacle, in place of the usual righthand rev counter you get a Power Meter with 'Eco', 'Charge' and 'Power' sections. In any Scudo, there's quite a low seating position (for a van), with plenty of seat and wheel adjustment. As usual in this class, a three-person bench seat is fitted and on plusher variants there's a Moduwork bulkhead flap so that longer items can be pushed through from the cargo area. That Moduwork feature also allows the passenger seat to fold forward so the backrest can lay flat to create a handy work surface.

Market and Model

Like its predecessors, this Scudo comes in two main configurations - Panel Van and Crew Cab. And there are two trim levels - 'Standard' and 'Primo'. There are two body lengths (L1 and L2), two diesel powerplants and a full-EV powertrain. As you'd expect, the LCV range pricing broadly mirrors what you'll pay for this model's identically-engineered Stellantis Group mid-sized LCV cousins - the Peugeot Expert, the Citroen Dispatch and the Vauxhall Vivaro. For the combustion variants, think in terms of ex-VAT on the road figures in the £30,000-£35,000 bracket. For the full electric versions, think in terms of pricing in the £38,000-£41,000 bracket after subtraction of the government's £5,000 Plug-in Van grant. All Scudo and E-Scudo van models are decently equipped, the standard spec including manual air conditioning, daytime running lights and rear parking sensors. Media connectivity includes 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' smartphone-mirroring. Fiat hasn't forgotten a proper full-sized steel spare wheel, 12V sockets in both cabin and load area and an alarm either. For the cab, there's a driver's seat with height, rake, reach and lumbar adjustment, plus a full steel bulkhead. Other key features on entry level 'Scudo' trim include selective door locking, an advance emergency braking system and driver attention alert level 3. The main reason you'd want to stretch to plusher 'Primo' spec is to get the useful 'Moduwork' package which gives you a fold-up middle seat, a fold-down writing table in the centre seat back and storage under the passenger bench. Plus a useful load-through flap under the outer passenger seat into the cargo area. 'Primo' spec also upgrades you with front fog lamps, a panoramic view camera, power-folding mirrors. Plus there's Dynamic Surround View, with a digital rear view mirror and lateral side view, along with front and rear park assist, flankguard detection of fixed obstacles, a Visiopark 190 reversing camera, blind spot detection and foldable mirrors.

Practicalities and Costs

The cargo bay is 2,512mm in length for the standard wheelbase 'L1' and 2,862mm for the long wheelbase 'L2', with 1.258mm of width between the wheel arches and a maximum height of 1,397mm from floor to ceiling. Overall cargo capacity sees a minimum load volume of 5.3 cubic metres for the 'L1', and 6.1 cubic metres for the 'L2'. This expands to 5.8 and 6.6 cubic metres respectively when the Load-through-load bulkhead facility is used (an option on base-spec trim). One reason you might still want a Scudo in diesel form relates to payload. And, sure enough, the diesel model panel van's payload figures look decent, varying between 1,121kg and as much as 1,384kg. The Electric model is limited to a payload of between 915kg and 1,263kg, depending on variant. The braked towing weight on the diesel is 2,000kg for the 1.5 and 2,500kg for the 2.0-litre. With the EV, the braked towing weight is limited to a tonne. Not all contenders in this segment provide a sliding side door on both sides of the vehicle - but this Fiat does. Its aperture is 1,241mm in height and 935mm in width. As for running costs, well the 1.5 120PS diesel variant now returns up to 44.8mpg on the WLTP combined cycle with up to 164g/km of CO2. The 2.2 diesel with 150PS manages up to 38.7mpg and up to 191g/km as a manual; or up to 39.8mpg and 186g/km as an auto. These figures should give you a decent range (of around 600 miles) from the 70-litre fuel tank. You'll need to keep the separate 22.5-litre AdBlue additive tank regularly topped-up every few thousand miles of course. As we told you in our 'Driving' section, this Electric model manages up to 230 miles on a charge in combined motoring - or up to 314 miles in city traffic. If you're looking at this full-battery version, you'll want to know that the 75kWh battery can be DC recharged from 5%-80% in 45 minutes at a 100kW public charging station. If you're AC charging, a 7.4kW wallbox will need 11 hours 20 minutes for a full charge - which you can reduce to 7 hours 20 minutes if you pay Fiat extra for an 11kW charger and connect to a three-phase supply. Connected to a domestic socket, you'd need a yawning 36 hours 45 minutes for full battery replenishment. Service intervals are every two years or 25,000 miles for the 1.5-litre diesel; it's every two years or 30,000 miles for the 2.0-litre 145PS diesel; or every two years or 32,000 miles for the diesel autos. It's all a bit behind the longer 36,000 mile service intervals you get from a rival Ford Transit Custom though. The Electric version needs an initial inspection at the end of the first year or ownership or when you crest 12,500 miles. From then on, garage visits will be needed every two years or 25,000 miles. You'll also need to know that Fiat Professional includes a three-year, 100,000 mile warranty as standard - better than the packages offered with the equivalent Vauxhall, Peugeot and Citroen versions of this design but way off the up-to-10 year package you could have on the Toyota Proace version of it. Fiat's warranty package can be extended up to five years at extra cost under Fiat's '555 Peace of Mind' deal, which also gets you five years of servicing and roadside assistance. Quite a few Fiat Professional dealers also look after IVECO trucks, so they're better versed in the needs of commercial operators. A year's free breakdown cover is also provided, along with a six-year anti-corrosion guarantee. With the E-Scudo, the battery's guaranteed to 70% of capacity for up to eight years or 100,000 miles.

Summary

Fiat vans have a much higher sales share in Europe than in the UK. For the Italian brand's slice of our market to increase, the company needs product quality in depth. Expect borrowed Stellantis Group engineering technology to provide that over the next few years and this improved version of the third generation Scudo demonstrates just how useful this will be in extending the reach of the Fiat Professional LCV network. No, there's nothing really here that you couldn't also get from the Peugeot, Citroen, Vauxhall or Toyota versions of this same mid-sized design. But if for your business, a Fiat Professional garage is more convenient and offering a better deal, there's the peace of mind of knowing that you're buying your business a state-of-the-art product. In the mid-sized van segment, going for an Italian just got that bit more appealing.