Fiat Doblo 1.4 Active 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The 1.4 litre engine delivers a fairly decent power output of 95 bhp at 6000 rpm with torque figures of 94 lb-ft at 4500 rpm. This helps to propel the car to its top speed of 100 mph – although acceleration is left sluggish, reaching 0-62 mph in a lengthy 15.4 seconds.

Fuel efficiency isn’t the best for an MPV hatchback but it also far from the worst. Achieving 39.2 mpg this petrol car fairs admirably but is undercut by the 49.6 mpg fuel efficiency its diesel variant promises.

Noise within the cabin tends to be a problem, echoing within the Doblo’s roomy and bulky interior. Suspension noises are also audible when travelling over speed bumps and wind noise is increased at faster speeds.

The car has the same bulky look as other Fiat MPVs with a fairly square front and cropped back. Despite its appearances, the car is fairly comfortable and interior features are diverse.

The Active trim level comes with power steering, central locking, electric door mirrors, electric front windows and a CD compatible stereo as standard but lacks some of the more modern features found in rival cars. Certain features, such as air conditioning, will cost extra in the Active whilst others, such as climate control, are not available.

Upgrading to the more advanced trim level and the diesel version is therefore recommended, as drivers will gain MP3 connectivity, air conditioning, alloy wheels and Bluetooth connectivity as standard features.

Cabin space is particularly roomy within the Doblo, with the height of the vehicle’s body ensuring all passengers and luggage fit in with ease. Both drivers and passengers benefit from lots of head and leg room and the deep boot means storage will not be an issue. Additional seats fold up from the boot floor to increase passenger capacity but this will drastically affect the storage space.

In terms of safety, the Doblo offers driver and passenger airbags as standard in the Active trim level but front side airbags are missing. Luckily, these are offered as a standard feature with the updated trim level – making the additional cost justified.

The 1.4 Active also benefits from stability control as a standard feature and the sliding doors make access easy for families on the move.

Priced at £13,300 this MPV is a great investment for families on a budget. The external appearances may leave a little to be desired but on the whole the performance levels are good and the car feels well built and reliable. Unfortunately, resale values are not expected to be strong and that means depreciation could be an issue for those looking for long-term ownership.

However, when compared to other models within the same range the 1.4 Active falls short of the mark and the diesel variant is a much wiser investment. This model, if chosen with the appropriate trim level, comes with a much better range of internal features and also benefits from lower carbon emissions (which translates to lower road tax costs), better fuel efficiency, a higher top speed and faster acceleration.

That being said, the 1.4 Active still manages to be fairly efficient and does have much lower insurance premiums – falling under insurance group 4. This one saving is not enough to outweigh the benefits of the diesel variant, however, making models such as the 1.6 MultiJet 135 Eleganza, a more popular choice.