Fiat Doblo 1.6 MultiJet 135 Eleganza 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The 1.6 litre engine delivers a hefty power output of 135 bhp at 3500 rpm with torque figures of 236 lb-ft at 1500 rpm. Unfortunately, this additional power is barely noticeable in the vehicle which struggles to reach its top speed of 111 mph after accelerating from 0-62 mph in 11.3 seconds.

Fuel efficiency isn’t the best for a MPV hatchback either but it also far from the worst. Achieving 49.6 mpg this diesel car outperforms the petrol version to offer drivers a number of additional benefits.

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 trim level of the 1.6 Doblo comes with power steering, central locking, electric door mirrors, electric front windows and a CD compatible stereo as standard – the same as the 1.4 Active. However, this range of features is expanded and drivers gain MP3 connectivity, air conditioning, alloy wheels and Bluetooth connectivity as standard features. This offers a number of additional benefits to drivers and means that there are plenty of features to keep drivers busy inside the cabin.

This model also comes with the option of climate control (for £290) – a feature which is not available on some of the other versions.

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 with front side airbags also provided as a standard feature within this particular version. With additional features such as these being found throughout this model the additional purchase price is easily justified.

The 1.6 Doblo also benefits from stability control as a standard feature and the sliding doors make access easy for families on the move.

Priced at £17,700 this MPV is a bit of a steep 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.

Whilst this model performs better than others within the range it still lacks some of the finesse of other MPVs from Fiat. The additional features offered within this model are well worth the extra money but with fairly steep road tax costs falling under band F and insurance premiums coming under bracket 13, the financial benefits are not as pronounced as they could be.

Fuel efficiency of 49.6 mpg also makes refuelling more frequent than in other rival models and even one of Fiat’s estate MPVs, the Qubo, offers better value for money than this.
Overall, the 1.6 MultiJet is a fairly proficient car for families offering decent performance but the value offered by other Fiat models and those of rivals mean it is unlikely to be a favourite amongst car owners.