36 | Day Test
The Ducato comes with factory-fitted seat swivels that are the best in the business. The driver’s seat swivel is restricted by the fridge cupboard placement, but that’s unavoidable in a vehicle this size. The seats themselves are very comfortable, while the Ducato’s cab remains the most car-like. holder function. The only obvious omission is side and/or curtain airbags, which aren’t even optionally available.
Driving the Box
A
ll Ducatos are light, easy and fun to drive and this one is no exception. The new Multijet2 engine feels just like its predecessors and we only put a few kilometres on it, so I can’t comment on its open road abilities (although I have no doubt they’d be fine, especially given the increased torque). The test vehicle also had the auto gearbox, which in truth is an automated manual (sans-clutch) and called the Comfort-matic Transmission in Fiat-speak. It’s an interesting gearbox that you drive like a conventional auto, but which still pauses slightly between shifts as a computer changes gear. For my money, however, I’d take the manual. Funnily enough I’m just back from a week in a manual Ducato
in New Zealand. It’s my second NZ rental experience in such a vehicle and I really enjoyed it. While I wouldn’t buy a manual car, somehow a manual motorhome/light commercial vehicle feels right. In any case, Fiat’s manual gearbox is precise if a little notchy, while the clutch is light and progressive. Perhaps it’s a function of the smaller/lighter engine, but the Melaleuca Appeal felt lighter to drive than usual. Mrs iMotorhome also commented on how light and easy it was to drive as she did laps of the beachside area for the camera. Visibility was as good as ever, ditto cab comfort, and all-in-all this sixth generation Fiat Ducato remains a terrific motorhome base vehicle.
What’s in the Box?
I
n a 5.99-meter long box there’s only so much you can fit in and so many ways to arrange it. Up front is the cab, in the middle are the