We put Fiat Professional’s three van sizes to work on UAE roads to see how they drive, carry, and fit busy schedules. The compact Doblo targets city routes with clever space tricks and mobile workshop potential. The mid size Scudo adds muscle for regional deliveries while keeping a car like feel. The heavy duty Ducato brings serious volume and conversion flexibility for long range logistics and specialist jobs. Here are focused test drive takeaways for each model that matter to fleet managers, SMEs, and contractors in the Emirates.
In dense Dubai and Sharjah traffic, the Doblo feels easy to place and quick to rotate into tight loading bays. Steering stays light at low speeds and firms up smoothly as speed rises. Brakes bite progressively, which makes repeated stop start runs feel natural. The cabin gives good outward visibility and the short nose helps with curbside parking. For payload and packaging, the Doblo offers up to 1000 kilograms and up to 4.4 cubic meters, with overall length from 4.4 to 4.75 meters. That footprint makes last mile drops, mobile trades, and courier loops efficient. The layout supports a mobile workshop setup, so you can secure drawers, power tools, and consumables without wasting floor area. Infotainment and connectivity feel modern enough for full day routing and job tickets, and driver aids help take the stress out of crowded urban runs.
Yes. The Scudo sits in the sweet spot for contractors who split time between city sites and inter emirate highways. Ride control feels settled with a loaded rear floor and body motion stays tidy over long expansion joints. The 2.0 liter diesel with 150 hp and an eight speed automatic holds cruising speed with confidence while keeping revs low for cabin calm. Payload goes up to 1.4 tons and load volume reaches 6.6 cubic meters, so pallets, tool chests, and ladders fit without creative stacking. Overall length sits around 5.3 meters, which helps with multi level parking access. Inside, the driving position feels car like, storage is abundant, and sound insulation keeps calls clear. If you run shuttles or VIP staff moves, the Ulysse configuration in Euro 4 trim adds a premium people mover feel while preserving the core LCV practicality.
For long days between Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and the Northern Emirates, the Ducato’s relaxed highway stride and stable tracking stand out. Electric power steering reduces effort in tight yards and the optional electric park brake makes frequent stops painless. The 2.2 liter diesel with 140 hp focuses on usable torque, so it pulls evenly from low revs even when fully loaded. Cargo volume spans roughly 8 to 17 cubic meters and payloads can exceed 2 tons, which is why refrigerated builds, mobile workshops, and medical service vans commonly start with this platform. Wheelbase and height choices across about 5.3 to 6.4 meters support wide conversion needs, and details like the Eat and Work bench seat add real world convenience for paperwork and quick meals. If your business needs a reliable canvas for third party equipment, the Ducato’s conversion readiness makes it an easy shortlist pick.
Started my career in Automotive Journalism in 2015. Even though I'm a pharmacist, hanging around cars all the time has created a passion for the automotive industry since day 1.