Fiat Ducato Maxi road tests and consumer car reviews

Fiat Ducato Maxi Curtain Side 3.0 litre 160bhp 2007

Over 100kms. I have owned everything else but this is the best drive - bar none. I average 26mpg (no wind deflector). The only consumables are tyres, brakes, track rod end, oil & filter every 20k. Dealers not very well clued up but a real pleasure to use.

Fiat Ducato Maxi 2005

Yes, we found that too - drove to Portugal with a full load, motorway all the way, no problem - came down the steep hill to our destination and the brakes were nearly red hot, had to drive round on the flat road for a while to cool them down. Mad design.

Fiat Ducato Maxi 2007

I have the 07 Ducato 130bhp. It is a very good van, pulls very well and the only problems are when reversing - you have to use the clutch all the time as it judders. I think the gear is to high.

Fiat Ducato Maxi Minibus 17 seater 2008

Best all rounder. The three litre engine performs extremely well with plenty of smooth power. Package competitively priced and finishing superb.

Fiat Ducato Maxi 2.8 JTG 2006

I bought a second hand Maxi June this year (July 2006 model) I intend converting it to a camper. The van performed well around Germany. Took it over the boarder to Austria, over the Alps. It climbed very well, kept cool in the heat, but coming down the Grossglockner after 3 Kms the front discs started smoking, I was in low gear letting the engine do the work and correcting the engine revs with slight use of brakes. It took 45 mins to allow the vehicle to cool, to safely drive on, I had to use the hand brake to correct the engine revs, driving in 2nd gear as slow as 20 kph. I stopped at the nearest garage to check out what I thought must be a fault on the front discs. All is correct, just badly overheated brakes. I have since had it in Fiat dealer to find out all the brakes need replaced on newly replaced front discs. The problem? Too small discs on the front for a 3.5 tonne van, every time we do this the whole brakes will need replaced they said 1000 euro. The wheels do not allow for the air to pass freely to the discs to cool and the disc area is to small for the size of the van. What a crazy way to build a van 150 BHP and no brake power to stop a full loaded van. In Germany the front disc is bigger since the van is allowed to travel faster. In a country with mountains, because there is a restriction in speed, the brakes in the front are smaller. What a crazy company, build a van to go up a mountain but not to come down. And what a safety feature, yes they get off with it. Do I hear any driving clubs complaining about the biggest used van in the camper trade can’t come down hills!!! So you folks with a Ducto campers stay away from mountains, unless you come down less than 20 KPH and a bit at a time.

Responses to this review

YES CHRIS EVANS, I too had overheating brakes in mountain country in my new 2008 DUCATO MAXI 3L common rail turbo charged (IVECO DIESEL FACTORY FITTED). I have found this vehicle pleasant to drive but VERY WEAK in body construction. I hit a small dog on the highway at 100kph, this caused lots of damage as there is no strong protection on the front end and parts cost an arm and a leg. I’m in AUSTRALIA by the way and would not like to hit a large red roo, wild pig or goat in central Australia where to drive at night is a hazzard. The vehicle is an RV. Had I not rushed in and had done my home work I would not have bought a FIAT, just getting the SELENIA WR engine oil is painful. All vechicles in the outback Australia have solid steel bull bars, but on this DUCATO there is simply no place to fit one. FIAT have a bar that is made out of thin aluminium and attaches to body parts, which costs an arm and a leg and is only good for cosmetic looks...a two year old could wreck it with a small rubber hammer! STAY SAFE - Dennis Yates from Australia

Fiat Ducato Maxi 2.8 JTD lwb h/r 2006

One of the best lwb vans on the market. Good to drive and very comfortable. A real good all rounder.