With the reintroduction of the Fiat Scudo for 2022, Fiat Professional has reclaimed an old moniker for its midsize truck. You can read all about it in this article.
From 2016 to 2021, Talento replaced the original Scudo. With the new model debuting, there were significant modifications, the most notable of which was a somewhat reduced payload capacity, offset by a more car-like driving experience and an upgrade to the truck’s onboard equipment.
Shipping and practicality
Many midsize trucks have adjustable roof heights. However, the Fiat Scudo does not. It is available in two lengths – Standard M and Maxi XL – as well as a regular minivan or six-seat Crew Van bodies and a cab body variant for custom adaptations. The standard van has a capacity of 5.3 to 5.8 cubic meters, while the Maxi has a total of 6.1 to 6.6 cubic meters. The higher stats apply to trucks equipped with the Magic Cargo cross-loading rail, which has a detachable panel at ground level in the fence to allow more extended items to be carried into the passenger compartment.
The maximum load compartment length is 2.51m for the standard M model and 2.86m for the Maxi XL, but the Magic Cargo option increases these lengths to 3.67 and 4.02m, respectively. Select Crew Van; the odds are, of course, lower. The Regular Crew Van has 3.2 to 4.7 cubic meters of room, while the Maxi XL has 4 to 5.5 cubic meters of space. The lengths of the loads are 2.18 and 2.37 meters, respectively. The loadspace height for all Scudo models is 1.39m, and the cargo width is 1.63m (or 1.26m between the wheel arches).
All trucks have a full-height bulkhead and dual-sided load doors that open up to 935mm providing easy access to the cargo compartment (which isn’t always the case with Scudo’s competitors). The asymmetrically locking rear doors open up to 90° and 180°, with an opening height of 1.28 meters. Regarding cargo weights, the Fiat Scudo falls short of the midsize truck class leaders. Payloads range from 1,100 kg to 1,499 kg, and gross vehicle weight ranges from 2.6 to 3.1 tons.
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With car-derived running gear under the skin, the Fiat Scudo offers a less van-like driving experience than some of its midsize competitors. The cab is well-built and well-appointed, but the seating position isn’t much higher than the SUVs that share the Scudo powertrain. The cab is also cramped, so the shoulder room can be tight if you travel with three minivan seats.
It also means that the driver doesn’t have a natural armrest to use – some competing trucks either have the cutout at the appropriate height in the door panel or are wide enough to have armrests on either side of the driver’s seat. Storage is adequate, however, with lidded storage on the dash, cup holders, deep door bins, a good glovebox, and decent space under the dual passenger seats.
Operating costs
The MultiJet 1.5 diesel is available in 102 hp and 120 hp, with a six-speed manual transmission and official economy ratings of 43.5 mpg. The 2.0 MultiJet makes 145 horsepower and is available with either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission, with fuel economy of 38.7 mpg for the manual and 38.2 mpg for the car. The top-of-the-line 177-hp and 180-hp MultiJet produce 37.7 mpg. A large 22.4-litre AdBlue tank is included for diesel vehicles, with a range of around 9,300 miles.
The trip computer in the car will let you know when you need to fill it up. Maintenance costs can be kept to a minimum with the Fiat Professional 555 Aftermarket Package, which includes a five-year warranty, five years of service, and five years of breakdown support and can be added to monthly financing payments.
credibility
Fiat is now part of the Stellantis group, and the Scudo is simply a modified version of the 2016 Citroen Dispatch and Peugeot Expert. Since introducing these two trucks, the Vauxhall Vivaro and Toyota Proace have used the same technology. With so many trucks using the same technology, there needs to be strength in numbers regarding reliability. The Scudo has a three-year warranty, but the Fiat Professional 555 offer can extend that by two years.
performance
MultiJet 1.5 and 2.0-litre diesel variants, with four power outputs, are available on the Scudo. The 1.5 comes with 102 or 120 hp, while the 2.0 Multijet has 145 or 177 hp. No engine lacks power, though the MultiJet’s 102 horsepower won’t be too powerful for heavy loads. The range-topping 177 hp engine packs a real punch, though the slightly hesitant eight-speed automatic gearbox makes up for it. The machines are quiet and precise in most situations, although the road noise gets harsher the faster you go.
safety
Another benefit comes with a suite of safety equipment unheard of in a midsize truck two years ago. Standard equipment includes ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake Assist), ESC (Electronic Stability Control), HSA (Hill Start Assist), and cruise control with a speed limiter. It comes with driver and passenger airbags as standard, too. Other safety kits include a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, speed limit detection, driver fatigue alert, lane assist, and blind spot monitoring. This last option would be helpful too, because, unlike some competing trucks, the Scudo doesn’t have wide-angle mirrors, so there are blind spots on either side of the car.
Equipment
The Fiat Scudo has three trim levels: Business, SX, and Tecnico. As the name indicates, the business model is geared for fleet users and features 16-inch steel wheels, a driver’s seat with an armrest, power windows, 12v and USB charging ports, a DAB radio, and Bluetooth phone connectivity. Air conditioning, heated electric door mirrors, rear parking sensors, the Magic Cargo thru-loading bulkhead, another 12v charging connection in the cargo area, and a seven-inch touchscreen multimedia system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are all standard on the SX.
The Tecnico is intended for lone proprietors and includes some more upscale equipment. There are 17-inch alloy wheels, colour-coded bumpers, door mirrors, and a 180-degree rear parking camera with front and rear sensors.
The E-Scudo receives the same 100kW rapid charging speed as its mechanically identical Stellantis brothers. The 50kWh E-Scudo battery takes 32 minutes to charge from 0% to 80%, whereas the bigger 75kWh battery takes 45 minutes. If you recharge at home or business with a 7.4kW wall box, it will take more than seven hours to fully recharge the 50kWh battery and more than 11 hours to recharge the 75kWh unit. If you need to reduce those durations, you can enhance the E-AC Scudo’s charging capability to 11kW, but you’ll require access to a faster AC charging point.
The E-Scudo has only two trim levels: Tecnico and Business. The former includes a laminated acoustic windscreen, a full steel bulkhead, storage behind the front bench, double sliding doors, and 16-inch alloy wheels. Upgrading to Business trim adds a seven-inch touchscreen screen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto compatibility, body-coloured bumpers, rear parking sensors, a leather multifunction steering wheel, and safety features, including traffic sign recognition and blind spot assist. The Lounge trim model we drove is the European equivalent of the UK’s Business standard.
The E-roof Scudo’s height is fixed at roughly 1.9 meters. However, standard and long-wheelbase bodies are available, and load capacity is unaffected by the electric componentry in the back. The cargo volume is 5.3 cubic meters for the SWB variant and 6.1 cubic meters for the LWB model.
Why buy?
The Fiat Scudo is a good option if you require a mid-sized van with car-like driving dynamics and decent tech and equipment but don’t need maximal carrying or cargo space. The engine lineup is extensive, so there should be a powertrain to meet your requirements, and the trim structure allows several alternatives to fit most budgets. Remember that the Scudo is comparable to vans from Citroen, Peugeot, Vauxhall, and Toyota, with little difference between them. But, Fiat Professional’s five-year aftersales package may appeal to drivers who keep their vans for an extended time.
