Don't look back in anger
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OK, so it wasn't the best year for product launches, but for those that did brave an uncertain market last year, we were there to test drive their offerings and bring you this road test round-up
Words: Colin Barnett and George Barrow
Last year was never going to be a classic road test year, especially at the higher weights. While the arrival of the financial meltdown at the end of 2008 took many manufacturers by surprise, a year later there was plenty of scope to slash fleet budgets for 2010. Some took the view that there's no point promoting products no one will buy and retrenched like a shy tortoise auditioning for ITV's The X Factor.
Fortunately, the more self-confident manufacturers retained enough of a presence to provide 30 solo road tests during the year, even if just eight of these required the use of our test team's C+E licences. Even without the recession, it would have been a relatively lean year as much heavy truck development, and consequent launches and marketing initiatives, stagnated pending the arrival of Euro-6-ready products, which will start to emerge this year. As a result of this shortage at the heavy end, we've decided to suspend the usual full Testers' Choice review for this year and bring you this shorter summary, together with the usual "cutout-and-keep" data table.
Small vans
Much as in 2009, small vans have gone from strength to strength. Ranges continued to diversify, with short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase versions being added to some of our favourite models.
Fiat's Fiorino garnered our affections last year, but 2010 was unquestionably the year of the Doblo. Our test of the Doblo Cargo 1.3 SX in June was an early indication of the plaudits the van would go on to receive later in the year when it scooped the International Van of the Year award.
Our tester rightly predicted the DoblO would unsettle the hierarchy of the high-cube van market, and Ford and VW have reason to be concerned as the unladen Doblo notched up a staggering 67mpg on our test route.
Over at Volkswagen they'll tell you economy isn't necessarily everything and our July road test of the Caddy BlueMotion confirmed that. Despite being the eco-friendly model in the range, the BlueMotion didn't deliver a dazzling efficiency performance but the quality of the Caddy shone through. It might be a little long in the tooth (see p38 for the UK first drive of the new Caddy) but the BlueMotion showed us that even minor changes can result in dramatic improvements.
Last year was also a year when being French wasn't necessarily a bad thing, for a van that is. Tests of a trio of panel vans all unearthed some genuine Gallic charm, with the pick of the bunch proving to be the long-wheelbase Renault Kangoo Maxi.
The improved payload, surprising performance and competitive price left us in a state of apoplexy, unable to determine if the Kangoo really can mix it with the SWB Transits of this world. In short, it certainly can.
But last year wasn't all about the heavyweights, as our February test of the Peugeot Partner showed. The gutsy little 1.6-litre, entry-level 'S' trim Partner was a sensible start to the year as it emphasised the need for solid basics, something the Peugeot had mastered thanks to a charismatic 90hp engine that is more refined than its rivals, and responsive handling suited for both town and the open road.
Never ones to shy away from a minority sector, Citroen's off-road Berlingo XTR+ demonstrated its all-terrain capabilities. Uprated suspension and increased ground clearance for the limited slip-diff-equipped Berlingo gave us a chance to challenge it off-piste, but like so many things, a promising start was short lived and the Citroen didn't cut the mustard. However, we're certainly glad it tried.
Pickups/4x4s
Once again, it was a tough year for pickup sales, with figures from the SMMT showing that volumes are still marginally down on the previous year. However, 2010 wasn't a bad year for new model launches.
We got our hands on the first new release in July, when the revamped Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian rolled in.
We were impressed by the standard levels of equipment that make the Barbarian one of the most luxurious pickups we've tested, but the glamour and accessories are heavily reflected in the £23,000 list price.
On the road, the L200 shone as a fine example of how agile and manoeuvrable a vehicle in this class can be and made a compelling case as a sensible, practical and versatile commercial buy but, ultimately, we felt its place probably lay on the asphalt rather than the dirt track.
Next came Isuzu's Denver Rodeo Max LE pickup, which came fitted with a 3-litre engine producing 160hp and 360Nm torque. As one of the cheapest double-cabs on the market, we were impressed with just how far the money went, but couldn't help thinking it fell short of its rivals.
The end of the year saw the arrival of two Nissans. First came the revised Navara in October and then a panel-van version of the Pathfinder 4x4 in December. While we struggled with the merits of a 4x4 panel van, and found the Pathfinder a faithful but not formidable ally, the 2.5dCi Tekna Double-Cab Navara proved a hit.
Revisions to the interior and exterior help sharpen up the looks, while the 188hp engine, which returned 375mpg unladen, kept us smiling on the road and on the forecourt. Although the Pathfinder had its share of highlights — including the lockable gun-style cabinets and rear privacy screen — it was small touches on the Navara, such as the C-Channel restraint system and Connect Premium infotainment system, that won favour with our tester.
Who knows if the Navara will rule in 2011, but it may be a tough fight against the Volkswagen Amarok — but one that is well worth the wait until our test in the spring.
Large vans
In a year that saw the arrival of a fair number of new models, a brace of Fords, a Transit 350 AWD and a Transit Econetic arrived in the model's 45th anniversary year. The AWD model, described as having enhanced traction rather than being an outright off-roader, impressed with its seamless operation with little payload and economy penalty. The Econetic, which boasted all of the latest economy aids in one package, was less convincing as its test results failed to improve on a regular model by as much as we'd hoped.
We sampled a variety of the new Euro-5 Volkswagen Transporter range, with power outputs ranging from 101hp to 178hp and manual and DSG automated transmissions, and came away impressed with them all.
Another cluster from a common factory was the new Renault Master and Vauxhall Movano ranges. Early examples attracted a little criticism over gear-shift issues, but gained considerable praise for the thought put into the driver accommodation. The range now joins the Transit in offering a realistic choice of drivelines, as the new rearwheel drive version is light enough to provide a feasible payload, unlike its predecessor.
Definitely one for the niche sector, the Vauxhall Vivaro Sportive LWB with its six-seat accommodation and high spec proved that despite approaching retirement, the current model still has a lot to offer the market. Only one contender appeared in the territory bridging 3.5and 7.5-tonne GVWs in 2010. The Iveco EcoDaily 50C17 EEV demonstrated why the concept's productivity is as good as it gets if you don't mind the extra legislative burden.
Heavies
Moving up to 7.5-tonners, the action came courtesy of the three-pointed star. Firstly, we had the Mercedes-Benz Atego 816, then just before Christmas, sharing the same driveline as the Atego, was the latest Euro-5 version of the classic Mercedes-Benz Vario proving that it still has no rival in the sector. We started the year, though, with the Hino 500 1826 18-tonne distribution curtainsider. Although the dealer-supplied truck was too new to product decent fuel figures, it proved to be potentially a solid contender for the small-fleet market. Bridging the gap between the previous test subjects, a DAF LF45 210 was sampled, this time at 12 tonnes GVVV and with EEV emissions. Well prepared as ever, the DAF provided as compelling a productivity argument as we've seen for not operating at 7.5 tonnes.
Our sole tipper of the year also came from the Thamebased stable. The DAF CF75.360, the first construction 26-tonner tested for six years, impressed with its traditional operator appeal and as an object of drivers' desire as well, with its spacious cab and, as tested, generous specification.
Driving artics around the CM Scottish test route is traditionally a summer sport, and 2010 was no different. First of three contenders was the Mercedes-Benz Actros 2546LD, which proved to be a good all-rounder, doing "everything well and nothing badly".
Next along was the Volvo FM11.410 with the Globetrotter LXL cab. A straightforward fleet spec 40-tonner, its test performance was only marred by ultra-high overall gearing, which didn't suit the route. The final new artic of the year was the Scania R440 Topline, our first top-weight EGR Euro-5 truck tested with EGR emission control. The fuel economy, slightly hampered by adverse weather, only served to underline our view that the overall running costs of both emission solutions are similar.
The two used trucks to venture into mid-Wales last year were Anglo-Swedish cousins. First off was the Volvo FH13.480 XL, one of 200 examples left homeless following the collapse of Innovate Logistics. However, the Volvo demonstrated the wisdom of imaginative specifying as almost all had found ready buyers. The second used truck, a 56-reg Renault Premium 450.25, had reached a natural end to its first life as a rental vehicle in the West Country. With 400,0001un behind it, the Euro-4 Premium was a good example of a truck ready to meet the shortage of good late stock. •