BETTER BY FAR

21st June 2007, Page 42

21st June 2007

Page 42

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Page 42, 21st June 2007 — BETTER BY FAR

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iveco's revamped Daily has plen-y of promise, but in a sector full

of stars it needs to produce the goods if it wants to shine.

1W-• he old Tveco Daily was a bit of an enigma. It had a strong engine line-up, ie.4. rugged ladder-frame chassis and rearwheel drive, so on paper it impressed. But at CM we always walked away from it feeling underwhelmed — definitely a case of the whole being less than the sum of its parts.This didn't stop it selling like hot cakes on the Continent, but Iveco clearly realised that the next version needed to make more of an impact, both outside and in. The manufacturer called in legendary car designer Giorgetto Giugiaro,who worked his magic on the exterior and the cabin to give the Daily a more modern, distinctive appearance. Under the skin the revamp includes CAN-bus electrics for fewer connections and simpler onboard and external diagnostics. In other words there is less chance of those famed Italian electrics going on the blink.

Ranging from 2.9 right up to 6.5 tonnes, the Daily gains a revised range of engines with five power options.There's a 2.3-litre unit rated at 96.116 and 136hp, and a 3.0-litre lump producing 146 or a rather tasty 176hp which brings 400Nm of torque.The 2.3 drives through a manual live-speed box: the 3.0 gets an extra cog or you can opt for Ivecoes AGile automatic transmission.

There are three load classes — L,S and C — denoting the increasing payload capability. Standard equipment includes remote central locking,CD/radio and engine immobiliser. 11111" Our test vehicle came with the 136hp engine and the optional EXE pack. For £590 this includes electric windows and mirrors, uprated driver's seat. MP3 capability, comfort trim and colour-matched bumper. Minus the options it has a list price of £22.150; all Dailys carry a three-year/60,000-mile warranty.

Productivity

Achieving 27.8mpg on its laden fuel run, the new Daily does not have a very noteworthy fuel consumption when compared with its rivals— but with 136hp under the bonnet it sports about 20hp more than the others in our comparison group.

Productivity is helped by a useful 12.0m5 load area and 1,345kg of payload.This is complemented by excellent side access via the offside sliding door, which now comes with a suspended sliding system, reducing the effort required to open and close it.A grab handle helps when entering and exiting.The loadbed isn't as low as we would like due to the extra mechanicals down below, but access hasn't been neglected here either — an additional step juts out from the body with another handy grab handle to the right.

The twin rear doors open out to an initial 90°, then to 270° at the unhooking of a latch; magnetic clamps prevent the doors moving once they are fully open.Tie-down points are located along the floor and side walls and our test vehicle sported £220 worth of optional wooden floor. A shelf over the cabin is just right for the driver's bits and pieces.

On the road

The previous Daily lacked a sense of harmony in the way it drove.There was a level of detachment from the various elements such as engine, steering and suspension that made for an uninspiring journey. With this in mind the work done on the new version verges on the miraculous.The new model rides with a level of composure that the long-member chassis has always deserved; this is coupled with a sturdiness that allows you to make brisk progress while fully loaded.

It turns in with confidence, holding the line without feeling stressed and allowing you to make adjustments without any sign of twitchincss.The steering complements the Daily's newly acquired sturdy nature with plenty of feel and weighting, avoiding the overassistance of some of its competitors.

Further aiding the Iveco's driving credentials is the 2.3-litre engine. It is a real gem, probably the most rounded in the class, displaying all the attributes desired of a commercial power plant: it is commendably refincd,offers plenty of torque from low-down and spins freely to the red line. What's more, a full payload fails to dent its cultured pulling power.

Mated to this is a five-speed box that suits the engine's gutsy power delivery thanks to well chosen ratios— why go fora six-speeder when a five offers better flexibility in this configuration? What a pity that it is let down by a sloppy action that lacks definition between gates.

Cab comfort That Giugiaro-designed interior makes the Daily cab far more organised than before, with a real sense of purpose in its layout. The comfortable Isri seat offers plenty of adjustment though the fixed steering wheel stops the driver reaching that ultimate drivingposition nirvana.

The spacious interior also allows for easy cross-cab access, and there is plenty of room for two passengers as well as the driver.

The dashboard is easy to navigate with clear, if rather dull dials, and well positioned secondary switchgear.

However we did wonder what some of the buttons were for as their labelling was vague, while a worrying loss of precision in the heater direction controls raised fears about build quality. This feeling was reinforced by the reversing bleeper, which remaining constant once the gear was engaged.

Storage includes generously proportioned twin-level door bins, small cubbies, two gloveboxes (one located centrally with room for A4 paperwork, and one with limited capacity to the left), and two ceiling-mounted shelves which are just right for tiles and the like.

Improved cab refinement has cut road roar and wind noise by a few decibels,particularly on the motorway, where the driver feels well insulated from the outside world. •