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.ARGE VANS & CHASSIS-CABS
Page 39
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TESTER'S CHOICE: VAUXHALL VIVARO 1,9 DTI Highly Commended: Fiat Ducato 2.3 mwb Shortlisted: Iveco Daily 35512, MercedesBenz Sprinter 311 CD!
I, electing the stars among vans from 2.6-3.5 tonnes G VW was a tough job. SO not least because of the sheer weight if numbers— a total of 14 contenders driven luring the year, and we didn't find a bad ehicle among them.
We don't have space here to describe all the ans we drove in this class; we did that in CM, . January. Of our shortlist of four, the Iveco Daily is in because of the great progress made by the L-chassis models in moving further towards the more civilised end of the truck-to car scale. But like many of us,it still needs to lose a bit more weight to be truly attractive.
The current version of the Sprinter could now fairly be said to be middle aged. but it remains one of the most attractive propositions in the market, and the recent addition of ESP stability control to the standard spec on most versions is highly laudable.
The Highly Commended award goes to a representative of the latest product of the Sevel partnership. Whether carrying French or Italian badging, these vans now add greatly enhanced driver appeal loan already high level of operator attraction.But the reason this award goes to the Fiat Ducat° and not th Citroen Relay is the one area where the two products differ— the mid-range engine.
The latest JTD 23-litre Sofim engine is arguably the best unit available in this sector, and Fiat's front-wheel-drive installation has high degree of refinement.
Some of our choices have been difficult. but to use the modern parlance.the winner of this group was a no-brainer.Together with its Renault and Nissan-badged brethren. the Vauxhall Vivaro remains the benchmark for this sector. The driver gets car-like comfort and refinement and good performance; the management will appreciate its versatile loaf carrying and excellent economy.The latest options, including long-wheelbase, high-roof and 2.5-litre engines, add icing to an already appetising cake. •