Fiat Scudo (96-06) - Review

Thanks to its high roof the Scudo will swallow a useful 4.0 cubic metres of cargo and offers payloads of between 815 and 900kg. Large sliding doors are available on both sides to allow easy access to the load area, along with rear doors that open to 180 degrees. Load dimensions are 2,059mm in length, 1,600mm in width and 1,415mm in height. The load floor comes complete with four load-lashing points.

Once again, the Scudo's car ancestry means this van is well-appointed - for its age. A driver’s airbag comes as standard along with an immobiliser and seatbelts with pre-tensioners. ABS brakes, though are an optional extra.

Buyers pay extra for the 2.0-litre JTD but it will be worth it for those contemplating long journeys. Take to the motorway and stick at a sensible speed and 40mpg could be a real possibility. The other plus for the 2.0-litre model is that service intervals are two years/18,000 miles compared to two years/12,000 miles for the 1.9.

Both engines are legendary for their longevity, as long as they have been maintained properly. Look around to see how many old models are still on the roads to gauge their sturdiness.