Fiat South Africa has introduced a passenger-carrying version of its Doblò Cargo panel van.
Called the Doblò Panorama, it seats seven and has a roomy 790 litre boot which expands to a massive 3200 litres with the seats folded down.
Big sliding side doors make passenger ingress and egress easier, and they accommodate rear electric windows that open the entire surface of the window for the first time in this segment. Beneath the swing-up tailgate is a tonneau cover that hides cargo from prying eyes.
The cabin has numerous smart solutions for making the most of on-board space, such as an array of storage compartments and flexible interiors.
The Doblò Panorama is launched in a single six-speed manual variant, the 1.6 Multijet turbodiesel with 77kW and 290Nm of torque, which is claimed to average just 5.5 litres per 100km.
Top speed’s a claimed 164km/h with a sea level 0-100km/h time of 13.4 seconds, and the engine needs a service only every 30 000km.
Front and side airbags, along with ABS brakes and Electronic Stability Control are all standard safety items, as is a Hill Holder to assist starting uphill.
The spec sheet also includes automatic climate control system with distribution to rear seats, an MP3 stereo with controls on the steering wheel, cruise control, parking sensors and a built-in Blue&Me hands-free system with voice recognition.
The Fiat Doblò Panorama retails for R280 000 which includes a 3 year /100 000km full maintenance plan and warranty. -Drive Times