New Fiat Scudo review

The return of the Fiat Scudo to the UK market in 2022 was more than just a familiar name coming back. It was also the final piece in Stellantis’ medium vans puzzle.

Before the Scudo's return, the Citroën Dispatch, Peugeot Expert and Vauxhall Vivaro had already cemented their places on UK roads, but Fiat was still offering the Renault Trafic-based Talento. The switch to a Stellantis platform gives the reborn Scudo a solid foundation as part of one of the Europe's most successful commercial vehicle line-ups.

That also means you’re looking at a medium van that’s functionally identical to three others built on the same production line – plus the licensed Toyota Proace. On the face of it, then, why would you pick the Scudo over an Expert or Vivaro? That largely comes down to dealmaking, badge preference or dealer support.

The Scudo offered in a choice of lengths and diesel power outputs, with manual or automatic transmissions and payloads over 1.4 tonnes, all delivered with a more car-like driving experience than you might expect.

So is it just another copy-and-paste Stellantis van or does the diesel Fiat Scudo hold its own unique appeal? Read on to find out. Or if you want to know about the electric van version, see our Fiat E-Scudo review.

There’s a familiar 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine at the front of the Fiat Scudo, offered in two flavours: 143bhp or 178bhp. There’s also a 1.5-litre engine at the entry level, available with 118bhp, and either a six-speed manual gearbox or an eight-speed auto gearbox sending power to the front wheels.

However, it’s not as simple as picking and choosing your preferred spec – Fiat has complicated matters unnecessarily, so while you can have a 2.0-litre auto in entry-level trim, you can’t do the same in top-spec Primo trim.

Likewise, the 178bhp engine is only available in the six-seater crew cab, with no manual option. That said, Stellantis changes its model line-up as often as most people change their bed sheets so that could all be different soon.

The 1.5-litre versions are best suited to lighter use, such as urban deliveries, transport to site and stop-start multi-drop deliveries. They’re smooth enough and surprisingly refined, with decent throttle response and acceptable torque for the class.

If you regularly load up or tow, the 2.0-litre models make far more sense. The extra grunt (272lb-ft in the 143bhp version) gives the Scudo a more relaxed character on motorways, and helps reduce the need to row through the gears in hilly areas.

Whatever the engine, the Scudo drives well for a medium van. Faint praise, perhaps, but it's a genuinely well-resolved experience, thanks to sharing much of its mechanical bits with the Citroën C3 and Vauxhall Mokka.

It’s still a van, so the suspension is quite firm, but it handles speed bumps and rough roads with a pleasing sense of composure, and gets better with a load in the back. We tried the Scudo with 400kg on board, and found that only the very worst potholes sent jolts through the cabin.

The steering is light and consistent, and the turning circle is tight enough for city use. Refinement is decent too, with the diesel engine hushed once warmed up and road noise kept largely at bay. 

“I'd say the 143bhp engine and a manual gearbox is the one to choose. It’s a Jack of all trades and doesn’t sacrifice performance or economy against the other options.” – Phil Huff, Van Reviewer

The Fiat Scudo’s cab is cleanly laid out, logically arranged and surprisingly car-like in feel, but you’ll never mistake it for the latest family SUV. While it’s had a recent refresh, there’s probably a reason why there are no shots of the dashboard in the latest Scudo brochure.

It’s identical to the other Stellantis medium vans. That means you get a 10in touchscreen mounted high up on the dashboard.

It’s functional rather than fancy, with decent smartphone integration (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard) and, on the high-spec Primo model, navigation. The infotainment system isn't the snappiest on the market, but it's easy to use and offers everything most operators will need.

It all sits above some air vents and a smattering of physical controls for the heating and ventilation – handy if you’re wearing gloves on a cold day.

Each model also gets a 10.0in digital driver's display, which is lightly customisable. It sits behind a squared-off four-spoke steering wheel with controls for the cruise control and speed limiter on one side, and audio controls on the other.

Storage space in the Scudo's cab is adequate but not generous, with door bins that are too narrow to hold larger bottles, and a surprising lack of overhead cubbies or centre-console bins.

There's under-seat storage, which is helpful, and Primo models come with a middle seat that folds down to double as a work table. When in passenger mode, it’s a tad narrow and best reserved for short hops or slim passengers, especially as the dash intrudes awkwardly, leaving little leg room.

The driving position is more upright than in something like a Ford Transit Custom but there’s good adjustment in the seat and wheel. It’s just a shame that the seating position is offset, with the wheel and pedals set to either side of centre. Some don’t notice it, but our tester found that the slight twist in the back to be more than an irritation after hours behind the wheel.

If you’ve been in a Citroën, Peugeot or Vauxhall medium van, you know what to expect in the Scudo. The only difference is the Fiat badge in the centre of the steering wheel.

“For the sake of £1,400 or so, upgrading to the Primo spec makes life far nicer, with more equipment, more flexible cargo area, and even some mild styling upgrades. I think it's worth it.” – Phil Huff, Van Reviewer

The diesel Fiat Scudo is available in two body lengths – standard L1 and long L2 – but only one roof height. That’s enough to provide usable cargo space without the van ever feeling too bulky or hard to park.

The compact height (under 1.95 metres) means it’ll fit into most car parks and height-restricted areas, which is a major plus for urban users.

Maximum load lengths at floor height are 2512mm in L1 models and 2862mm in L2 models, growing to over four metres if using the load-through flap that extends under the passenger seat. It's only good for slim items such as poles, fence posts and gutters, but it’s standard on the Primo van and optional with the entry-level Scudo.

Load volumes are 5.3 and 6.1 cubic metres respectively, which keeps the Scudo competitive, although the Ford Transit Custom offers slightly more and has a high-roof version in the pipeline.

Payload is one of the Scudo’s strong points, with most diesel models able to carry between 1121kg and 1384kg depending on spec and body style. That’s enough for heavy-duty use and puts it towards the top end of the medium van class, a handful of kilos behind the Transit Custom and well clear of the Mercedes Vito and Renault Trafic van.

Twin rear doors are standard, and they open to 180 degrees, while side-loading doors are fitted to both sides, which is a big plus point for multi-drop delivery drivers. The load bay is large enough to take a couple of Euro pallets between the wheel arches, and the side doors are large enough (just) to slide one in from the side.

The Scudo’s relatively low ride height gives a loading height as low as 544mm, which is 4cm lower than a Transit Custom, and makes loading and unloading straightforward, especially if you’re handling heavy or bulky items.

The load bay itself is well-finished, featuring a flat floor, tie-down points, and optional LED lighting. A non-slip floor is available as a factory option.

Fiat offers a Crew Van version with a second row of seats so you can move more people but the seats eat into cargo space considerably.

“The Scudo might not be very common but it’s the same van as you’ll get from Citroën, Peugeot and Vauxhall, which means it's well known and with plenty of upfitting options available.” – Phil Huff, Van Reviewer

Pricing for the diesel Fiat Scudo sits in line with its Stellantis siblings, down to the very last pound on some models. That makes it broadly competitive in the sector. It’s more affordable than a Ford Transit Custom or Volkswagen Transporter, and on a par with larger budget models like the Maxus Deliver 7.

However, resale values are harder to pin down given the Scudo’s relatively rarity, and that’s often reflected in leasing costs being higher for the Fiat than its Citroën, Peugeot and Vauxhall brethren.

Service intervals are set at two years or 25,000 miles, and while Fiat’s dealer network isn’t as comprehensive as some rivals, any Citroën, Peugeot or Vauxhall service centre will be happy to look after your van for you. Fiat also offers a three-year, 100,000-mile warranty as standard, with good parts availability thanks to the shared architecture.

Bear in mind, however, that the mechanically identical Toyota Proace van offers up to 10 years of cover under its Relax scheme, with the same 100,000-mile limit. That’s something that should appeal to owner-operators or businesses keen to keep their vans for longer than a three-year lease period.

“Unless you’re a cash buyer getting a cracking deal, financing an alternative like an Expert or Vivaro is likely to save money, so I'd recommend considering those too.” – Phil Huff, Van Reviewer

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