Item: Iveco Daily
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

Once you’ve navigated the option packs, you should be left with an Iveco Daily that is capable of doing almost anything, but it won’t be cheap. Despite not having the mass appeal of a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit/van/review/n18188">Ford Transit</a> or the badge of a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/sprinter/van/review/n18217">Mercedes-Benz Sprinter</a>, the Iveco Daily is not a cut-price choice, with pricing between the two for a typical 3.5-tonne van.

Changes to the engine and its power system means that fuel economy has been improved across the range, which will help with running costs. Expect real-life fuel consumption in the mid- to high twenties in terms of mpg, which is marginally higher&nbsp;than competitors, but you have to keep in mind that the Daily is built on an all-round heavier chassis to allow those enormous GVW options.

Also helping with total cost of ownership (TCO) is an extension to the servicing intervals, with an oil change needed every 37,500 miles, up from 30,000. Iveco’s heavy truck mindset also brings six maintenance packages, and the choice of two extended warranty options.

Safety features are now more prevalent and intelligent thanks to the revised steering system. The Daily now includes an accident preventative braking system called City Brake Pro, which works at very low speeds to prevent unnecessary bumps, and Emergency Braking that is active under 35mph.

There’s also Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane-Keeping Assist, which do exactly what you’d expect, albeit in a far more intelligent manner than rival systems like that used on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, which brakes the opposite wheel creating a jerky and unstable feeling.&nbsp; Instead, the Daily’s Lane Keeping Assist looks to return you to the centre of the lane, rather than simply push you away from the white lines. This limits the amount of pinballing that can happen with other systems and instead calmly places you in the middle of the road. Side Wind Assist is also standard, which mitigates any swerving resulting from a gust of wind hitting the side of the vehicle.

The three-piece bumper – designed to make minor accident repair less expensive than its single-piece predecessor –&nbsp;is also 40mm deeper than the one found on the previous model, which means it sticks out farther from the front of the vehicle, providing even greater protection to the painted parts. The increased depth also means the step in the front bumper – used for cleaning the windscreen – is even better and much safer to use.

If you’re willing to pay for the optional LED headlights there’s an even greater chance you’ll end up making a saving in the event of a minor impact to the bumper. The new headlight design sees the indicators removed from the bumper and incorporated into the LED daytime running lights of the headlights. It’s a smart and intelligent coupling that makes the Daily look a far neater vehicle.

However, if you still specify front fog lights they will remain in the front bumper, but otherwise there are no longer any breakable parts within that section. Pricing for the LED units is comparable to the cost of replacing the previous front bumper and lights, so it’s a worthwhile investment if where there's risk of accidental bumps with bollards or walls.

While the cleaner Euro-6d engines are an important update for the Iveco Daily, the most significant change is the new electro-mechanical steering system, which enables&nbsp;a huge step forward in driver safety. It enables lane keeping and, working in combination with&nbsp;braking functions (and the HiMatic auto transmission where fitted)&nbsp; allow accident preventative braking, and adaptive cruise control (see the Buying and Owning section for more details).

The new steering also helps the Daily to&nbsp;feel far more connected to the road, seeming more agile and generally a much smaller van than it is, no matter if you're driving an example in&nbsp;3.3-tonnes, 3.5-tonnes, 5-tonnes, 6.2-tonnes or 7.2-tonne gross weight.

As well as changes to the steering, the steering wheel itself is also new. It’s been made smaller (14mm to be precise) in an effort to improve&nbsp;visibility of the instrument cluster, and its&nbsp;bottom has been shaved off for easier access. The centre hub of the wheel has been shrunk but still houses the same sized airbag, and its&nbsp;button-count has&nbsp;increased to 20, to better control the new infotainment system.

Best of all, though, is that the steering column is now adjustable for both rake and reach – a simple but much needed improvement&nbsp;that makes the latest Daily&nbsp;much comfier&nbsp;to drive than before. The final steering-related change is a new City Mode button to reduce the amount of steering effort by 70%, helping with parking or other slow speed manoeuvres.&nbsp;

The Daily now rides more smoothly than previous generations too, thanks to an additional leaf in the rear suspension assembly. This applies only to the single rear wheel models, and is a change which has been made to mimic the better ride and performance of the twin-wheel models. It’s certainly worked, with noticeably less bounce from the rear. Perhaps the only downside is that it increases ground clearance by 25mm, adding to the rear loading height.

New ultra-low rolling resistance tyres create a degree of additional noise but help to further improve fuel economy, which is reduced by 10% on the 2.3-litre models. Also to be thanked for improved efficiency are&nbsp; Start &amp; Stop;&nbsp;an electronic variable geometry (eVG) turbo and a new alternator.

The 2.3-litre engine is our favourite of the two. Iveco offers it in 120, 140 and 160 variants, with nominal outputs of 116bhp, 136bhp and 156bhp. The entry-level 120 is certainly adequate, but its peak torque arrives a lot later than the other two units. Instead we would suggest the 140 as our pick over the more powerful 160

Despite the 160 having 280lb ft of torque compared to the 140’s 258lb ft, they both operate with a wide torque band from just 1500rpm. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, but all three versions are available with the excellent HiMatic automatic transmission, which provides quick and seamless shifts.

It also works well on all the diesel engine versions of the Daily, but is perhaps best equipped to deal with the 210 engine found on the 3.0-litre range. With 210bhp and 347lb ft of torque this would be our recommendation for heavyweight usage applications over the 160 (158bhp) and the 180 (178bhp) as it is the only powertrain to make use of the new eVG turbo.

If you follow the progress of the Iveco Daily, you might notice that it tends to receive rather regular updates. The latest&nbsp;includes a new, larger grille to improve cooling, new cleaner engines and revised headlights with the option of LEDs. There’s also been a minor but significant change to the rear suspension, new electronic steering to enable more safety features, and a revised interior.&nbsp;

Available from 3.3 tonnes to 7.2 tonnes, the Iveco Daily comes with a choice of 2.3-litre or 3.0-litre engines, both of which meet the Euro-6D emissions regulations. Power for these&nbsp;ranges from 116bhp to 210bhp, with up to&nbsp;347lb ft of torque. There’s also the option of a 3.0-litre compressed natural gas (CNG) engine, producing 136bhp and 258lb ft. A fully electric version of the van is also available. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard on all but the electric van, and an eight-speed automatic called HiMatic is optional.

As well as panel van variants, Iveco also produce the Daily as a chassis cab, as&nbsp;crew vans with seating for up to seven, and as a range of minibuses for up to 22 passengers. There are also four-wheel-drive models available in variants of up to 7.2 tonnes with&nbsp;single or twin wheels, and with locking differentials for the front, centre and rear.

Iveco doesn't offer specific trim packages that increase in spec as the price increases. Instead there's&nbsp;a range of option packages that can be combined&nbsp;and have been tailored to suit typical needs of its customers. With&nbsp;Delivery, Delivery+, Construction, Businesses, Business Exclusive, Winter and Hi-Drive packs available,&nbsp;more than 7000 variations on the Iveco daily theme are offered.

That makes for a very diverse range, and it needs to in order to&nbsp;compete&nbsp;against such a&nbsp;broad spectrum of rivals,&nbsp;including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/crafter/van/review/n18277">Volkswagen Crafter</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/transit/van/review/n18188">Ford Transit</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/sprinter/van/review/n18217">Mercedes Sprinter</a>, as well as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/boxer/van/review/n18206">Peugeot Boxer</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/relay-2019/van/review/n22193">Citroen Relay</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/master-2019-new/van/review/n20295">Renault Master</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/ducato/van/review/n18227">Fiat Ducato</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/nv400/van/review/n18248">Nissan NV400</a>.&nbsp;

For several generations of the Iveco Daily, the Italian manufacturer has been pushing its connectivity. Iveco’s position in the heavy truck market, where telematics are commonplace, no doubt plays a part in this.&nbsp;So while the previous generation&nbsp;championed removable devices for drivers, the Daily now gets a new integrated screen as the focal point of its interior.

The new high-resolution 7in touchscreen is well integrated and enables use of a new tracking and monitoring system developed in conjunction with Verizon. Vans can now be monitored remotely and connected directly to an operational help centre in the event of a problem or alert. Remote diagnostics and assistance are also both possible, and can help with preventative maintenance schedules. A rear camera view also uses the display, and there’s voice recognition along with the option of a commercial vehicle version of TomTom navigation. The new interface is <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> compatible.&nbsp;

The Daily has long been smart and well-built inside, and the latest version&nbsp;is&nbsp;no different. The plastics are robust rather than luxurious, but make use of&nbsp;different colours and textures to liven up the dash.

There's plenty of handy storage, particularly around the centre console, and in the large open-air compartment on the top of the dash, which incorporates a handy wireless charging facility. This is also the location for the tablet holder, which was to be the key to transforming the Daily van prior to the introduction of the new touchscreen.

Also in the centre is a standard DIN compartment (which is the location for a tachograph on larger vans over 3.5-tonnes), while the modest glovebox and corresponding shelf above it are useful for an array of items. Other storage near to the driver is limited, but there’s a cupholder next to the A-pillar and the option of an overhead storage shelf. The tiered door pockets with three compartments will likely be the most used. The centre seat folds down to provide a table area and also has useful storage.

There’s more interior space than&nbsp;before too, as the parking brake is now an electronic button. The parking brake is automatically applied when the engine is switched off and released when the clutch and accelerator are used. Cross-cab access is improved as a result.

Equipment levels in the Daily depend upon the “pack” you choose, with three categories available – Equipment, Functional and Mission Van.

Business and Business Premium sit in the Equipment class, with-air conditioning, heated mirrors and cruise control standard in both. Both have digital radios of sorts, albeit the Premium’s is better and bundled with the monitoring system. Business Premium gets an air-suspended driving seat (when accustomed to this it really does improve comfort levels), as well as a dual bench passenger seat with a fold down table.

If you specify a Hi-Matic automatic transmission, the pack names change to Business+ and Business Exclusive, with LED headlights being the only noteworthy addition.

Winter and Hi-Drive packs fall into the Functional category, with Winter adding a range of heating options for the seats, windscreens and mirrors, while Hi-Drive covers off safety features like Adaptive Cruise Control, lane departure warning, and automatic headlights and wipers.

If you specify the Hi-Matic transmission, the new Queue Assist function is added to the Hi-Drive pack. This enables you to slow to zero while using Adaptive Cruise Control and then automatically restart and follow the speed of the vehicle in front simply by tapping the accelerator. It’s a great feature that takes the strain out of stop-start traffic.

Finally, the Mission Van models of Delivery and Delivery+ provide rear loadspace features including 270-degree opening doors, LED loadspace lights, reversing sensors and –&nbsp;for the Delivery+ vans – entry handles for improved access as well as the overhead cab storage.

It’s not the easiest vehicle make your choices with, but the packages are well thought out and tailored to what Iveco believes a customer would likely want and need.

Iveco

Daily

An incredible number of options plus&nbsp;regular tech, engine and styling&nbsp;updates make the Iveco Daily an intriguing, well-priced&nbsp;van with a huge range of applications

With such a wide range of bodies and sizes, listing the options available to an Iveco Daily buyer would take some time. However, for panel van customers there are five body lengths based off three wheelbases and three roof heights. That means load volumes range from 7.3m3 all the way up to a class-leading 19.6m3.&nbsp;

Short wheelbase vans have a total length of 5080mm with a 2610mm load length, while medium wheelbase vans get two body options providing 3130mm and 3540mm load lengths. The two largest bodies are built on a 4100mm wheelbase, which means they have exceptionally large overhangs given that the largest body measures 7540mm. These two monsters provide internal load lengths of 4680mm and 5125mm.

Width is 1800mm for all models, while H1 roof height vans get 1545mm of internal height, H2 models have 1900mm and H3 2100mm.

One sliding side door is fitted as standard, with a maximum width of 1200mm. Rear doors open to 270 degrees and have a height aperture just 100mm less than their respective internal height measurements.

Payloads vary vastly based on engine, gearbox and body type but for 3.5-tonne vans fall between 900kg and 1400kg.

&nbsp;

The Iveco Daily is definitely a vehicle whose strengths lie in the choices available. Buyers can choose from a wide range of bodies with the biggest volumes on the market, combined with a lengthy list of options. New engines and an excellent gearbox complete a capable update, and the option of CNG and electric powertrains provides even more choice for the environmentally conscious.

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Iveco Daily review

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Read review covering Iveco Daily boot space, size and dimensions, front and rear seat comfort by the expert What Car? test team.

With such a wide range of bodies and sizes, listing the options available to an Iveco Daily buyer would take some time. However, for panel van customers there are five body lengths based off three wheelbases and three roof heights. That means load volumes range from 7.3m3 all the way up to a class-leading 19.6m3. ,Short wheelbase vans have a total length of 5080mm with a 2610mm load length, while medium wheelbase vans get two body options providing 3130mm and 3540mm load lengths. The two largest bodies are built on a 4100mm wheelbase, which means they have exceptionally large overhangs given that the largest body measures 7540mm. These two monsters provide internal load lengths of 4680mm and 5125mm.,Width is 1800mm for all models, while H1 roof height vans get 1545mm of internal height, H2 models have 1900mm and H3 2100mm.One sliding side door is fitted as standard, with a maximum width of 1200mm. Rear doors open to 270 degrees and have a height aperture just 100mm less than their respective internal height measurements.,Payloads vary vastly based on engine, gearbox and body type but for 3.5-tonne vans fall between 900kg and 1400kg. 

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