Fiat Doblo long-term test report 8
Can the Fiat Doblo provide the right amount of space and enough range for a videographer spending life on the road?...
The Car Fiat Doblo L1 Multijet3 1.5 100ps manual Primo Run by Tom Goodban, Videographer
Why it’s here To prove there are compact van alternatives to the Ford Transit, and ones which you should consider alongside it
Needs to Act as a mobile office on video shoots and cover long distances to shoot locations around the country
Mileage 6224 List price £24,040 (exc. VAT) Price as tested £24,573 (exc. VAT) Official economy 53.8mpg Test economy 46.8mpg
29 August 2025 – Let Doblo entertain you…
Taking long trips around the country comes part and parcel with being an automotive videographer, and driving around to video shoots far and wide up and down dreary motorways can be dull.
I imagined, during a recent trip to the Midlands from London, doing the entire journey in silence. I think I would’ve gone mad before I’d even got to the M25.
Luckily, almost every new car these days comes with a radio, and the Fiat Doblo is no different. All versions of the Doblo come with a DAB radio, for example, while my “Primo” version of the car adds in a touchscreen infotainment system.
Switching stations is done either through the touchscreen, via the voice command system, or by cycling up and down stations through a rocker switch on the steering wheel.
Admittedly, it would be easier to operate with more physical buttons, but I’ve not found it too tricky to switch between my usual sport and music choices with this setup, particularly because a helpful feature allows you to save favourite stations to some customisable shortcut icons on the touchscreen itself.
In-built sat-nav with 3D-mapping comes with this trim level, and also shows where the closest petrol stations are located – a “bing” and a message on the display pops up when my tank is low and asks if I want to find a nearby station, which is handy. However, I tend to use Google Maps for my navigation needs because, coming as part of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, it also gives me access to WhatsApp, which is the most likely method of communication with anyone back in the office.
That also means I can plug my smartphone in and use my phone’s sat-nav apps, listen to my podcasts and take calls on the move very easily. One downside, though, is that the smartphone mirroring function only works through a wire. Lots of new cars offer a wireless connection, but in the Doblo I need to keep it permanently plugged in (at least, as mentioned in a previous report, there is a nice compartment in the centre to keep my phone and cable neatly tucked away, though).
I am so grateful for smartphone mirroring that it’s a no-brainer to go for one of the higher trim levels – I’d much prefer that to just havinging the radio, Bluetooth connectivity and “smartphone station” (a mount on the dashboard for your phone) on the cheapest trims.
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here
