Italo-Turkish van that we now no stranger

7 November 2018

Test drive Fiat Dòblo Combi confirmed its high consumer properties

  Updated version of the Fiat Dòblo Typ 263 (this is the spelling correct Turkish grammar) appeared on the Russian market in the spring of 2018, although it debuted in Russia in the fall of 2015 at the exhibition "Komtrans". The previous version worked well as small utility vehicles for business as well as in cargo-passenger version, as a family car for travel to the country and shopping. As of September 2018 in Russia has sold 23 million copies of this model of all generations. From the nearest competitor Doblo favorably a large volume of a body (from 3.4 m³) even in the basic version with the standard roof height.

For the test drive was selected Fiat Doblo Combi with a capacity up to 425 kg, designed for 5 people. To pick up the van we had from the roof of an office building on the third ring, so the tubes had to stand up... sorry, no wings, no propeller is not yet included in the package of additional options!

The car's design, in principle, fully meets modern tastes, is that the wheels (even the 16-inch dimension) disproportionately small in size, which somewhat disrupts the overall proportions. The streamlined silhouette has become more pronounced, despite the characteristic of the segment of vertical rear door. Improved the design of the lamps, the bumpers are now the same color as the body, the increased area of the decorative grille. The car in General gives the impression of comfort and reliability. In short, all that we are always happy to see Italian cars, even if it is not rapid and advantageously a sports car, a workhorse, but this "heel" that is so very functional and thought. The engine, of course, 4-cylinder, 95-strong, with an operating capacity of 1.4 liters, emission class Euro 6, on gasoline AI-95-E5. It is equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission with the "joystick" on the console of the instrument panel, Naturally the drive wheels saved front, but the independent rear suspension is Bi-link applied instead of the conventional spring (the previous generation).

Version Combi utility implies purpose, but at least it looks all quite the same as the passenger version. Huge in the lateral projection of the window (the so-called "aquarium"), side rear sliding door on both sides, more than spacious interior. By the way, quite often in cargo versions, the rear Windows are "fake", i.e. deaf, however, there is a full window opening.

  Passenger seats, including front, can be individually folded which makes it domestically in the cargo Bay. But to unfasten sofas and to withdraw completely fail. However, saw eyes that bought: cargo version-it is cheaper!

 the Baggage can be masked by a removable shutter, and also recorded a special mesh. The upholstery of the cabin extends to the trunk. Although, for example, I am a supporter of minimalism. I would have arranged a simple rubberized coating, lint-free cloth, as it is significantly easier to wash.
The rear doors open to 270°, which could not be more convenient for loading and unloading bulky items, respectively, the back door is not necessary to get around, especially in narrow alleyways and cramped warehouses.
For all that, the cabin looks quite cosy and family wagon. Here it is appropriate and the child seat, and in addition to it a couple of tail adult passengers, and Luggage space is more than enough – if necessary, a standing refrigerator or kitchen counter, or dresser can be transported.

When driving the noise level in the cabin is not bugged.
The driver's seat is very solid, although lateral support we would like to strengthen, adjustable in two planes.

  Provide platform support for the left foot, which is important on long runs.
The position of the steering wheel is also adjustable for height and reach. Shelves and pockets in the cabin is enough, including a very convenient shelf on the ceiling. In the panel above the glove box provides a recess in which is quite comfortable even tablet, not to mention the smartphone.
But there is a significant drawback in ergonomics: left elbow doesn't reach the armrest of the door, has unusual to keep the weight or to rely scoobies on the right armrest, which just turned out to be quite convenient. In General, the feeling that the front row was conceived as triple, and then left only two places, relegating them to the center.

The instrument cluster when it is personally to me the height adjustment of the steering wheel and seats, half overlaps the wheel. Despite the fact that my height about 10 cm below average, it clearly says that low drivers there are some problems in the regulation of the usual planting may even fail to achieve the optimal position (I'd add, with adjustable seats and steering wheel and visibility with the growth of 178 cm had no – A. K.). Driver and front passenger seats are equipped with airbags already in the base set.

If I had to choose between white - blue and red-orange backlighting, I would have chosen a more contrasting, cool shade. The numbers on the dials too small, between them of the same size of the dash scales, which merge in the dark from-for what at a cursory glance (and what else, one wonders, must be the driver?) bad discriminating – where the numbers and where the only point.
Visibility, including visibility through a relatively large mirrors good. However, in a heavy rain, the clarity leaves much to be desired. Plus in the rain had to fight a ventilation system to windscreen and side Windows not fog up intensely.

All drivers are divided into fans of "aquarium" with high Windows and "underground", almost behind the wheel, and tinted glass, as permitted by the requirements of the traffic police. I like the aquarist a lot of light does not happen. However, the true quality of the optics is shown only in a couple of years since the beginning of operation, when the glass is covered with a macrocarpon, and the mirror layer of tarnish, if the manufacturer cheaped out. It would be nice to arrange a test drive three and five-year cars! From myself I will add that due to the difference in operating conditions of the comparative tests 3-5-year-olds are so rare – A.K.

The light in the cabin and cargo compartment sufficient for loading and unloading. It is worth noting the 16-inch rims, and the presence of
a full-sized spare tire.
Test drive Fiat Doblo Combi was held in two modes: urban and, so to say, long distance. So, the urban part of the route, which took place on the busiest road of the city, including the third ring road and radial routes in the South-East of the city, was supplemented by a stop in a typical multi-storey garage complex. However, judging by the height of the bulkheads and the width of the corridor, is built without any standards. And now, here comes the fun part: we had to call in multi-level Parking garage with ceilings so low that looking at them is absolutely clear that Standards builders and friends. Curves narrow corridors, crowded with cars, turned out to be a great additional range. And that's a miracle! It is here Fiat Doblo showed the wonders of maneuverability and functionality! easily Enough turned, up at a 45° angle and stopping the test completely reliable operation of the wheel brake system.

In urban consumption of fuel is between 9 to 11 liters per hundred, of course, depending on machine loading, and traffic density. Modern electronic fuel injection system and engine management and power steering and joystick MKP optimize the consumption and to control the average speed, in the end, they cherish the power of the driver. Indeed, after hours of driving, I don't feel noticeable fatigue that became possible thanks to the comfort, the flexibility of the engine, a good gearbox and optional systems. The dynamics of the car with 1.4-liter engine is not particularly prominent in the urban mode "joystick" will have to work, but on a country road even at an almost full load the machine is completely retained in the modern dynamic traffic – A.K.
As a non-resident of the trip, we chose the journey to Tver on the Leningrad highway. Virtually the entire road passes through human settlements, and hence the speed is limited (in the way of great help to us service radar detection built into the DVR, but this will be discussed later in a separate article).
The whole route has only a small area in the center of the Moscow sea, where you can actually go the speed limit. "Speed demon" car does not call, but the road "piatek" holds a confident handling well-defined, but the windage of a large lateral projection of the body visible). Stabilization system (ESC) monitors lateral acceleration, speed, traction and the angle of the steering wheel, handles these data in real time and adjusts the engine torque via the brake mechanisms of the wheels. This increases the feeling of "sticking" of the car to the road, stabilizes movement, gives you confidence in security. Thanks to the independent rear suspension is Bi-link, the Fiat Doblo is one of the best-in-class manageability and smoothness. Even without loading the back of the car is not "throws". There are other systems that improves the smoothness of motion of the vehicle and its safety: "Traction +", an innovative system that improves traction and the car's traction on slippery roads and also TPMS system for permanent monitoring of tire pressure. In the event of a puncture or insufficient pressure, it will alert the driver via an indicator on the instrument panel. Consumption for long-distance traffic amounted to 7-8 liters per 100 km.
The road to Tver, finally, have become much better in recent years, so the trip and photo shoot along the Volga embankment and the historic city centre was not the most challenging. We do not deny myself the pleasure to remove our van in the background of one of the most phantasmagoric monuments of Tver... unique reactive train car and this case – SVL (high-speed car laboratory).

some history: commemorative of Stella in honor of the 110th anniversary of Tver (former Kalinin) carriage works (TVZ), built in the square opposite the entrance of the plant, is a monument in the form of the head portion of SVL (high-Speed car lab) – one of only two existing in the world of jet (!) railway cars (the other is called "Black" four years earlier was finally built in the USA). On the monument is preserved only the head part of SVL with two turbojet engines (from the liner for local airlines Yak-40), but even so, what is to lose a monument of technical culture where everything went. Yet in recent years something started to change in the minds of the authorities and the mood of the masses towards the technical heritage of the USSR, which in a more or less accurate look started keep. A couple of words about the SVL – made jet car was in 1970 on the Kalinin wagon factory of conventional head car type ЭР22 and was intended not for passenger transport (although legend has it that these jet trains could go in the framework of the project "Russkaya Troyka"), and to study the interaction between wheels and rails at high speed (design speed above 20 km/h) movements. Along the way, SVL has set the speed record for a track gauge of 1,524 mm 250 km/h. the Fate of jet car was sad after the emergence of high-speed trains ЭР200 and the appreciation of oil application jet engine on a railway transportation was nonsense and went SVL on the reserve path, as it turned out forever. In dashing 90-e it was tried to be converted into a youth café, but this project came to nothing. A rare sample of the art almost died entirely, but in 2008, the front part was separated from the remains of the car, restored and converted into part of the monument in Tver on Constitution square.

Unloaded brought from Moscow the furniture, we had a photo shoot on the banks of the Volga, with great views of the bridges and finds numerous duck flocks, as well as on the historical background of the spacious avenues of Tver.

  
It was already dark, turn back, to the ancient. Road illumination at night is quite decent. If necessary you can enable additional fog lights, so that a light beam makes night driving work.
A solid driver who values comfort, safety and confidence in the car will be left satisfied with the new Fiat Doblo Combi. the Price of our test equipment – from ₽1.12 million
Standard, by the way, you can extend the wide range of additional equipment.
Cars are warranted 2 years without mileage limitation. As in the case with the rest of model range of Fiat Professional offers special conditions for the purchase and leasing for small and medium-sized businesses,and private clients. To buy a car cover trade-in FIAT Professional and favorable credit offer from FIAT Finance: 5.5% APR with loan terms up to 60 months. It is noteworthy that when buying a new car from an authorized dealer FIAT Professional has a special program FIAT TOP ASSISTANCE. This program is free roadside assistance provided throughout the period of ownership of the vehicle subject to the timely passing of MOT. The program operates on the territory of Russia and Europe and includes: technical assistance and repair, all swing car, service second driver, evacuation, emergency Commissioner..