Fiat has established itself as a centre of excellence for diesel engine technology and the Euro6 MultiJet II engines found under the bonnets of the Ducato reinforce that reputation. Most Ducato buyers opt a diesel. There's a 2.3-litre Multijet unit on offer, developing either 120, 140, 160 or 180hp and available with either manual or auto transmission. The alternative is the full-electric E-Ducato, which is offered with two battery sizes - 47kWh (which has a 120 mile WLTP range) or 79kWh (which has a 192 WLTP range). The 47kWh model gets to 30mph in under 6 seconds, has a top speed of 62mph and takes 2 hours 25 minutes to charge via AC or DC chargers. The 79kWh E-Ducato takes four hours to charge.
Across the Ducato range, the braking system benefits from effective discs which are ventilated 280mm or 300mm rotors, depending on gross vehicle weight. In recent times, Fiat has added in tougher brake pads and a more powerful brake servo too, along with a redesigned brake pedal that allows for smoother modulation of braking pressures while reducing pedal effort by up to 45 per cent.
Mechanically, the Ducato retains its front-wheel drive configuration with a McPherson front suspension and a rigid-axle rear suspension with leaf springs. The front suspension top mounts have been reinforced to reduce noise, with a number of rear suspension configurations on offer depending on vehicle use. Single-leaf springs, with or without anti-roll bars, underpin standard van and passenger versions. Double-leaf springs, again with or without anti-roll bars, cater to large-capacity vans and heavy conversions. A heavy-duty rear suspension with double leaf-springs and an anti-roll bar is available for very heavy conversions up to maximum 2,500kg allowed.
