New Car: 2010 Fiat Doblo


Not long ago, Ford realized there was a market for commercial vans smaller and more efficient than the big E-Series, and in response began selling the Transit Connect in the U.S. this summer. With sales off to a strong start, other automakers have taken notice and Chrysler's new Ram brand looks to be the next to enter the fray.

Multiple outlets are reporting that Chrysler will begin importing and selling the Fiat Doblo compact commercial van in 2012. The Doblo has been sold in Europe by Chrysler's parent company Fiat since 2001 and the Ram-badged U.S.-spec model will likely be imported from Fiat's factory in Turkey, much as the Transit Connect is. Ram could, however, source it from Fiat's Brazilian operation, which builds it for the South American market. There are no plans to produce the Doblo in the U.S.

Fiat boasts that the Doblo is the segment leader in Europe in terms of interior space and emissions, and like the Ford, it's offered as a passenger van or a cargo van. With seating for seven as a passenger van, it can out-haul the Transit Connect, which has five seats. Depending on configuration, it can offer either 120 cu-ft or 148 cu-ft of cargo space, compared to the Transit Connect's 138 cu-ft. It's in payload where the Doblo really outshines the Ford, offering either 1,650 lbs or 2,200 lbs payload capacity to the Ford's 1,600 lbs. The Fiat doesn't, however, currently offer a business-friendly high-tech options package like Ford's Work Solutions, but Ford doesn't offer numerous body styles and configurations like the Fiat does, though it's not yet known how many variations will come to the U.S.

Currently, the Doblo is offered with four four-cylinder engine choices in Europe, one gas and three diesel. The gasoline engine makes 95 hp while the Multijet diesels offer 90 hp, 105 hp and 135 hp. All four are currently available only with manual transmissions, but a Dualogic automatic gearbox will be mated to an additional diesel engine option in the future. Fiat is also working on a natural gas engine and a dual-fuel gasoline and methane engine. European models also come with a standard stop-start system that shuts down the engine when the vehicle is stopped, such as at traffic lights, to improve fuel economy. Ram has not yet said what engine or engines, transmission or transmissions will be offered in the U.S., nor has it said if the stop-start system will be offered. The Transit Connect is powered by a 136-hp four-cylinder gasoline engine and both are FWD.