Fiat Doblo 1.2 SX Review

Overall Rating

plenty of room, good vision, excelent seating postion

not a very nice looking vehicle, don't like the lap belt on the rear seat

I've had our Fiat Doblo for about 3 months and already driven over 5000 miles, read all the reviews i could find (there wasn't many) and most of them didn't rate the vehicle, i found it to be a very comfortable drive with excellent visability and the vehicle is very nippy it only has a 1.2 engine but the vehicle is large so expected it to be quite slugish and I'm getting about 40 miles to the gallon on a long run and about 32 around town. The vehicle seats 5 easily, have been away to Scotland and there was even enough room for two of us to sleep in the back with the rear seat folded up. I recently bought a garden patio set comprising of 6 chairs that don't fold a large table, parasol and sun lounger, all of this fitted in the vehicle with ease, plus myself and two of my daughters. The Doblo is not actually a car but a van with extra seats, it sound like a van when your driving although its not noisy. The gears change easily and its is very light on the stearing there is even a rear sensor for when you are reversing. I would recomend this vehicle if you have a large family and use prams, pushchairs, wheelchairs the boot is hugh. So if you can stand people telling you what an ugly car it is, test drive one today, I think you'll be surprised

Members' Comments onLesley.'s Review

• Steven. on 25th Jul 2003

  I am considering the Doblo and found this review useful, particularly as the writer has covered higher than average mileage over a short period. I understand that if you select the split rear seat, the centre belt is 3 point rather than just lap.

• alanterrill on 3rd Oct 2003

  I've had mine for 17 months now, and I'm still pleased with it. I wouldn't agree about performance though- fine on the flat, but doesn't go up hills very well (I live on the welsh borders and the hills are steep here -it would be fine in Kent). A couple of niggling design flaws -the rear doors are the wrong way round - the bar down the middle obscures the rear view mirror, but the good view from the side mirrors mean its not a hazard. Also the sun visors don't swivel, meaning you can't block sun coming from the side. Finally the front seat doesn't fold down forwards, so its imposible to carry long pieces of wood which go right into the front unless you balance them on the top of the front seat. The manual shows the front seat folding forwards, but it doesn't.
  What it is excellent for is carrying bikes -we bought it to take our two large adult bikes and it takes them upright (and I'm talking a large frame man's bike with extended handlebars and 27/75" wheels) with plenty od useful hooks to attach straps to. And loading a heavy bike is not problem as the floor is low with no catches sticking up.