With a face only a mother could love and the underpinnings of a van the Fiat Doblo looks to have little going for it. But beneath the surface it is a practical and spacious car. It is also one of the biggest bargains on the second-hand market.

Early examples of the Doblo — it was launched in summer 2001 — now change hands for little more than £3,000. Initially available with a choice of 1.2 litre petrol or 1.9 litre diesel engines, none of the models offers much in terms of performance. With only 65bhp, the petrol engine takes nearly 20sec to propel the Doblo to 60mph. Add a couple of passengers and a boot full of luggage and the Doblo feels as though it’s driving through treacle.

A better bet is the 1.9 diesel. In normally aspirated form it produces little more power than the petrol model but the extra torque is welcome. Better still is the 1.9 turbocharged version. With 115bhp it is at least capable of keeping up with motorway traffic and also has the best fuel economy of any of the models, a case of being able to have your cake and eat it. You’ll pay about £300 more for a turbodiesel than a non-turbodiesel and about £700 more than the petrol.

While the Doblo’s styling may not be to everyone’s taste there is no denying that its high roof and bluff lines give an enormous amount of interior space. Even with the parcel shelf in place the boot is a cavernous 750 litres, or 20% larger than the £260,000 Maybach. Space rarely comes cheaper.

Passengers are well catered for with twin sliding rear doors making access easy and there is seating for five. Both leg and shoulder room are good and there is enough headroom for everyone to wear a hat, if the mood takes them.

Buying an MPV originally designed to be a van also has benefits when it comes to the driving environment. With excellent visibility, a small turning circle and light steering the Doblo can negotiate the tightest of spaces. Many drivers will appreciate the dash-mounted gearstick that falls easily to hand.

On the road the Doblo is happiest when not pushed hard. The boxy styling struggles to cut through the air with much grace so wind noise can be intrusive. But if your motoring mix leans towards town then the Doblo’s advantages outweigh its drawbacks.

The Doblo has proved extremely reliable. Five years on and with millions of miles under their belts you’ll find few owners complaining of breaking down.

Probably the biggest concern when buying a used Doblo is that it will have suffered heavy use. Check the suspension for knocks, brakes for

scored front discs and on turbocharged models look for smoke from the exhaust under hard acceleration, a sign that it may be about to give up.

The Fiat Doblo may never win awards for its Italian styling, but pound for pound it certainly stakes a strong claim for being one of the most practical vehicles on the road.

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Tailgate Twin opening van doors are replaced by a single-piece tailgate with gas struts on the top specification

Safety Twin front airbags come as standard equipment, but antilock brakes were only an option on all models until July 2004

Engine Petrol model is best avoided because of poor performance and it has only modest fuel economy. By far the best bet is the turbocharged 1.9 litre diesel

Suspension Leaf-spring rear suspension is a throwback to the Doblo’s van underpinnings but it handles heavy loads well. Check boot carpet for signs that builder’s tools or cement have been carried

Boot space Huge 750 litres of space with the parcel shelf in place, which can be increased to 3,000 litres when the rear seats are folded flat

Steering Light and with a tight 33ft 6in turning circle, ideal for town driving and a favourite with couriers

Side doors Twin sliding doors give great passenger access and avoid danger of other cars’ doors being dented

Remote central locking Standard on all models

VITAL STATISTICS

Model Fiat Doblo 1.9JTD ELX
Engine 1910cc, four cylinders
Power 115bhp
Transmission Five-speed manual
Fuel 44.1mpg (combined)
Acceleration 0-60mph: 12.4sec
Top speed 104mph

THE ONE TO BUY

Fiat Doblo 1.9 JTD ELX 2003 03 with 30,000 miles. Pay £5,995 at a dealer or £5,000 privately

OR, FOR SIMILAR MONEY

2002 02 Nissan Almero Tina 2.2Di SE
2003 53 Ford Focus C-Max 1.6 LX
2003 53 Mitsubishi Space Star 1.9 Di-D
2003 53 Renault Kangoo 1.5dCi
2003 53 Citroën Berlingo Multispace 2.0HDi

VALUES