Iveco Daily 2016 Review

Iveco Daily 35S13
2016 Large Van Comparison Test

Iveco's Italian-made Daily has been around since the late 1970s, but the current iteration was overhauled in 2014 and comes with a wide range of improvements, while maintaining the platform's chassis architecture. The 35S13 reviewed here is at the smallest end of the Daily scale and is powered by a 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel producing a claimed 93kW and 320Nm. With a six-speed manual transmission it's priced at $49,501 while the range topping out at $71,477 (plus on-road costs).

Any LCV that claims the title of International Van of the Year has to be doing something right, so Iveco's next-generation Daily comes with high expectations.

Our first impressions were, however, just a little underwhelming – but get to know the Daily and its commercial prowess shines through.

The Daily 35S13 on test is the entry-level model of the range. That means it's got the lowest-spec powerplant with the least power and torque of the bunch. Here that power is fed to the rear wheels by a six-speed manual overdrive transmission, rather than the new Daily's eight-speed automatic – a slick transmission with more ratios than any other in the van world.

The cab's interior reveals a swathe of hard plastics and the finish and panel tolerances can't match the uniformity of those of say the Transit or Master. The blocky analogue instruments and digital LCD display look a little dated too, but beneath the aesthetics lies one very capable and competent workhorse.

The Italian-made Daily comes from a commercial vehicle specialist, with Iveco producing everything from this LCV all the way up to the Australian-made ACCO vocational truck and even the road-train-rated Powerstar 7800. In short, Iveco knows a thing or two about work platforms, and that's borne out by both the Daily's payload and towing capacities and its fuss-free and capable drive.

The Daily's 1630kg payload and 3200kg towing limit are both the highest on offer across the six vehicles on test, even though the Daily reviewed here has an internal volume of 9.0 cubic metres – equal smallest with the Volkswagen Crafter. The 3520mm wheelbase is also at the smaller end of the scale here, giving a low 12.7m turning circle, while there are Daily models all the way up to a monster 19.6 cubic metres – the largest van commercially available.

The cab itself is basic but functional. The driver's seat offers seven-way adjustment and is comfy enough, while an optional spring suspension seat and seat heating are also available.

The hard, dark plastics will wear well and should prove easy to keep clean – ditto the tough vinyl flooring and plastic floor mats.

The climate control dials are large and easy to operate as are the buttons for the traction control and headlight adjustment, but the buttons for the basic AM/FM radio and CD player are tiny.

The glovebox too is small but storage is generally good, with three concealed dash-top trays, a massive area under the passenger and centre seats, and a lengthy dash-mounted tray on the passenger side. The centre seat back folds down to reveal an A4 clipboard holder and concealed tray, good for a tablet or smaller laptop.

The Daily might have the most modest output of any van on test here but it makes the most of what it's got. Smooth, progressive power is delivered from idle; there's little discernible turbo lag and a good spread of torque for city running. Iveco claims peak torque is available from 1800-2500rpm, but there's nothing to complain about at lower revs either.

The suspension is at the firmer end of the spectrum, reflecting the higher payload, and this translates to a harsher ride when travelling empty. The ride improves markedly with some weight in the back, however, and the van recovers quickly after sharper bumps like speed humps. In the eternal compromise between comfort and capability the Daily clearly favours the latter, but that will be all many operators want when addressing their business's needs.

The performance of the 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel may lack the sparkle of the higher-output rivals but there's enough on offer for solid, dependable progress, even if the lower output translates to a bit more cog swapping than the other manual offerings in this bunch. The shifting action has a stiffer, heavier feel than the Transit or Master, but it gets the job done and the clutch action is reasonably light. There's a shift indicator to promote fuel economy and the hill-hold feature is welcome on uphill starts.

Speaking of economy, the Daily recorded an average figure of 9.7L/100km. That was the highest on test, although only just above that of the Ducato (9.6L), Transit and Crafter (both 9.5L).

Despite being fitted with a steel bulkhead the Daily was also the noisiest vehicle on test, recording 80dB(A) in the cabin at 80km/h. A fair bit of engine noise makes its way into the cab, and the bulkhead squeaks over bumps and dips.

The Daily features the widest external protective plastic side trim to guard against those inevitable dings and scrapes. There's also a step in the front bumper so it's easy to clean the front windscreen – all little things that add up in a practical commercial proposition.

Our test vehicle's load bay was a bare painted steel affair with no interior side wall protection (available as an option), but there are grab handles at the side and rear to aid entry and 10 sturdy tie-down anchor points, while the 50:50 barn doors open to 270 degrees.

On the safety front the Daily comes standard with driver, passenger and curtain airbags, while the anti-lock brakes are complemented by electronic brake-force distribution and traction control. Stability control is available as an option, and incorporates roll-over mitigation and adaptive-load control, among other features.

The new Daily comes with a three-year/200,000km factory warranty while service intervals are pegged at 12 months/40,000km, the latter a significant step up from most in this company.

Our entry-level Daily test van might not have matched its rivals here for refinement or engine performance, but its impressive commercial pedigree shows through in its rugged construction and sheer load-lugging ability – and that may well tip the scales in its favour for many prospective buyers.

Related reading:
>> Large Van 2016 Comparison: Introduction
>> Ford Transit (from $47,680 plus ORCs)
>> Fiat Ducato (from $44,000 plus ORCs)
>> Iveco Daily (from $49,501 plus ORCs)
>> Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (from $44,490 plus ORCs)
>> Renault Master (from $40,990 plus ORCs)
>> Volkswagen Crafter (from $41,990 plus ORCs)
>> Large Van Comparison - The Verdict

2016 Iveco Daily 35S13 pricing and specifications:
Price: $49,501 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 93kW/320Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Drive: Rear
GVM: 3800kg
Wheelbase: 3520mm
Payload: 1630kg
Load space: 9.0 cubic metres
Towing (braked): 3200kg
Fuel: 9.7L/100km (as tested)