2017 Iveco Daily 50C review
What is it?
The Iveco Daily 50C is one of the biggest vans in Iveco's product range. With a massive cargo area that measures 19.6 cubic meters, this gives it the largest volume of any van on the Australian market. It's also the largest van on sale here that you can drive on a regular licence.
How does it drive?
Much better than you might think. Despite weighing in at 2691kg, it rides pretty well as the suspension already has enough weight on it to take the sharpness out of the unladen ride while the long wheelbase of 4100mm also helps.
The front independent torsion bar suspension soaks up road imperfections confidently, delivering a refined level of ride and handling for this type of vehicle. The steering is well weighted and has a positive feel too.
The 3.0-litre turbo diesel engine is a cracker, as it's quiet, refined and has no shortage of grunt at any time. With 150kW and 470Nm, it's also the most powerful engine available here in a van.
The automatic transmission is a ZF eight-speed unit (which is currently exclusive to Iveco) with a conventional torque converter, which works perfectly with the engine as it makes good use of the available ratios and is never confused as to what gear it needs to be in.
What's the interior like?
The cabin is presented with a no-fuss layout designed to do a job. All the materials are good quality, hard plastics that don't look cheap as different textures in the black plastics help create a decent ambience. The seats are covered in a cloth material that looks and feels like it will cope with a heap of punishment and stand the test of time.
There is a step and a solid handle on the A-pillar to assist getting in and out of the vehicle. And once you're inside, the driver is treated to a heated, fully adjustable, suspension seat with an adjustable arm rest. The centre seat has a lap sash seat belt while the driver and outer passengers have adjustable height seat belts. The steering wheel has radio and phone mounted controls with an easily accessible cruise control stalk mounted to the column, which is only offered with height adjustment.
The Iveco has a long list of neat features, including cup holders in front of the air con vents, easy access to headlight adjustment and easy to clean robust rubber floor covering. The exterior mirrors are heated, electronically adjustable and have integrated wide angle and direction indicators.
There is plenty of storage available in the cabin with underseat drawers, an overhead console shelf that has decent space and a good edge on it so items won't fly out when accelerating, large dual storage pockets in doors, a document storage compartment along with three separate storage bins on the top of the dash and a glove box.
Automatic climate control, a trip computer, IVECONNECT multimedia system with reverse camera including MP3 player, USB, AUX connectivity and Bluetooth are some of the standard features.
What's the payload and towing capacity?
Total payload for this variant is 1804kg, however you can option a 2509kg payload but this will require a different licence to drive. Towing capacity with a braked trailer is 3500kg.
What about load space dimensions and anchor points?
This thing is huge. The internal dimensions for its load area measure 5125mm long, 1740 wide and 2100 high - almost enough to fit a small hatchback in. There are 16 sturdy tie-down anchor points mounted in the floor.
How does it perform under load?
The Iveco handles its payload with ease as the suspension and chassis dealt with imperfections and rough roads without fuss, leaving the driver confident and reassured in all situations. The steering was still weighted well with a positive feel and the brakes felt strong when carrying a load. The engine also coped without any signs of a struggle, eating up hills at any speed and working perfectly with the eight-speed auto.
Any special features worth mentioning?
Yeah, the size of the thing, you can't go past that feature. The cabin is isolated from the cargo area by a solid bulkhead which stops road noise from the rear and helps the air con do its job. The rear door hinges hold the doors open in stages, and lock them into position so wind won't blow them shut. There is an external light at rear for loading at night and two decent internal cargo lights. A handy storage compartment at the front of the cargo area above the occupant's heads is ideal for rope or tie-down straps so they aren't rolling around in the back.
Any criticisms?
There is a blinker mounted in the side mirrors with a the lens that wraps around the edge of the mirror slightly, and when indicating at night it flashes into your face. If it is really dark it blinds you slightly, particularly on the driver's side, and takes away from your vision. The reversing camera gives you a wide view of what is behind you but it's mounted at the top of the roof and combined with the type of camera used it doesn't give you an accurate representation of your surroundings. For example, the camera will show you are about to back into another vehicle near your taillight but it's a good few metres away. Yes I know that's what mirrors are for, but with almost a 2.5 metre overhang the camera is off putting when manoeuvring in tight spaces.
How does the warranty and servicing costs rate?
Warranty is three-years or 200,000km whichever occurs first. Servicing is every 40,000kms or 12 months, whichever occurs first. When purchasing your Iveco you can talk to the dealer about a servicing program and payment options.
What else should I consider?
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Renault Master or Ford Transit are all worth a look, but even in their largest configuration aren't as big as the Iveco.
Verdict:
If size matters then you won't find bigger. And yet, surprisingly, it's not all that intimidating to drive, to the point you can forget how big it is - that is until you need to turn a tight corner, park or reverse it. The Iveco Daily 50C does what it says on the box, and does it well.
The Checklist
0-60km/h time: 5.3 seconds (unladen), 6.8 seconds (loaded)
0-80km/h time: 8 seconds (unladen), 11 seconds (loaded)
0-100km/h time: 11.5 seconds (unladen), 17.4 seconds (loaded)
Load testing weight: 1620kg
Safety rating: N/A
2017 Iveco Daily 50C Price and Specifications
Price: $83,000 (plus on-road costs)
On sale: Now
Engine: 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel
Power: 150kW at 3100-3500rpm
Torque: 470nm at 1400-3000rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, RWD
Fuel usage: N/A (we averaged 10.9L/100km)