Ducato and Fiat Motorhomes: A Match Made in Heaven

The Ducato is a van with a forty-year tradition of quality. Built by Fiat, a company with over a century of vehicle excellence to its name, it should be no surprise that the Ducato has been used as the preferred base for hundreds of thousands of motorhomes. Roughly three out of four are built on it – which means approximately 75% of motorhomes on the road are Fiat-based. Whichever iteration of the Italian giant’s flagship van it may have been at any given time, down the years the Ducato has been a reliable and brilliant fusion of form and function.

Refined year upon year to enhance its car-like driving experience, the Ducato is a vehicle which continues to define the domestic van sector. It has a small turning circle so it’s relatively easy for drivers to perform any type of manoeuvre, and the well-balanced chassis, specific suspensions, adjustable steering wheel and hydraulic power steering make for dynamic behaviour in road conditions of all kinds. The Speed Limiter and Cruise Control plus various other systems in place within the Ducato are designed for driver and passenger safety. These include driver and passenger airbags, ESC with ABS and EBD; Load Adaptive Control (the system that recognises the load), HBA, roll-over mitigation (the system that monitors handling and controls elements to keep the vehicle stabilised) and Hill Holder (the brake / pedal system designed to make hill starts easier by preventing rollback).

The Ducato base was designed in partnership with motorhome manufacturers so that it offers the best integrated base and living area solutions money can buy. Fiat motorhomes have interior features which are a fusion of creativity and practicality, with features such as the rotating seats for driver and front passenger offering a smart solution to meet the desire to maximise space. The Ducato becomes a lounge, simply by turning these seats round to face toward the interior living area.

At Auto-Trail, we offer many motorhomes which are based on the Fiat Ducato. Here are a few of our favourites…

Built on the new Fiat Ducato Series 8, Euro 6D chassis and featuring a 140bhp engine as standard the Expedition is an all-rounder (with 160bhp, 180bhp & 9 speed automatic gearbox available as cost options). With four models in the range (the C63, the C71, the C72 and the C73), each Expedition offers a different layout.

The C63 is 6.34m length, and a four-berth motorhome with a large front lounge including bench seating with scatter cushions and a free-standing table, plus ambient LED lighting and upper lockers (for plenty of storage space to keep all of your travel necessities). The kitchen features a three-burner hob with full oven and grill, a fridge with removable freezer compartment, an inset sink with flush-fitting glass lid and plenty of worktop space as well as storage for cutlery and crockery plus other cooking essentials and food. The washroom features a fully enclosed shower cubicle, wash basin and electric flush toilet.

The C71 is 7.25m and a four-berth featuring a rear fixed island bed which can be partitioned off from the rest of the interior to create an en-suite bedroom (though the hi-line version can be a six berth with an over cab bed). The relaxing front lounge makes great use of the cab’s swivelling captain’s chairs for good-sized family social space ahead of the kitchen area which features three-burner hob with full oven and grill, a fridge with removable freezer compartment, a sink and worktop space as well as storage.

The C72 has a lounge to the front of the interior, and a second wraparound U-shaped lounge towards the rear, offering great spaces for socialising. The rear lounge can be transformed into a spacious transverse double bed in this 6 berth motorhome. The C72 also includes a well-equipped galley kitchen with hob and a spacious bathroom with standalone shower. The C73, meanwhile, offers a transverse rear double bed built over a huge rear garage, plus another fixed bed as well as a lounge area which can also be transformed into a further sleeping area. The highly practical layout of this model is perfect for families or couples who enjoy an active lifestyle, an active couple. A large storage compartment with external access means plenty of space for your adventure equipment.

Built on the ever popular Fiat Ducato Euro 6D chassis and featuring a 140bhp engine as standard, the Imala is great to drive, with a practical design which makes it affordable as well as luxurious. There are 160bhp, 180bhp & 9 speed automatic gearbox available as cost options. Four iterations of the Imala are available – the 615, 730, 736, and 736 G.

The 615 is a four berth (in the Hi-Line variant) or two in the low profile. A large lounge at the front of the vehicle features plenty of overhead storage space over longitudinal seating and a free-standing table, which offers a warm, welcoming space with plenty of room to entertain and enjoy social time together. To the rear of the 615 is a fitted end kitchen with 4-ring hob, oven / grill, microwave, fridge with freezer compartment and a sink with worktop space. A spacious washroom includes separate shower, toilet and basin.

The 2 or 4 berth 730  features a fixed rear-island bed which can be partitioned off from the rest of the motorhome to create your own private en-suite, while the 4 or 6 berth 736 features a wraparound u-shaped lounge at the rear of the vehicle which can be converted into a transverse double bed. The 736 G also features a well-equipped galley kitchen (with hob, oven / grill and microwave plus fridge with freezer compartment) as well as a roomy bathroom with standalone shower and fittings to make you feel at home. The 736 G features a large rear garage over which there is a transverse rear double bed. The front lounge can also be transformed into a further sleeping area, and there is also the option to add an over-cab bed with the Hi-Line models.