16/04/09

• Price12,350
• We like...Space, sliding doors
• We don't...Not cheap enough to buy

Boxy, baby car-van offers a lot for little cash. But how ds it rate against other back-to-basics competitors?There’s something great in the no-nonsense, down-home usefulness of car-cum-vans like the Qubo. Fiat here has taken its Fiorino baby-van, added windows, rear seats plus a scatter of other creature comforts and... presto ....you have a roomy, super-practical car.
Seats for five, sliding rear passenger doors, a whack of boot space and enough head room for you and your favourite hats (whatever your height). And there’s a tough rubber floor that you can sweep and sponge dirt from in seconds.

Is it plug-ugly? Well, some say so. Let’s just agree that its looks are definitely all its own. And the eye-searing green of our test car would mean that, at least, you’d have no worries of losing it in a shopping centre car park.

Ours was a 1.3 diesel Dynamic, at £12,350 the dearest of four models offered. Now for us vans made into cars fight or fall on price. For this much cash you can buy the Fiat Doblo, a bigger car-van that’s as generously kitted out and which has a bigger, beefier diesel engine, too. Meanwhile, Citrn sells the Nemo Multispace, which has the Qubo’s body and a similar-output engine but which manages to come in at £10,995 – albeit with less equipment as standard. But, spec it up, and it’ll still be cheaper.

In fairness, Qubo prices start just below £10,000 so it’s not far from the mark. But with such low-priced and talented rivals, it has it all to do.

Step inside and you sit high and upright at the wheel – very much as you’d expect if driving a van. It may take some getting used to. Fiat tries hard to pamper you, giving you a sporty wheel, leather wrapped and with thumb-grips and a gear shifter to match. The materials used to cover the dash look good and feel fine, while the standard air con blows chilly. This version has mats covering the rubber-clad floor and, oddly, the boot has a full carpet.

Leg- and head-room in the back is excellent, although shoulder room is tight for three and the one in the centre also perches atop a thinly padded cushion.

From the off, the 1.3 diesel is noisy and puffs whenever you ask it to haul a full load of grown ups and luggage. It’s effective once you stir it but there’s enough power, not a surplus. Underneath, much of the running gear is the same as the Grande Punto’s, so it rides and corners respectably, although there’s more body roll. The steering is reasonably direct and feels grippy.

Running costs are as low as for a supermini and, viewed on its own, it looks a fair prospect for the money. Look wider, though at what else you can get and the Qubo is edged by other vans offering as much or more for less.

Note that the Euro NCAP results given below conform to new, tougher tests introduced in 2010

• Engines1.3 multijet diesel
• Power75bhp
• 0-60 mph16.5sec
• Economy62.8mpg
• CO2g/km119
• Insurance groups
• EuroNCAP
• Airbags4
• Seats5

Motors.co.uk value verdict: