First up was the Fiat Ducato 100hp. In a previous life this massive box on wheels was bedecked in Abarth stripes and a racing seat as part of one of the better April Fools' day gags of this year (see that story here), but thankfully its looks were more toned down when I picked it up.
It takes a little adjustment to gauge the extra size of a van like this, but it doesn't take too long to feel comfortable behind the wheel. The switchgear is mostly familiar too and the driving position is far more elevated than the average SUV.
That helps see well ahead in traffic. Not that you need to plan too far ahead, as it's a surprisingly quick and well-mannered van. Thank the 100hp engine for some of that. Even fully loaded with our heavier stuff it never felt anything other than frisky. Sure it's louder than a family car, but try and get a king-size bed in the back of your Ford Focus...
Next we tried the Ducato's little brother, the Scudo, in 75hp trim. Jumping (down) from the larger to the smaller van it felt like a sports car in comparison. Any car driver could manage the Scudo, though it crammed in an impressive array of gear, including a trip to Ikea to stock up on flat-pack furniture for the kids.
Though I'll not miss the back-breaking job of moving I do miss having a van around. They're incredibly useful. Trips to the recycling centre and DIY stores were made way easier. Wouldn't mind having one in my mythical barn of vehicles...
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