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Fiat is marketing its automated transmission as the ideal urban companion when fitted to its Ducato, but does it need to be 3.0-litre?
In this brave new 'green' world of hybrid technology and electric vehicles, the humble automated transmission continues to evolve at a more sedate pace on LCVs, remaining very much an option on a number of buyers' wish lists.
Blame, arguably, could be pointed towards the manufacturers, which haven't yet developed a product that comes complete with all the benefits - namely increased fuel economy and decreased component wear - and none of the negatives, such as protracted gear changing and cogchoice indecision.
So while truck companies have a product that improves driveability and fuel economy over most manual efforts, which have, in turn, exploded in popularity, their smaller brethren still lack that degree of dynamism, suffering from hesitant shifting and clunky operation.
All this means that Fiat's automated option on its Ducato van, optimistically named Comfort-Matic, has something of a challenge on its hands to win over the CM test team.
Available only in conjunction with its top engine option, the 3.0-litre, 157hp unit (the 2.2 100hp and 2.3 130hp engines are only available in manual), this six-speed automated manual is a ?1,155 option.
And with the smallest version on this 3.5-tonne van (long wheelbase, high roof as tested here) costing £24,015, before you add the aforementioned (or any other) option, hands-free shifting doesn't come cheap. As rivals go, Mercedes-Benz has a five-speed torque converter auto option on its Sprinter for £995; Volkswagen has the Shift-matic at £750 for its Grafter, and Iveco (part of Fiat), has the same Agile option on its Daily for £790.
Productivity
With big claims of reduced fuel consumption, the ComfortMatic had plenty to live up to on CM's test route. However, since the drive takes in not just urban work, but motorways and A-roads (and, therefore, less gear changing), the final result was destined to fall short of Fiat's claim of 10%.
With a laden run, we recorded 28.9mpg, which, for a 3.0-litre engine, was a solid result but not a revelation, although this improved to 30.8mpg when unladen.
We still question the wisdom of mating the auto to a large-capacity engine. If you want...