Driven: Iveco updates Daily workhorse range

ITALIAN commercial vehicle specialist Iveco has overhauled its Daily van and cab-chassis range for the new model year, with an updated front fascia, new interior specification and better sound deadening headlining the changes.

Pricing now starts from $50,710 plus on-road costs for the 35S13 seven-cubic-metre van and tops out at $83,710 for the 20-cubic-metre van equipped with a twin-turbo-diesel engine, while the single cab-cassis range varies between $53,735 and $66,440 plus on-roads.

The dual-cab line-up ranges from $72,050 to $75,570, while the addition of an eight-speed automatic transmission comes with a $4285 price rise in the cab-chassis and $4290 for the van.

Iveco product manager for Australia, New Zealand, South-East Asia and Japan Marco Quaranta told GoAuto at the new Daily’s launch in Melbourne last week that continual upgrades and improvements to the range should help drive growth for the light-duty workhorse.

“Daily will keep growing,” he said. “I believe we can reach easily 10-12 per cent (sales growth) in both cab-chassis and van because it’s a continuous improvement, a continuous innovation, basically every two years now we have something new to add to the customers.

“We are exploring a lot of new segments, so it’s a growth that we see continuing.”

Mr Quaranta also pointed to an expansion of Iveco’s dealer network, which he said has been one of the main reasons for a 14.1 per cent increase in overall Iveco sales in 2017.

A greater focus on dealerships in major metropolitan areas has spurred the growth, with five to six new dealerships set to sign on in coming months.

Along with the tradesman-focused van and cab-chassis, Iveco also offers the Daily in minibus and 4x4 off-roader flavours, the latter recently adding passenger airbags for the first time.

The extensive updated Daily range consists of van and cab-chassis body styles, three turbo-diesel engine choices, manual and automatic transmissions, and a number of different cargo volumes and payloads.

The revised exterior styling includes a revised louvred grille that provides better air ingress onto the radiator and engine bay, which leads to improved cooling performance.

Models equipped with the eight-speed automatic also now have chrome accents on the grille.

Inside, Iveco has reduced interior noise by a claimed 4dB while also reducing vibration, with measures employed including reshaped door mirrors, increased insulation and redesigned B-pillar swabs.

The seats now have a two-tone colour scheme, while a new central open storage area with USB sockets has been added to the dashboard.

An optional 7.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system is also available in one of three option packs, which also includes satellite navigation and a rear-facing camera.

Buyers who choose not to option the touchscreen are provided with a four-speaker audio system with AM/FM radio, CD player, USB and auxiliary inputs and Bluetooth connectivity with steering wheel-mounted radio and phone controls.

The three diesel engine choices comprise a 2.3-litre turbocharged unit and single- and twin-turbo versions of a bigger 3.0-litre mill.

The entry-level engine produces 93kW of power from 3000-3600rpm and 320Nm of torque from 1800-3500rpm.

Stepping up to the single-turbo 3.0-litre unit increases output to 125kW from 2900-3500rpm and 430Nm from 1500-2600rpm, while the range-topping twin-turbo unit produces 150kW from 3100-3500rpm and 470Nm from 1400-3000rpm – enough for Iveco to claim it is the most powerful engine in its class.

A new model grade has been added to the range in the form of the 7.0-tonne van and cab-chassis, with the van said to be the first in class with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of seven tonnes.

Called the 70C, the new variant uses the 3.0-litre single-turbo engine, but with the addition of an AdBlue selective catalytic reduction system, power is increased to 134kW while emissions are reduced enough to award it with a Euro 6 emissions rating.

At 19.6 cubic metres, the largest version of the 70C is also said to offer the greatest cargo volume in its segment.

Transmission choices remain the same, which consist of a six-speed manual and a ZF-sourced eight-speed Hi-Matic automatic.

In the update, the auto has also scored a revised oil-to-air cooler and two-speed fan for enhanced performance in hot Australian conditions.

Standard safety equipment includes disc brakes all round, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution, electronic stability control, a slip regulator, daytime running lights and four airbags.

Lane-departure warning (LDW) is available as an option either on its own or in one of three option packs.

LDW comes as part of an Efficiency pack which also includes an Eco engine function, while the Comfort pack includes suspended, adjustable and heated (front) seats and automatic climate control.

A Business Premium pack adds the Iveconnect multimedia system, rearview camera, foglights and reversing buzzer.

Both the Comfort and Efficiency packs can only be optioned if the Business Premium pack is already included.

A number of other options including rear air suspension, GVM upgrades, differential locks, door configurations on vans and a tipper function for cab-chassis variants are available to choose individually.

Daily buyers are not left short of choice for body configurations, with a seemingly endless range of roof heights, body and wheelbase lengths, GVMs and payloads available across the range.

To the end of October, Iveco has managed 964 sales of the Daily van and cab-chassis, up on the 799 it managed to the same point last year.

It still trails the likes of the Isuzu N Series (3873), Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (2466), Fuso Canter (1840) and Hino 300 (1818).

Full pricing information for the Daily range can be obtained through an Iveco dealer.