Fiat Talento van review (2022)

• Good to drive with car-like underpinnings
• Appealing engines that deliver strong power and efficiency
• Visibility could be better

With a high driving position, the Talento gives you a commanding view of the road ahead, while sharing underpinnings and suspension components with a range of Renault passenger vehicles means that it delivers a genuinely car-like driving experience.

Yes, there’s a bit of body roll in the corners – the sensation enhanced by the tall driving position – but even travelling unloaded, the Fiat manages to combine impressive agility with reassuring sure-footedness. As a result it feels nimble on a country road but steady and secure at high speeds on the motorway.

The ride comfort is firm but not uncompromising, so it copes well with damaged town-centre tarmac without feeling too soft and bouncy.

However, impressive though the Talento is to drive, the vast majority of competitors in the modern medium van segment are similarly capable now, so this doesn’t really give the Fiat an edge. What’s more, the small door mirrors mean all-round visibility isn’t quite as good as it is in some rivals, something that’s probably more important to most van drivers than the ability to take a roundabout at maximum warp.

Still, the engines are extremely pleasant.

Fiat Talento 1.6-litre engines

The Talento launched with a range of four 1.6-litre turbodiesel engines – two single turbo models offering 95hp / 260Nm or 120hp / 300Nm, and two twin-turbo models with 125hp / 320Nm or 145hp / 340Nm.

That maximum figure of 145hp doesn’t look like much in an area of the market with some rivals pushing out 200hp, but since the vast majority of medium vans are bought with closer to 100hp engines, it’s not really fair to judge the Fiat on this. Besides which, these are all very agreeable engines to drive – being quiet, torquey and relatively vibration free.

The most sensible pick is the 125hp twin-turbo, the extra turbo improving both response and fuel economy compared with the 120hp single-turbo unit. Combined with a surprisingly sweet-shifting six-speed manual gearbox, you’ll rarely find yourself wishing for the extra 20hp and 20Nm of the 145hp engine.

Certainly don’t let the small 1.6-litre capacity put you off these earlier Talento vans.

Fiat Talento 2.0-litre engines

In October 2019, Fiat dropped the 1.6-litre engines from the UK Talento range completely, replacing them with a new selection of 2.0-litre models – which meet the more stringent Euro 6.2 (or Euro 6d-Temp) emissions regulations.

As a result of this, the choice of power outputs is now 120hp / 320Nm, 145hp / 350Nm and 170hp / 380Nm – a substantial increase at the top of the range, making for a reasonably rapid van if you’re prepared to fork out for it.

Producing maximum torque at just 1,500rpm, the new 2.0-litre engines feel very muscular from low speeds – almost too much so sometimes, with a boosty delivery that can be a little abrupt – and again, while the headline 170hp motor will certainly be enjoyable, it doesn’t seem essential here. Especially given the relatively modest payloads the Talento is rated to carry.

The bigger engine does make the front of the van weightier than before, which in turn makes it slightly less agile. But this is still a good van to drive, and one that should prove comfortable for many, many miles at a time.

DCT automatic gearbox

Fiat didn’t offer the six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission available in similarly upgraded Renault Trafic models when the new engines were introduced in 2019 – but did add it as an option in November 2020 for some 145hp and 170hp variants.

The new auto gearbox – known as the DCT by Fiat and EDC by Renault – is similar in design to Volkswagen’s DSG system but slightly more positive in its actions, and it comes as a welcome addition to the Talento range. Though the six-speed manual gearbox that is otherwise fitted is pleasing to use.

• Attractive, car-like interior design
• 90-litres of in-cab storage
• Some of the accessories seem a little out of date

As with other areas of this van, evidence of the Talento’s relationship to Renault’s passenger car range can be found in the cab. The centre console could have come straight out of a Clio, for example, with simple, good-quality controls and an attractive if not overly stylish look.

The instrumentation is clear to read and, as we’ve already remarked, the driving position is high, while the dashboard is relatively low, making forward visibility very good. We also find the driving position comfortable, with a good range of adjustment suitable for drivers of all shapes and sizes.

While there’s little to distinguish the MY20-onwards vans and the previous models, the dashboard in our most recent 2.0-litre test van was finished in a surprising shade of ‘bark brown’, which is not something you see in a van very often. It genuinely helped to make this range-topping Talento Sportivo feel a little special compared with regular working vans.

How practical is the cab?

The Talento doesn’t look like the most practical van when it comes to storage in the cab, but as with the Trafic it’s based on, there is actually a claimed 90 litres of space for clutter and essentials dotted around inside the cabin. A considerable amount of this is under the passenger seat, which helps the small door pockets make sense.

What’s more, a wide range of accessories for holding phones and tablets are available, while the central seat back folds down to form a working area that includes a pop-out clipboard and compartment for storing a small laptop.

A ‘CargoPlus’ load-through bulkhead means longer, slim items such as planks and pipes can be extended into the passenger area of the cab if required.

• Good fuel economy in the real world
• May not hold value as well as other brands

While the Talento might not match the best-in-class for mpg on paper, efficient engines mean it should deliver good fuel economy and running costs in the real world. Reasonable levels of standard equipment provide good value for money, though safety kit is limited and many rivals offer more tech.

It is also worth noting that Fiat vans don’t always hold their value well. This had an impact on monthly finance prices when the Talento was new, but may mean you can get a decent deal when buying used.

As ever, it pays to shop around - especially as there are versions of this exact same van available from other brands (Renault Trafic, Nissan NV300 / Primastar and the 2014-2019 Vauxhall Vivaro).

Fiat Talento mpg

As with its sibling vans, the Talento has a great reputation for decent real-world fuel economy – so while you might not match the figures they put in the brochure, these vans are capable of over 40mpg in use. In other words, the sort of mpg Transit Custom drivers can only dream of.

The official NEDC fuel economy figures for the newer 2.0-litre engines range from 39.7mpg (for the platform cab) right through to 52.3mpg.

All 2.0-litre Talento models come fitted with a stop-start system.

Fiat Talento standard equipment highlights

These are the standard equipment highlights for the most recent Fiat Talento panel van range; each is in addition to the trim level before, unless otherwise stated.

Fiat Talento standard (base) mode equipment highlights:

• DAB radio with Bluetooth
• Audio controls on steering wheel
• Front electric windows
• Heated, electric door mirrors
• Height-adjustable driver’s seat with armrest and lumbar support
• Dual front passenger seat
• Glovebox with light
• Techno silver interior detailing with silver satin finish
• Side loading door on passenger side
• Fixed bulkhead
• LED daytime running lights
• 12v socket in load area
• Style Pack: part body-coloured bumpers, black grained finish to grille bars, door mirrors and rail cover
• Remote locking with deadlocks
• Immobiliser

Fiat Talento SX standard equipment highlights:

• Air-conditioning
• Rear parking sensors
• Wide-view passenger mirror
• Luxury black/brown interior with gloss black finish
• Mobile office – fold-down passenger seat with detachable clipboard and under-seat storage

Fiat Talento Tecnico standard equipment highlights:

• 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with sat-nav, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and USB connectivity
• Cruise control
• Automatic lights and wipers
• Front fog lights
• Style Pack Plus: body-coloured upper and lower front bumper, door mirrors and rail cover, body-coloured upper rear bumper, front grille bars in ‘metal’ colour

Fiat Talento Sportivo standard equipment highlights:

• Rear-view camera
• Leather-trimmed steering wheel
• 17-inch matte black alloy wheels
• Black metallic paint
• Style Pack Luxury: body-coloured bumpers upper and lower, door mirrors and rail cover, front grille bars in black grained finish
• Red sports stripes on lower body

• Very few official recalls
• Reliability generally appears to be strong

There are no signs of major reliability issues for the Talento – the Trafic it’s based on is a consistently high performer in the FN50 van reliability survey, although Fiat dealers tend to place quite low in the overall top 10.

In terms of official recalls – an indicator of factory build quality – the Talento has been subject to only four, ranging from the wrong weight rating being listed for the loading hooks in the rear to just five vans being checked for potential fuel tank leaks.

The other two recalls were for issues relating to the parking brake. If buying used it’s always worth checking these recalls have been carried out if required.

If we look to the Renault Trafic for further info on potential Talento problems – the vans share engines as well as their basic structure – there have been a few reports of turbo failures on the 1.6-litre motors, as well as injectors, alternators and other electronics given occasional problems.

But even considering this, these appear to be well-built, generally reliable vans. Let us know if you have any relevant experience that you feel we should be reporting here.

• Very limited safety equipment compared with many rivals
• As such, Euro NCAP says to 'avoid'
• No alarm as standard on any model

With a basic van design dating back to 2014 (when the current generation of Renault Trafic the Talento is based on was introduced), the Talento is not the oldest model in the medium van sector – yet it lags behind most rivals when it comes to standard and available safety kit.

Fiat Talento safety

The only standard safety items on the Talento are a driver’s airbag, ABS with electronic brake distribution and Emergency Brake Assist (which is not autonomous emergency braking but a booster for extreme braking situations and pretty standard fare now), and electronic stability control (ESC).

The ESC does have a Traction+ system, designed to increase traction on low grip surfaces, a Trailer Stability Assist system to help when towing, and a Hill-Hold Assist function to help you get going on a slope.

Plus there is a fixed bulkhead on all models.

However, you don’t – and can’t – get any of the latest driver active driver assistance systems you will find available on many rival vans. Not even blindspot monitoring is optional on the Talento, let alone rear cross traffic alert or traffic sign recognition.

It's for this lack of the latest active safety aids that crash safety body Euro NCAP has warned buyers to 'avoid' the Talento altogether.

Fiat Talento security

All models come with remote locking, deadlocks and an immobiliser. But you’ll have to pay extra if you want an alarm, and there is no modern connectivity system equivalent to FordPass Pro or Mercedes Pro Connect to help keep an additional eye on your van.