Which pre-owned Fiat Fiorino is better – petrol or diesel?
You need a small delivery van at a reasonable price, and the Fiat Fiorino has caught your eye. But where should your money go: the petrol or diesel derivative?
The humble Fiat Fiorino utility van: mobilising the produce of big and small European businesses since 1977. What is quite interesting is the name, Fiorino, which stems from the name of the old Florentine gold coin (florin in English) produced between 1252 and 1533; the Fiorino d’oro. Or, it can refer to the Tuscan Fiorino, a currency used in Tuscany between 1826 and 1859. Either way, the Fiorino comes from money, so to say.
Another obscure fact for the motoring category in your next pub quizz: The Fiat Fiorino lineage is only three generations young. So, if you buy a 10-year-old model that’s in a good condition, it will help your business appear contemporary. Do keep in mind that it had a facelift in 2016.
And that brings us to its purpose: an urban van meant for hauling your goods both in the city and over long distances to help you make money, or Fiorino(s), if you will. But, as with all big decision in life, the artisanal bread baker to the civil engineer are once again stifled by the big question: petrol or diesel?
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In the petrol corner
The 1.4 litre petrol variant Fiorino weighs in with a combined consumption of 6.9 l/100km and 161 g/km of CO2 emissions. In an urban environment, you can expect to see consumption closer to 8.9 l/100km, while over longer distances it will edge closer to 5.8 l/100km.
Second hand you can pick up a used 2019 model with low mileage from as little as R179 900. When buying a commercial vehicle, maintenance is something to consider. The petrol powered Fiorino has service intervals of 15 000km.
While these figures are not bad for a petrol powered utility van, will they be enough to compete for the commercial title with the long-time diesel champion?
Related: Which Fiat Fiorino trim depreciates fastest?
In the diesel corner
The 1.3 turbo-diesel contender sports an urban fuel consumption of 5.6 l/100km. During the long hauls, consumption is but a pennywise 3.7 l/100km (under very ideal circumstances), giving you combined consumption of about 4.4 l/100km and 115 g/km of CO2 emissions.
A used 2019 Fiorino with low mileage can set you back anywhere from R 179 900, similar to the petrol variant. But, in terms of maintenance, the service intervals for the diesel model are 20 000 km.
And the judges’ decision is…
Both models provide you with a short wheelbase, city-slicking utility van capable of manoeuvring in and between of tight city streets, as well as providing the driver with the necessary comfort and utility to haul products and goods over long distances with 2 500 – 2 800 litres of space.
But it is the long term frugality that lifts the glove of the 1.3 diesel Fiorino, as its fuel consumption and 20 000km service intervals will save you money in the long term, and even allow for you to splurge that little bit extra on an air-conditioned model. The diesel engine is reliable too, so it’s unlikely that you’d need to replace injectors or the diesel pump regularly, if ever. Fiat parts aren’t always plentiful, though. Know where you can source them from without delay. As you’ll know, down-time wreaks havoc in a delivery business.
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