If You Drive Daily, The Daily is a Great Drive

In-depth

21 Oct

Recently Iveco – following on from my drives of their excellent S-Way asked if I’d consider trying out something smaller. My answer, as always, was, “If it’s got a steering wheel and at least 4 tyres then I’m in.”

The transport world is made up of all sorts of vehicles from your prime movers down, but as we all know, delivery goes way beyond a B-double if product is to make it to its final destination.

Many years ago, whilst attending the Alice Springs Transport Hall of Fame, Rita and I met a couple who were living in their ‘van’, and they invited us to join them for a drink or three.

I wish I could remember their names because they were a great couple. He had been a truckie and broken his back in an accident. Whiling the time away in hospital he designed a ‘home away from home’. Those drawings became a reality, they sold their home, built the ‘van’ and headed to parts hitherto unknown.

The ‘van’ was in fact a 35 foot 5th Wheeler and the attention to detail was simply amazing. What was also pretty amazing was the tow vehicle – an Iveco Daily Crew Cab. Behind the cab was a storage area split in two. One side held all the tools and spares one could think of, with the other having a fold down ramp so old mate could store his mobility scooter. And of course behind that was the 5th wheel.

Did he like the Iveco Daily?

“Mate, I absolutely love it,” he replied. “Strong as an Ox, never let me down and it only uses 16 litres per 100Km towing the ‘van’.”

Sixteen litres! Our Territory uses 18.5 pulling our tiddly 16.5” pop-top!

The Daily in all its guises is possibly Iveco’s most successful product. Single cab, crew cab, tray backs, vans, pantechs, and the front end of many RV’s – the Daily has found a home with many and varied customers.

And so I find myself at Iveco’s Dandenong HQ where I’m passed the keys to two versions of the Daily – a single cab tray, the 50C180 and a van bodied version, the 70C210.

Let’s look at the interiors because they are identical.

The very first thing you notice is the steering wheel. I commented in my S-Way drive that I felt the steering wheel could have been an inch or two smaller. Iveco have gone to the other extreme with the Daily. The wheel is smaller than you’ll find in possibly any other similar truck, it is chunky as, flat bottomed, and it feels fantastic in the hands. This could have come from holding company, Fiat’s past association with Ferrari. It’s not leather bound but I found out through the day that it was superbly comfortable. Does the steering wheel matter? When you’ve got to wrap your mitts around it for hours on end you bet it does.

Atop the dash is a phone charging pad. Commonly used switches are below that with an excellent multi-media screen. As well as Apple Car Play there is also Android Auto which is great as too many carmakers forget us Android users. I hooked up my Samsung phone in no time.

Underneath the screen are the, “I love simple” heating/cooling controls. The tray truck had the basic, dial it in yourself version whilst the van was optioned with climate control but in both cases the layout is the same and oh so easy to use.

Next to the steering and protruding from the dash is the Auto shift, controlling the 8 speed ‘box. Don’t go looking for a manual version because it is no longer available – simply because there was zero demand for one.

If you want to change gears you can do so but in reality you’re not going to bother. The Park brake is electric and the gear knob lets you know if it’s on or off.

The driver’s seat – as I found out throughout the day – is very comfortable and has a fold down armrest. A knob under the squab allows you to tension or soften the base to taste. Eight hours in the seat/s was a breeze.

There’s room for two passengers and under the window seat is a cavernous storage area - handy in a single cab – complemented by lots of other cubbies throughout the cabin.

The centre seat has a fold down insert which acts as a tray. It also has a headrest (of course) which, if not being used, I’d remove as it encroaches quite a bit on rear vision.

Cup holders sit high on the dash extremities which I reckon is the perfect spot. Door pockets are large and will fit big bottles and a mountain of other stuff. The dials are legible and easy to read but the speedo goes up in 10, 30, 50, etc kilometre increments rather than the more useful (in Australia) 20, 40, 60, etc. You get used to them but it takes a little bit of acclimatising.

There’s flashes of chrome to lift what is already an appealing space, the side mirrors are heated and offer great vision. They’re placed well forward on the A pillars so a glance in the LH doesn’t require a neck-breaking turn of the head.

In summary, Iveco have expended a great deal of thought, time and effort to make your workplace appealing, useful, comfortable, and – as I found out – quiet. Already I’m dreaming of an RV body on the back of one of these.

Time to go for a spin and I select the tray body first up. Where to go? Why not revisit my old home town, Healesville (aka Hooterville) in the picturesque Yarra Valley. This is going to offer a variety of toll roads, main highways and country driving.

This particular truck has a GVM of 4495Kg and a GCM of 7995 but can be optioned up to 5200 and 8700 respectively. Towing capacity is 3,500Kg. To me this begs the serious question: why buy a Hilux when you can have one of these (in single or crew cab) with way more room inside and the ability to load a heap more on board. I know which one I’d choose.

Now to the new 8 speed Hi-Matic auto gearbox by ZF. It’s a ripper! The changes are lightning fast - less than 200 milliseconds Iveco say, and I believe them. The ratios and changes are perfectly suited to the power/torque bands of the 3 litre, 4 cylinder diesel, which in this truck puts out 132 Kw and 430Nm.

Go down a hill and dab on the brakes, the gearbox will drop back a gear – or more – to keep you at that speed. Turn on cruise control and it will keep you at the chosen speed up hill and down dale. If anyone makes a better auto I’ve yet to find it.

132Kw doesn’t sound like a lot but the truck gets up and boogies. I was keen to try a 0-100km time test but Vic Roads solution to the Maroondah Highway and its numerous accidents over the years between Lilydale and Hooterville was to reduce the speed on the 22km stretch to 80km/h. The best I could manage was a take-off at lights up a hill and time 0-60 which the truck managed to do in a very credible 5.7 seconds.

That steering wheel was as good as I’d hoped, being direct with just the right amount of feedback and nicely weighted. I later discovered a button on the dash with a wheel logo embossed on it. A press of that and it lightens the steering up big time! Not for me on the open road, but I can imagine it would be useful in certain urban situations.

Inside, the cabin was nice and quiet. It’s only at idle that you vaguely hear the distant clatter of the diesel which disappears as soon as you move off. Similarly, wind noise was a non-event.

I find a nice spot overlooking the Valley to take some photos and then pass – or rather don’t pass – Chandon Vineyard. Owned by the famous Moet & Chandon the company bought the farm once known as Green Point and commenced making Australia’s best Champagne. I went to school with one Debbie Wood whose parents managed Green Point and enjoyed many a party there. Popping in, I settled for a coffee – sadly. Some more pics and time to return for the larger 70C Van.

…..

The 70C210 relates to more power and torque, 155Kw and 470Nm from its Euro 6, 3 litre. GVM is 7,200Kg and GCM 10,700Kg but you can downgrade to 4,495 and 7,995. Towing capacity is again 3,500Kg.

This time I take the same route but head on past Healesville to the Maroondah Dam for a couple of photos. Back into town and I head into The Sanctuary Stove Bakery (next to Coles) for one of their excellent pies and equally excellent coffees. Of course, being my old home town, it’s not long before a familiar face walks by and a conversation about the town, ‘when we were young’ ensues.

**My old laneway has been sealed. Progress.**

The 70C Van is cavernous – and high. It’s no surprise that they are a popular base for RV conversion. As a workhorse you’re going to fit a mountain of goods for delivery in the back. The rear doors fold flat against the sides of the truck for loading and the reverse. As with the 50C the 70 is a pleasure to drive.

All too soon it’s time to return to Dandenong. As I pull up at a set of lights in Lilydale, another identical model draws up beside me – fitted out as an RV. I wind the window down and ask how they like the Daily. “Love, love, love it,” the lady replies. I privately concur with her wholeheartedly. These are great trucks in which to spend your working days – but I’d rather spend my time in one decked out like theirs!

Need a delivery van/work vehicle? Check out the Daily range. They’re bloody great, mate!