Fiat e-Scudo Review 2024

The Fiat e-Scudo is the electric version of the Fiat Scudo, and now benefits from an improved range and some visual and trim upgrades. It’s one of a family of very similar vans from the Stellantis Group, but is it the right choice for you? Read our full Fiat e-Scudo review to find out.

Sharing its basic bodywork and interior layout with the Citroen e-Dispatch, another French contender, the Peugeot e-Expert and Britain’s Vauxhall Vivaro Electric, the Fiat e-Scudo is one of four of electric middleweight vans offered by the Stellantis Group.

And although the Ford Transit Custom has the standalone biggest market share in the medium panel van market in the UK, it’s Stellantis and its group of brands that has the biggest slice of that pie across Europe.

The latest Fiat e-Scudo comes with a heavily revised and much-improved cabin, along with a claimed increased range of up to 217 miles (WLTP), an improvement of 12 miles over the outgoing model.

Its 75kWh battery can be charged using the standard 7.4kW on-board charger (an 11kW charger is optional), while a 5-80% charge takes a handy 45 minutes using a 100kW public charger.

Its total power output is 134PS, with a top speed of 84mph, although in Normal power mode, the total output is 108PS, and in Eco mode that’s reduced further to 84PS.

There are two trim levels: Scudo and Primo. The former is aimed at fleets and the latter, plusher model is more suited to private and small business users.

One of its best new features is its e-Power Take-off Unit, which can be used to supply smaller power tools or fridge units for refrigerated vans using power from the main battery, while there’s also an impressive suite of new, advanced safety kit.

The body and cargo volume are the same as on the standard diesel Fiat Scudo, with the electric motor under the bonnet, where the engine would be on a standard model.

All Fiat e-Scudos come with a 10-inch HD touchscreen with wireless smartphone mirroring, voice recognition and steering wheel-mounted audio controls.

There’s a also a new 10-inch digital instrument cluster, while paddle shifters allow drivers to choose from four levels of regenerative braking, the latter significantly assisting range in heavy traffic.

Opt for the Scudo trim and you’ll get a wide array of safety and driver assist features, such as rear parking sensors, intelligent speed assistance, lane keep assist and driver attention alert.

Primo adds Dynamic Surround View, which uses a digital rear view mirror to display imagery from side and rear-view cameras to the driver’s eyeline, along with body-coloured bumpers and trim.

The Fiat e-Scudo benefits greatly from car-like dynamics – it’s one of the best mid-size vans to drive with adaptive variable damping, which make it far more comfortable than most vans over bumps when unladen.

The steering is light and precise, and the handling is impressive for a light commercial vehicle.

Both trim levels are well-equipped and comfortable, with three front seats, the passenger side being designed to fold down to create a work surface or writing table on the Primo model, with a hidden storage locker beneath the seat, ideal for concealing power tools or computer equipment.

In this version, the cabin has been extensively facelifted with better materials and a new ovoid steering wheel. This provides better space for getting in and out of the cabin and will be appreciated by taller and larger drivers.

It’s a spacious and comfortable van with good forward visibility, but rear vision isn’t brilliant – the mirrors aren’t as panoramic as they could be.

This is offset a little by the Stellantis Group’s Dynamic Surround View, which uses two rear-facing cameras to project a view to the rear view mirror housing

There are three drive modes, selectable via a switch next to the gear lever.

To benefit from the most range you’ll need to drive in Eco mode. In Normal mode, the battery range will drop by about 10 per cent, but the van is notably more eager.

Power will reduce that range further, but is useful for overtaking and joining fast roads via slip roads, providing you remember to switch it off again.

Charge it overnight and it will take around 10 hours for the battery to replenish. Fast charging is possible, though, using an 11kW on-board charger, which drops the charging time to under seven hours.

100kW DC rapid charging from roadside fast chargers can get you to 80% charge in around 45 minutes, but will be notably more expensive.

Overall, the Fiat e-Scudo impresses. It’s a great van to drive while remaining brilliantly functional, and the improved range makes it one of the most convincing electric vans on the market.

Despite its modest dimensions – the Fiat e-Scudo is quite small for a mid-sized van – there’s no compromise in terms of payload or capacity.

It is available in two lengths – standard and Maxi – with a load volume ranging from 5.1 cubic metres to 6.6 cubic metres.

An optional load-through bulkhead extends the load length of up to four metres, but needs to be ordered with a folding double passenger seat that also doubles up as a work table.

The payload of the Fiat e-Scudo isn’t as good as that of the diesel model, but is still rated to carry 1,000kg – among the best in its sector for electric vans.

The one-tonne payload should be enough for most electric van users, and the load bay is spacious and flat, because the battery lives under the floor and there’s very little wheelarch intrusion.

Only one roof height is available, giving an access height of 1.4 metres and 1.6 metres of width.

Primo trim has the option of a keyless electric set-up that you can open by kicking your foot under the door – ideal if you’ve got a heavy load in your arms.

There are other medium vans that will carry a greater load volume, but only marginally and the Fiat e-Scudo’s trump card is that it’ll fit in most garages and multi-storey parking areas.

The cabin is well laid-out, neat and very comfortable, with seats that appear durable. On three-seater models, there is also a useful storage compartment under the middle seat to hide valuables such as small power tools and laptops.

The driving position provides a commanding view of the road, but rear visibility isn’t brilliant and the mirrors could use a bit more functionality.

There’s also a decent 10-inch touchscreen controlling most of the functions, a flat-bottomed steering wheel for easier access, an inductive charging system for smartphones and the option of ‘Dynamic Surround Vision’ which uses a pair of cameras to transmit rear visibility to the driver through a screen in the rear-view mirror housing.

This is great in concept, but the lens curvature means you’re better relying on mirrors and instinct for tight manoeuvring.