If the Fiat Talento looks familiar to you, that’s because it’s one of numerous vans that is effectively a rebadge of the popular Renault Trafic. That means it’s not as Italian as the badge on the nose or the name on the cargo doors suggests, but it’s also no bad thing, as the Trafic drives well and has plenty of load space, and the Talento shares those characteristics.
That means it’s comfortable but also accommodates three Euro pallets, and while the choice of body styles and variants wasn’t as wide as some vans, Fiat did offer platform cabs, refrigerated vans, and other accessories to maximise utility. The trouble is likely to be finding one, as it didn’t sell in the same numbers as its Renault cousin.
As well as the Trafic, other familiar choices in this mid-size panel van class include the Ford Transit Custom and Volkswagen Transporter, while other variants of the Trafic include the Nissan NV300 and pre-2019 Vauxhall Vivaro.
The Fiat Talento was offered for a brief period between 2016 and 2020 in the UK market, and alongside the Nissan NV300/Primastar and pre-2019 Vauxhall Vivaro, it’s another rebadged variant of the popular Renault Trafic. So while there’s a Fiat badge on the front, the Talento was actually designed and built in France.
The Trafic though is one of the better vans on the market, and the Talento carries those strengths right across. Highlights include easy-going driving characteristics and a comfortable ride, frugal and refined engines (whether the earlier 1.6 or the later 2-litre) and a large load area that even in short wheelbase, low roof form, is capable of accepting three Euro pallets.
Fiat offered several trim lines too which should cover the needs of most buyers and most budgets. Just watch out for the lowest, unbadged trim level, as equipment is a little thin on the ground. The Talento’s 1.2-tonne payload isn’t quite as high as some either.
The Talento hits back with a tidy cabin design that has three comfortable and well-padded seats, loads of storage cubbies and cup holders, and a chunky look and feel that is once again the work of Renault’s designers - the eagle-eyed will spy dials, switchgear and vents from the Clio supermini.
As well as the obvious Trafic option, other companies using the same basic van design include the Nissan NV300 and the pre-2019 Vauxhall Vivaro. The Ford Transit Custom meanwhile is one of the biggest sellers in this segment and for good reason, while the Volkswagen Transporter has badge appeal on its side. All bar the Nissan are a little easier to find than the Talento, though.
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Choosing the right van very much comes down to what you intend to do with it, so we can’t make any solid recommendations here. That said, purely from a comfort and usability perspective we’d want to look for at least SX trim in a used Talento, to benefit from air conditioning, parking sensors, and a passenger seat that folds down to make a table for a little more utility out and about.
Earlier engines were based around a 1.6-litre design and made good power, while later models (and the most frequently found on the used market) were variations on a 2-litre unit, badged Multijet. Twin-turbocharging made up for any deficit the 1.6 might have had in terms of torque, but the 2-litre engines do have great low-speed punch.
The Talento had a four-tier range, with the first two models aimed at general work use, and the upper two adding more stylish features, perhaps for users who might not be using their vans quite as heavily. SX and up are the ones to go for you if you want comforts such as air conditioning or the benefit of parking sensors, while Technico added a touchscreen.
The Fiat Talento’s dimensions are:
The Fiat Talento’s load capacity is:
Vans attract a flat rate of VED or ‘road tax’, which for the 2023-2024 tax year currently stands at £320 every twelve months, or £168 if you pay every half-year. This naturally will increase for the 2024-2025 tax year.
Van insurance varies hugely depending on the specification you choose and your own personal usage and circumstances. We’d recommend going to your broker for a quote, though costs may be slightly higher than some newer vans, as the Talento does lack some of the latest safety and security features now filtering into modern vans.
Read our full Fiat Talento review