Living with the IVECO Daily will never be a grind!
The IVECO ethos has been based on transferring much of its HGV experience to a lighter vehicle. Strength is very much in the brand’s DNA. Indeed, vehicles start from 3 ½ tonne and above and this is the only manufacturer that offers vans from 6-tonne to 7.2-tonne, with a whopping 19.6m3 of potential load space at the top end.
At the same time the manufacturer is treading with a lighter carbon footprint by pioneering multiple powertrains, adding battery electric, compressed natural gas (CNG) and, through a joint venture with Hyundai, hydrogen to its conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) models. Moreover, there’s further choices to be made with either a 6-speed manual or 8-speed HiMatic auto.
What that should tell you is that this is a manufacturer that likes to do things a little differently to its contemporaries and that’s demonstrated in the E-Daily. It’s IVECO Daily’s truck chassis, unique on vans, that allows it to go beyond 6-tonne in weight. It’s also an ideal place to site battery packs in an electric model. That then allows for a modular approach where a number of batteries can be positioned under the vehicle’s cargo bay, thereby maximising the available range.
Up to four can be achieved on the 5.1metres wheelbase, in fact, which IVECO anticipates will give you a 150-mile range when fully loaded. You can even add or remove batteries if required, which is no more than a two-hour procedure in an IVECO workshop. It should be noted, of course, that range can vary widely according to driving style, urban or motorway driving and temperature. The building industry is the most diverse of sectors and tradespeople will learn how to make the most of range when living with the vehicle – and using it on your typical jobs. Fast charging can get you up to 62 miles in just 20 minutes.
Whether it’s panel, tipper, dropside or crew cab the E-Daily can deliver. Towing has proved problematic in EVs but not so with IVECO where its battery powered solution provides a 3.5-tonne towing capacity, easily enough to transport a decent sized mini digger with a few buckets from site to site.
When it comes to diesel only around 30 per cent of the van market is now automatic, but it would be fair to say that some of examples have not been the smartest, requiring a good long hard think about changing gear before actually getting around to doing it. By contrast, IVECO’s vans are over 60 per cent auto, and that’s a testament to the smooth interrupted performance of its Hi-Matic box. It is, in fact, imperceptible at times which is equally good news for fuel efficiency and wear and tear. Having said, some builders who are driving on looser surfaces may well prefer a manual. The entire IVECO Daily line-up is rear wheel drive, which makes for a more rugged product.
IVECO’s safety technologies can be divided into passive and active technologies, with the former including a redesigned cab that protects the driver from frontal or side impact. Side impact protect airbags are also standard – but it’s in the active field where it gets more technical.
A whole suite of safety features are facilitated by a unit positively bristling with cameras, sensors and radar right around the vehicle. Advanced Lane Centering keeps your van in the centre of a lane and Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go keeps pace with the vehicle in front, stopping when it does. Any van driver will be accustomed with a cyclist creeping up the nearside unseen and it is here that Blind Spot Warning is your friend. In addition, automatic electronic braking will apply the brakes if you’re in danger of a head on collision –and put the vehicle into park into the bargain.
A 7in. digital infotainment screen is standard on ICE and 10in. on electric with a 10.25in. digital instrument in front of the driver on all models. These displays are fully configurable to allow exactly what you want to be shown. The touchscreen is very responsive with none of the frantic and frustrating stabbing at it you can find with other manufacturers, whilst some physical controls – for air conditioning as an example – have been retained.
All this falls easily to hand from your hydraulic HGV-style style seat – another feature unique to IVECO on vans – with the added comfort of memory foam. This is all complemented by a new wireless charger for your telephone. 4 USB ports, two of which are USB C, with Keyless Entry & Go.
Anything you want to do with you IVECO Daily can be achieved with E-Daily – with some more besides in terms of driver comfort. That means the same payloads on the 4.25 tonne electric compared to the 3.5-tonne diesel.
The Millbank Proving Ground offers a variety of driving experience amongst them a high-speed bowl, an alpine hill route, a steering pad, and handling circuit.
For a big vehicle the IVECO Daily remains nimble, with a class leading turning circle, and it navigated the tight turns on the circuit effortlessly. Again, thanks to some clever electronics, the steering is actually lighter at low speeds and heavier when travelling faster.
For further information on the IVECO Daily range visit IVECO Daily, Van, Cab, 4×4, 7 Tonne, CNG | Iveco.
