Fiat Doblo II 263 (2010–2022)

What the 263 changed over the first Doblò

The first generation used Strada and Palio hardware; the 263 sits on the Small platform related to the Grande Punto. German sources describe it as part of the Gamma family developed jointly by Fiat and GM.

The biggest engineering change is at the back. In place of the first car's simpler beam-type rear axle, the 263 has an independent bi-link layout, which Fiat promoted as unique in the segment and credited with the class's best handling. The body grew too: the short passenger car is 4,406 mm (173.5 in) long on a 2,755 mm (108.5 in) wheelbase.

The van side gained a long-wheelbase Maxi, a high-roof XL and, from 2011, a pickup. The new Doblò collected the International Van of the Year 2011 award at the 2010 Hanover show, repeating the award its predecessor won for 2006. The Fiat Doblò overview puts the 263 alongside the type 223 before it and the K9 that followed.

Body styles: Combi, Cargo, Maxi and Work Up

The 263 came in more shapes than any other Doblò. Fiat's 2015 release lists two roof heights and two wheelbases, combined into these main versions:

• Passenger car (Combi, Panorama in some markets): five seats as standard, seven on request, with a 60/40 split rear bench. Trims were Pop, Easy and Lounge, plus the Trekking with bumper trims and alloy wheels from 2015.
• Cargo: the short panel van, sold under the Fiat Professional label.
• Cargo Maxi: the long-wheelbase van, on a 3,105 mm (122.2 in) wheelbase.
• Cargo XL: high roof plus long wheelbase; Wikipedia quotes a one-tonne payload with the 77 kW (105 PS) 1.6 Multijet.
• Work Up: a factory pickup from September 2011, built on the Maxi floor and sold only with diesel engines.

The Work Up is the unusual one. German sources say no rival in its European class offered a pickup straight from the factory before it. It is 4.95 m (16.2 ft) long, its 2.30 x 1.80 m (7.5 x 5.9 ft) bed takes three Euro pallets, all three aluminium sides fold down, and a lockable box sits under the load floor. Payload is just under 1,000 kg (2,205 lb). For other load-carriers, see the pickup trucks section.

Multijet, FIRE and Natural Power engines

Every 263 drives its front wheels. Petrol and the smallest diesel use a five-speed manual, the two stronger diesels a six-speed, and a five-speed Dualogic automated manual was also listed.

On the road, the 95 PS short passenger car needs 13.9 seconds to reach 100 km/h and tops out at 164 km/h (102 mph). ADAC lists the long 120 PS car at 12.1 seconds, 176 km/h (109 mph) and 167 g/km of CO2 on the WLTP cycle.

A battery-electric Doblò EV from Tofaş was introduced in July 2010 with a 21 kWh lithium-ion pack and a 100 kW motor; range is given as 150 km (93 miles). A later version with a 30 kWh battery under the rear floor, 83 kW and 220 Nm (162 lb-ft) is quoted at 210 km (130 miles) fully loaded, with the first one delivered in November 2018.

The 2015 facelift

The updated Doblò was unveiled at the Hanover commercial vehicle show, and Fiat's press launch of the passenger car followed in February 2015. Its press release called it the fourth Doblò, because Fiat counted the 2005 and 2010 updates as separate steps; catalogues, including ours, treat it as a facelift of the 263.

The main changes:

• New headlamps, grille and front bumper, and a completely new dashboard.
• Uconnect with a 5-inch colour touchscreen, with navigation and DAB radio on request.
• Better sound insulation and lower fuel consumption, according to German sources.
• Seven seats promoted as an option for the passenger car.
• ESP and Hill Holder listed as standard in Fiat's release, alongside front airbags.

Fiat quoted a 790 L boot, which it described as the largest in the class, and seven engines from 90 to 135 PS. By the time of the launch, Doblò registrations had passed 1.4 million across the first two generations, in 29 markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Doblò 263 dimensions and load space

The table shows the short passenger car after the facelift, with the 1.6 Multijet 95 and a six-speed manual. The long version is 4,756 mm (187.2 in) long with a 1,050 L (37.1 cu ft) boot, rising to 4,000 L (141.3 cu ft).

ADAC and AutoScout24 give the same 1,300 kg braked limit for short and long diesels.

Euro NCAP 2017: three stars for the facelift

Euro NCAP rated the 263 three stars in April 2017, testing a 1.6 Multijet Easy that weighed 1,580 kg (3,483 lb). Scores were 75% for adult occupants, 46% for child occupants, 57% for vulnerable road users and 25% for safety assist.

The detail behind those numbers:

• Frontal crash: the cabin stayed stable, but the driver's airbag lacked pressure, so the head bottomed out on the wheel; rear passenger chest protection was poor.
• Side crash: maximum points in both the barrier and pole tests.
• Children: poor neck protection for the 10-year-old dummy in the frontal test, and some child seats would not fit properly in the third row.
• Assistance systems: seatbelt reminders for the first two rows, but no autonomous emergency braking, lane support or speed assistance.

Denmark's FDM motoring club criticised the missing emergency braking when the result came out. The rating expired on 1 January 2024 and should not be read across to the K9 that replaced the 263.

Twins under other badges: Combo and ProMaster City

Tofaş built the same van for Opel and Vauxhall as the Combo from 2011 to 2018, differing from the Doblò mainly in its headlamps and grille. For North America it became the Ram ProMaster City from the 2015 model year to 2022, with a 2.4 Tigershark petrol engine of 132 kW (177 hp) and a nine-speed automatic not offered in the Fiat. If you are comparing small vans, the Citroën Berlingo and Renault Kangoo of the same years were its main rivals in Europe.

Choosing a used Doblò 263

No TÜV or ADAC reliability survey for this generation was found, so condition and history decide. These sourced points help narrow the search:

• Facelift or not: a 2015-on car has the new dashboard, Uconnect and, per Fiat, standard ESP. ADAC's data for a 2018–19 long Lounge lists front, side and head airbags, ESP, brake assist, traction control and rear Isofix as standard.
• Seven seats: check child-seat fit if you plan to use the third row, given the Euro NCAP findings.
• Engine: the 1.6 Multijet is the widest choice; the 2.0 disappeared in 2016, and CNG cars need a valid gas-system inspection where local rules demand one.
• Passenger car or van: the passenger version left the UK in 2019 and most markets in 2020, so late cars are mostly Cargo vans.

Browse more diesel cars or the Fiat model range for alternatives.