Fiat Scudo is no Italian stallion

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Two of these super-van-cars were launched in South Africa in recent months and they make for interesting comparisons - in the left corner you have the Fiat Scudo multi-Jet and in the opposite corner you have the Hyundai H-1 GLS.

I drove the Korean nine-seater at the launch and liked it very much for two main reasons - its quiet, comfortable ride and its amazing price tag of only R289,900. What I didn't like (and most of my fellow motoring scribes agree) is its sleepy engine which really needs a high-rev whipping to get going.

And just recently I got to pilot the big Italian around Cape Town and surrounds and it was good to be able to compare the two newcomers.

I thought the Hyundai was slow off the mark, but the Fiat is even worse. Life in the Scudo only begins when the rev counter gets to 2,000r/min and the 300Nm of torque hits its peak.

And even then you need a long, straight, windless stretch of road for it to creep to its maximum speed of about 150km/h (Fiat claims a little more, but, whip it as I may, I couldn't get it to go any faster).

But then the legal speed limit is only 120km/h and Scudo drivers are hardly likely to be dicing with foot-on-the-floor taxis.

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At least it does move fairly quickly when overtaking, although it makes its gravel voice heard when you change down and pedal along quite hard.

Talking about gear changes, its stubby gear lever falls easily to hand although the six-speed manual is a little sticky at times.

The steering is pleasantly sharp and although the Fiat is the longest and tallest of this lot, it doesn't feel too top heavy. However, the ride is fairly van-like and all the occupants bounce about when the road gets bumpy.

Price is an important factor in this sector and one has to weigh up what extra value (if any) you get for the R73,200 price premium you pay for the Fiat over the Hyundai.

To be blatantly honest, I don't think the Scudo justifies such a hefty price tag.

The Fiat has nine seats. So does the Korean.

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The Fiat has more luggage space, but it is even slower than the Hyundai. The Fiat has only one airbag, the Hyundai has two. But at least the Scudo has head restraints for all occupants.

In terms of looks the two big wheelie-bins are very similar, but neither of them are as smart-looking as the Mercedes-Benz Vito which, admittedly, boxes in a whole different league with a price tag of R420,000 plus.

In fairness, this type of transport is merely a migration from a fairly basic delivery van to an only slightly less basic people-carrier - and none of these vans are going to win any beauty prizes.

Like the rest of the van clan, the Scudo could do with lots more care in the passenger comfort area if it wants to crack the family/ recreation market.

The seats are not Business Class, but they can be removed quite easily and although the rear seats tumble forward, the centre row doesn't fold down, so you have to slide them forward to gain access to the seats right at the very back.

The seating configuration is three rows, three abreast, single seats on the right and double benches on the left.

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Leg space is quite adequate, but the seats themselves are designed more for tiny Vespa riders than local steak-and-chips consumers.

The cabin finish (or should that read “unfinished cabin”?) reminds me of Cold War Russian cars. The metal surrounds are bog basic utilitarian and cheaply painted, with a couple of bits of cheap plastic camouflage here and there.

Middle and back passengers have access to aircon vent controls, but there are no seat pockets or storing space. Like the Hyundai, the poor passenger who sits in the centre seat up front has zero leg space because of a jutting console.

Fortunately most of these vans will probably not be used for many bum-numbing long distance trips.

The aircon works well, it has electric front windows and wing mirrors, the sound system is not bad and the steering wheel is fully adjustable although tall okes might battle with leg space because the driver's seat can only move a couple of centimetres backwards.

Big plusses are huge windows offering good all-round views and although some might find it a bit over the top, I liked the bright blue seat colouring which tends to lighten up the cabin quite a bit.

Another good tick box is the Scudo's frugal juice usage of between 9 and 11 litres/100km during our test week.

When it comes to buying options, the price of the Fiat will turn some prospective buyers away. The very basic interior, hard ride, its not too enthusiastic engine and the lack of airbags and other safety features also count against it.

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But the fact that it is quite economical to run might appeal to commercial operators, but then again, how much fuel do you have to save to make up the huge price difference between it and the Hyundai?

The 30,000km service intervals are good, and like the H-1 is comes with a five-year/100,000km service plan.

The Fiat Scudo was last year's Van of the Year in Europe. If the Fiat white coats back in Italy take shorter lunch breaks, consume less wine and focus on getting the basics right - and then slash the price quite dramatically - the Scudo might even stand an outside chance for the South African Mom's Taxi of the Year Award.