The van can transport up to 8 people safely and comfortably. Also, the storage area can carry up to 459kg, which includes the driver. The passenger seats are adjustable, have extra cushioning, provide a three-point safety seat belt system and include head restraints that can be removed to improve visibility for the driver when carrying cargo.

Fiat has added thick side rubber stripping to protect the body from dings and scrapes. Additionally, the transmission is a 6 speed manual with the gear stick’s placement in a handy location for the driver. The door pockets are also a nice feature. The van is front wheel drive and the clutch is a single plate hydraulic. The vans height is 1980 and the width is 1895. Fiat recommends van owners service the engine and change the oil every 20000.

Two basic engine options are available. The 1.9D is the entry-level budget version and the 2.0-litre JTD 8-valve Unijet diesel is for consumers requiring additional power. The van has 4 cylinders and 4 valves per cylinder.

The 1.9D emits 68bhp and 92lb/ft. of torque at 2,500rpm while the JTD is capable of 109bhp and 184lb/ft. at 1,750rpm. The top speed of the 1.9 is 89mph and the JTD is able to achieve 103mph. The 1.9 is slower, louder and dirtier, but it’s also more economical at £1,400 less.

Negative features of the Fiat Scudo Combi are the outdated lever controls for the heating and cooling. Also, when driving around curves the van feels a bit skittish and it is lacking in the power department.

The van provides power steering, adjustable seat for the driver and an immobilizer. However, the JTD version has safety airbags as an option and a 3-year Fiat Vanguard dealer warranty. There is also a 2-year paint warranty and an 8-year anti-perforation cover.

Comfort features include air conditioning, a CD/radio player, a safety alarm and an option for a park distance controller when backing up.

The base price of the van is £13,865 and for that cost consumers are purchasing a large capacity vehicle with low emissions sending out just 186g/km. The van’s fuel system has a multijet injection and a turbocharger with intercooler. Consumers can expect to receive excellent fuel efficiency at 40.4mpg for highway speeds and the mid 30’s for urban driving. The Combi is in Group 7 for insurance coverage.

The Fiat Scudo Combi is a good vehicle for individuals with large families or for those who need a large capacity vehicle for transporting people or goods.

The most common consumer version of the Volkswagen Transporter T5 is the Sportline. The standard engine is a 172 horsepower TDI diesel engine pumping out 295 foot-pounds of torque mated with a six speed manual transmission. The Sportline includes 18 inch alloy rims and has been lowered just over an inch versus standard variants of the Transporter. Jeremy Clarkson of “Top Gear” deemed the Sportline the “fastest van in Britain” based on a series of competitions using different vans on the show.

Volkswagen also offers the Transporter in a version called the California Beach and the California which are both in house designs by VW that are a motorhome version of the T5.

Mechanical amenities of the T5 line now include hill start assist, a dual clutch transmission and VW’s Four Motion four wheel drive system. Interior luxuries include Side Lane Assist, a system used for notifying you of vehicles in your blind spot when changing lanes, a tire pressure monitoring system, Dynaudio sound system, as well as touch screen navigation and a backup camera.

As of 2009 all engines are a straight four cylinder and all are only available in a 2.0 liter. Options include one gas engine, and four different diesel powered engines. The diesels are all Turbocharged Direct Injection (or TDI) and use common rail injection. Volkswagen claims the new range of engines available in the Transporter line are 20% more efficient than the previous line they replace.

Reviewers boast of good fuel economy and handling. Some saying that the T5 handles much more like a car than a van. Being built in Germany you can rest assured it is of a good build quality and easily holds its resale value. So far there are no plans to produce a T6 to replace the current version, so expect more editions of the T5 to come out.

Starting out at just under $20,000 for a base model, and going up to over $32,00 for a top of the line SX version, the Kia Sorento is making a big push, with their 2011 model. One of the largest advantages it holds over its competitors, is it nearly midsized dimensions. Longer than both of its main competitors, the Sorento uses this extra room, to add an optional third row, that can actually fit adults.

A base Sorento, comes with a 2.4L 4 cylinder engine, rated at 176hp, which is adequate and gets good gas mileage of 21/24/29, but lacks the horsepower to move over 3,600 pounds of vehicle, when really put to the test. The LX model and above, are available in a 3.5L V6 engine, rated at 276 hp, it gets the Sorento from 0 to 60 mph in only 7.4 seconds, which is one of the quicker times in its class, and gets mileage of 20/22/26.

The Sorento is a surprisingly smooth and quiet ride. The cars handles well, and the driving position is nice, as it places you at a strong commanding height. Seating is very comfortable, and the interior feels quite roomy once you get inside. You’ll easily be able to fit 3 adults in the back seat, if necessary.

The 2011 Sorento also offers a nice package of standard features. The base model, is outfitted with alloy wheels, air conditioning, power seats and windows, CD/MP3 audio system with satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB port. On the upper trim levels, some of the features include, a back up camera, rear parking sensors, leather. heated outside mirrors, LED turn signals, fog lamps, roof rails, dual zone automatic climate control, a navigation system. key less entry, push button ignition, a panoramic sunroof, and a rear seat DVD system.

The Sorento has a restrained, yet elegant looking interior, that is in line with the rest of the vehicles in its class. Both the climate and audio controls are intuitive and have a good feel, as does all of the other switchgear. The dashboard plastics are hard to the touch, but they also have a pleasing look to them. The 2011 Sorento is right among the top of it’s class when it comes to safety.

They earned an overall rating of 4 stars out of 5. The Sorento earned itself a top score of “Good” for how it performed during the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s crash tests. Some of the standard safety features include, anti-lock breaks, hill assist, stability control, front seat and full length side curtain airbags, along with active head restraints. Couple this with an excellent warranty and you’ve got one of the safest and most reliable SUV’s in its class,

Overall, the 2011 Sorento, hit many of the right notes. It’s affordable, has a ton of standard features, offers a good sized third row seat, an industry leading warranty, sporty handling and a good option V6 engine. Some of the drawbacks are, the suspension is a little too firm, it lacks a sliding second row seat, and the V4 engine didn’t stack up as well against its competitors.