In an independent road test published by What Car?, reviewer Phil Huff examined the Iveco Daily 4x4 in 7.0-tonne All-Road panel van form. Rather than a standard large van with mild all-wheel-drive traction added, this is a true heavy commercial vehicle constructed on an exposed truck chassis. Power comes from a 3.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engine producing 174bhp and 317lb-ft of torque, delivered via Iveco’s eight-speed Hi-Matic automatic transmission. Running a permanent four-wheel-drive system with twin rear wheels, the tested long-wheelbase version provides an expansive 16-cubic-metre cargo volume and an extraordinary 3,483kg payload capacity, along with a 3,500kg braked towing limit.
What Car? praised the Daily 4x4’s immense capability once off the tarmac. Tested in a muddy quarry on standard road-biased tyres, it tackled severe climbs, steep descents, and deep standing water with remarkable ease. The reviewer singled out the eight-speed Hi-Matic automatic transmission as a major asset, noting that its smooth, responsive shifting keeps the engine in its prime operating band while removing significant workload from the driver. Other highlights include the commanding forward view from the elevated driving perch, the sheer volume of the cargo hold, and a suspended driver’s seat that successfully softens harsh road impacts.
The trade-off comes on paved highways, where the Daily’s heavy-duty underpinnings feel compromise-heavy. What Car? criticized its slow, vague steering, which demands constant minor corrections to travel in a straight line. The mechanical suspension feels firm and unsettled when lightly laden, and pronounced body roll discourages any brisk cornering. Fuel economy proved steep, averaging 18.4mpg across mixed motorway and rural driving. Furthermore, operating a 7.0-tonne vehicle brings considerable bureaucratic hurdles, requiring a Category C1 or C driving licence, an operator’s licence, tachograph compliance, and commercial annual test testing.
The review makes clear this machine is unsuitable for multi-drop couriers or general builders who only encounter the occasional damp grass verge; conventional all-wheel-drive vans like the Volkswagen Crafter 4Motion or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter AWD are far easier and cheaper to run. Instead, the Daily 4x4 is built for specialist utility, infrastructure, and heavy-duty extraction operators who must haul several tonnes of equipment into roadless, hostile terrain.
Verdict: What Car? did not assign a standard single star score, observing instead that the Daily 4x4 is a five-star van if your fleet truly demands its immense off-road hauling capacity, but an expensive folly if it does not. It remains cumbersome and unrefined on regular roads, but virtually unmatched when the tarmac runs out.