Photo of a Fiat Talento

Fiat Talento

Two lives: a shortened Ducato, then a nine-seat Renault cousin from 2016.12

Researched November 2, 2026 from 25 sources

At a glance

0100200
68–168 hpPower
0100200
137–177 km/hTop speed
0200400
120–380 N·mTorque
01,2502,500
1,450–2,174 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.110111214

Engine
I: 2.0 L gas, 1.9 L diesel; II: 1.6/2.0 L turbo diesels19
Layout
Front engine, front-wheel drive; II Combi: 8 or 9 seats129
Gearbox
I: 5-speed manual; II: 6-speed manual, later 6-speed DCT11011
Built at
I: Alfa Romeo V.I., Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy; II: Sandouville, France11213
Units built
II: about 126,000, including vans and minibuses1

The story

The 1989–1994 Talento shortened the Ducato to fill Fiat's compact-van gap. The name returned in 2016 for a Renault Trafic-based Scudo replacement, with a nose shaped by Fiat's styling office.13

1989: The short Ducato gets a new name19891994: The first Talento bows out19942016: Scudo replacement, Renault foundations20162018: Sportivo drops 28 mm at the front · Seven seats and a movable lounge20182019: MY2020: the 2.0 EcoJet arrives20192020: Renault calls time at Sandouville · DCT reaches the passenger range20202022: Scudo and Ulysse take over2022 Fiat 238: 1967–1983Fiat 238Fiat Ducato I (ZFA 280/290): 1981–1993ZFA 280/290Fiat Talento I (ZFA 280): 1989–1994ZFA 280Fiat Scudo I: 1996–2007Fiat Scudo IFiat Scudo II: 2007–2016Fiat Scudo IIFiat Talento II (296): 2016–2021296Fiat Ulysse: 2022–present 197019801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones191214192021
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1967–1983Fiat 238
1981–1993Fiat Ducato I (ZFA 280/290)
1989–1994Fiat Talento I (ZFA 280)
1996–2007Fiat Scudo I
2007–2016Fiat Scudo II
2016–2021Fiat Talento II (296)
2022–presentFiat Ulysse
1989The short Ducato gets a new name
1994The first Talento bows out
2016Scudo replacement, Renault foundations
2018Sportivo drops 28 mm at the front
2018Seven seats and a movable lounge
2019MY2020: the 2.0 EcoJet arrives
2020Renault calls time at Sandouville
2020DCT reaches the passenger range
2022Scudo and Ulysse take over
  1. 1989

    The short Ducato gets a new name

    The original Talento starts production in November, shortening the Ducato to fill the compact-van gap left by the 900E and 238.1

  2. 1994

    The first Talento bows out

    Production ends in June after a run that began in November 1989.1

  3. 2016

    Scudo replacement, Renault foundations

    The revived Talento replaces the Scudo with Renault Trafic III underpinnings, following Fiat's 2014 agreement with Renault.1

  4. 2018

    Sportivo drops 28 mm at the front

    The eight-seat Family-based Sportivo gets 17-inch matte-black wheels and springs that lower it 28 mm at the front and 18 mm at the rear.4

  5. 2018

    Seven seats and a movable lounge

    The Irmscher-badged Sportivo Shuttle has rotating second-row chairs and sliding seats; its third-row bench converts into a bed.5

  6. 2019

    MY2020: the 2.0 EcoJet arrives

    The 1.6 remains at entry level; the new 2.0 EcoJet brings variable-geometry turbocharging, Euro 6d-Temp and up to 380 Nm.6

  7. 2020

    Renault calls time at Sandouville

    Renault announces the end of Sandouville's Talento contract as FCA's planned merger with PSA reshapes the partnership.7

  8. 2020

    DCT reaches the passenger range

    A dual-clutch automatic joins the 2.0 EcoJet range, with passenger bodies among the configurations offered.8

  9. 2022

    Scudo and Ulysse take over

    Fiat starts building the third-generation Scudo and its Ulysse passenger counterpart at Hordain after ending the Renault collaboration.1

Every generation

Power over the years

From 68 hp to 168 hp in 30 years.

050100150200 1990199520002005201020152020 hp 1989 · 68 hp · I 1.9 diesel (1989–1994 range)1989 · 74 hp · I 2.0 gasoline (1989–1994 range)1993 · 83 hp · I 2.0 catalyzed gasoline2016 · 94 hp · II 1.6 95 single turbo2016 · 118 hp · II 1.6 120 single turbo2016 · 123 hp · II Combi 1.6 EcoJet 125 Twin Turbo2016 · 143 hp · II Combi 1.6 EcoJet 145 Twin Turbo2019 · 118 hp · MY2020 2.0 EcoJet 1202019 · 143 hp · MY2020 2.0 EcoJet 1452019 · 168 hp · MY2020 2.0 EcoJet 170 168 hp MY2020 2.0 EcoJet 170 68 hp I 1.9 diesel (1989–1994 range)
13691011121516
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
198968I 1.9 diesel (1989–1994 range)
198974I 2.0 gasoline (1989–1994 range)
199383I 2.0 catalyzed gasoline
201694II 1.6 95 single turbo
2016118II 1.6 120 single turbo
2016123II Combi 1.6 EcoJet 125 Twin Turbo
2016143II Combi 1.6 EcoJet 145 Twin Turbo
2019118MY2020 2.0 EcoJet 120
2019143MY2020 2.0 EcoJet 145
2019168MY2020 2.0 EcoJet 170

Versions

10 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Standard

    Talento I minibus

    1989–1994

  • Standard

    Combi

  • Standard

    Combi L1 SX

  • Standard

    Kombi Family 1.6 Ecojet 145

    143 hp
  • Standard

    Panorama N1

  • Special

    Sportivo

    2018

  • Special

    Panorama with Visu module

  • Limited

    Business Edition

  • Limited

    Exclusive Edition

  • Special

    Irmscher Sportivo Shuttle

    2018

How to spot one

Look for

  • The original Talento combines a short Ducato body, normal-height roof and non-sliding side door.1
  • Modern cars pair a broad horizontal grille with low-mounted LED daytime running lights.313
  • Modern side creases slope down from the windshield area and continue toward the rear.18
  • Modern twin-door rears carry a large Fiat badge and a long, slanted Talento script.18
  • Modern Combi bodies come in a 4.99 m short version and a stretched 5.39 m long-wheelbase version.2

Year by year

  1. 1989–1994 / 2016–2020

    The original has a normal roof and non-sliding side door; the revival switches to a Renault Trafic III-derived body.1

  2. 2020 model year

    Exterior styling stays unchanged; clues inside are a subtly revised dashboard and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility on the 7-inch screen.6

  3. 2021 model year

    The optional six-speed 6DCT automatic brings a selector with a D position and a manual shift gate to its right.11

Don’t confuse it with

  • Renault Trafic III

    The shared body is little help: the Talento has a wide horizontal grille where the Trafic wears its diamond badge.113

  • Nissan NV300

    Check the badges and grille: Fiat uses its own badging and a broad horizontal grille on the shared body.13

  • Opel/Vauxhall Vivaro B

    Look at the nose: Fiat has its own grille and front bumper, including a horizontal moustache-like strip beneath the grille.1316

Against its rivals

  • Talento vs Citroën SpaceTourer BlueHDi 150

    120 km/h in sixth lower is better

    Talento2,150 rpm
    Citroën SpaceTourer BlueHDi 1502,300 rpm
    14

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 10 versions matters
  • Legend

    • 11 stories from its legend
    • “Cities: Skylines II's disputed Talento”
    • “The 238's engine lived under the seat”
  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 7 generations
  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 25 sources
  1. Fiat Talento — Wikipédia fr.wikipedia.org
  2. Fiat Talento Combi, prova su strada. L'incrociatore per tutti motori.quotidiano.net
  3. Nuovo Fiat Talento: prova su strada in anteprima sicurauto.it
  4. Fiat Talento Sportivo: Tiefer gelegt und sportlicher - Auto-Medienportal auto-medienportal.net
  5. Fiat Talento Sportivo Shuttle: Sportliches Sondermodell mit sieben Sitzen | eurotransport eurotransport.de
  6. La mise à jour du Fiat Talento (2020) - L'argus largus.fr
  7. Clap de fin imminent pour le Fiat Talento à Sandouville - Journal Auto journalauto.com
  8. Fiat Talento. Estrena cambio automático DCT de doble embrague motor16.com
  9. Fiat Talento Kombi L1H1 1,2t 2.0 Ecojet 120 Turbo Family (09/19 - 12/20): Technische Daten, Bilder, Preise | ADAC adac.de
  10. Fiat Talento Kombi L1H1 1,2t 1.6 Ecojet 145 Twin Turbo Family (07/16 - 08/18): Technische Daten, Bilder, Preise | ADAC adac.de
  11. Co všechno dokáže nový Fiat Talento? | Automobil Revue automobilrevue.cz
  12. Fiat Ducato I — Wikipédia fr.wikipedia.org
  13. Fiat Talento van (2016-2023) review | Auto Express autoexpress.co.uk
  14. Comparativa Citroën SpaceTourer Talla M BlueHDi 150 S&S Business / Fiat Talento Combi Base Largo 1.6 EcoJet 125 CV noticiasdefurgonetas.es
  15. Renault Trafic & Vivaro Timing Chain Problems | 1.6 DCi stargaragemansfield.co.uk
  16. Fiat Talento Combi:Efektívny mikrobus | Autožurnál autozurnal.com
  17. Rijtest: Fiat Talento Combi 1.6 EcoJet (2016) | Autofans autofans.be
  18. Driven: Fiat Talento Review | Professional Van professionalvan.com
  19. Fiat 238 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  20. Fiat Scudo - Wikipedia it.wikipedia.org
  21. Fiat Talento - Common problems car-recalls.eu
  22. Fiat Talento panel van review | Vehicle reviews 2016 | The Van Expert thevanexpert.co.uk
  23. IGCD.net: Fiat Talento in Cities: Skylines II igcd.net
  24. 2 282 € à débourser pour deux problèmes à 68 200 km ! autoplus.fr
  25. FIAT Talento Panorama 1.2 LH1 2.0 Multijet 145 Euro 6d-Temp Gris clair métal | VPauto.fr vpauto.fr
  • fr.wikipedia.org
  • motori.quotidiano.net
  • sicurauto.it
  • auto-medienportal.net
  • eurotransport.de
  • largus.fr
  • journalauto.com
  • motor16.com
  • adac.de
  • automobilrevue.cz
  • autoexpress.co.uk
  • noticiasdefurgonetas.es
  • stargaragemansfield.co.uk
  • autozurnal.com

Photo credits