Looks do matter, even when we're talking commercial vehicles and anyone who tries to tell you otherwise should be politely reminded of Fiat's Doblo Cargo. A highly capable van in almost every respect, the little Fiat was held back from achieving the recognition it deserved in the marketplace by styling that could best be described as challenging. Despite this, the vehicle's underlying qualities still shone through its gawky façade to help it rack-up 310,000 worldwide sales and, now that the thorny cosmetic issue has been addressed, today's version looks equipped to build on that success.

The Doblo wasn't the first Fiat to be slightly scuppered at the initial design stage. The whole saga mirrors that of the Multipla MPV which arrived to widespread critical acclaim in the press but sporting one of the most ungainly vehicular front-ends in living memory. Every correspondent who waxed lyrical about its ground-breaking packaging and supreme practicality then felt obliged to insert the caveat that nobody would buy the car because it looked so odd. It's a little sad but true that we Brits prefer the staid to the extraordinary when it comes to the way our cars look and the same goes for our commercial vehicles. Fiat's Doblo Cargo (along with its Doblo passenger car sibling) was never quite as visually outlandish as the Multipla but the chunky latticework grille, the horizontal bar that split the headlamps and that snout-effect sloping bonnet line meant it stood-out big time from its rivals. As with the Multipla, Fiat eventually caved in and commissioned a thorough facelift.

Today's Doblo Cargo unceremoniously ditches most of the design cues that made its predecessor the most distinctive small van on the UK market. It's still striking to look at by van standards but in a more uniform and subtle way. The large headlamps curve round into the vehicle's flanks at the corners and the frontal aspect is dominated by the clean planes of the oversize bumper inserts. These sit either side of a highly Audi-esque grille and under-bumper arrangement. The Doblo's rounded-off side windows remain, as do the side mirrors with their body-coloured stripes. There are hefty side rubbing strips to protect the bodywork and the rear lights have been tweaked too.

"Engines have never been a problem for the Doblo Cargo, at least since Fiat's JTD common-rail diesel units came on the scene"

Less obvious to the casual observer is the fact that the current Doblo Cargo is a teensy bit bigger. Measuring in 91mm longer, 6mm wider and 10mm lower than its predecessor while riding on a 2,583mm wheelbase that's increased from 2,566mm, it has expanded in every direction. In standard form, this growth translates into a 3.2m3 load volume that can be grown to 3.8m3 if you opt for a high roof derivative. These load volumes significantly outstrip rivals like Citroen's Berlingo and Renault's Kangoo, while the Doblo Cargo's payload capacity of 730kg is class competitive. The loadbay is accessed through the asymmetrically split side-hinged rear doors and if you upgrade to the SX trim level, a pair of sliding side-doors are also added.

Engines have never been a problem for the Doblo Cargo, at least since Fiat's JTD common-rail diesel units came on the scene. Refined, flexible and utilising the latest Multijet engine control technology, the entry-level 16-valve 1.3-litre JTD unit is a second-generation common-rail diesel. There's 75bhp at 4,000rpm on offer here and 140lb/ft of torque as low as 1,750rpm making the Doblo feel quicker than its performance figures suggest. You should also be able to average over 50mpg. The 8-valve 1.9 JTD remains at the pinnacle of the Doblo Cargo range. This 105bhp engine is of the first generation common-rail configuration and utilises Fiat's Unijet injection system. It's not as advanced as the 1.3-litre but it's faster and nearly as economical. Maximum torque is 147lb/ft and it arrives at 1,750rpm. Buyers looking for real pace might feel like holding fire until two more engines arrive in the near future. An 85bhp version of the 1.3-litre unit and a 120bhp 1.9 JTD will add some real spice to the line-up when they come on stream.

The final engine choice is the cheapest in the range, a 1.4-litre 77bhp unit. Petrol is often viewed as a dirty word amongst commercial vehicle buyers but this engine is feisty and provides respectable economy. There's not as much torque as with the diesels but the petrol is more refined and could be enough to tempt a few buyers away from the black pumps. Regardless of the engine fitted, the Doblo Cargo handles sweetly with good weight and feel to the steering plus plenty of grip.

Internally, the Doblo is a vibrant proposition with some particularly lurid trim colours available to match the 12 different exterior paintwork options. This vivid approach certainly livens up the driver's working environment and makes a change from the traditional CV choice of grey cloth or wipe-clean vinyl. The fabric seems suitably hardwearing and the plastics tough. There's a shelf above the windscreen providing extra storage, along with decent sized-door pockets. Dashboard-mounted gearlevers are usually included to let the driver slide across and exit via the passenger door but the Doblo's console sticks out too far to make this an easy manoeuvre. Otherwise, there's little to criticise here: the unusual styling theme carries over well from the exterior but not at the expense of functionality. The driving position is upright and visibility is good, combining with the tight 10.5m turning circle to make the Doblo Cargo a very malleable small van.

If you're one of the small van buyers who shunned the Fiat Doblo Cargo because of its ugly duckling appearance, now's the time to revisit it. The transformation is hardly in the beautiful swan league (it's more a case of significantly smartened-up duck) but that will be enough to satisfy most. This practical, well engineered, fine driving and, now, good looking van could be about to take its deserved place on centre stage.