Let’s face it: vehicles are becoming more and more like each other as the years go on. Sometimes that due to competition between brands vying for customers, and sometimes it’s actually because two vehicles are sister cars and are basically the same vehicle with different name badges. 

Take the Ram ProMaster and the Fiat Ducato, for example. These two commercial vans look essentially the same and have most of the same features. Why? Because both vans are essentially the same vehicle. How’d that come to be? Let’s take a look.

What is the Ram ProMaster?

Let’s flashback to 2009: the U.S. was in a recession and countless businesses were struggling to stay afloat, including Chrysler. Chrysler was bought out by Fiat and became what is now Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

Before the acquisition by Fiat, Chrysler had a couple of commercial vans on the market but had none when Fiat bought them out. Fiat, on the other hand, had been producing the Ducato since 1981.

The Fiat Ducato has gone through many changes over the years and there are models designed for carrying either cargo or passengers. It’s currently in its third generation and there are over 30 different models available in all different types of configurations.

Fiat Chrysler has been marketing the Ducato as the Ram ProMaster in the U.S. and Canada since 2013. While most commercial vans have a body-on-frame build like a truck, the ProMaster has a unibody construction instead, allowing for a lower floor height for loading cargo. 

What are the differences between the Ram ProMaster and the Fiat Ducato?

The main — and most obvious — difference between the Ram ProMaster and the Fiat Ducato is that the ProMaster is sold in the U.S. and Canada, and the Ducato is sold overseas. The biggest similarity between the two is that both are built with the same unibody construction.

The Fiat Ducato has many more stylistic options that the Ram ProMaster offers, such as exterior paint colors and interior design choices. Additionally, the ProMaster is no longer available with a diesel engine, but the Ducato is.

The ProMaster is now only available with a 3.6L V6 gas engine, whereas the Ducato is instead standard with a 3.0L four-cylinder Fiat diesel engine, according to AllPar.com. 

In terms of size, the ProMaster and the Ducato are the same length and have the same size wheelbase, but the ProMaster is two inches wider than the Ducato.

Likewise, the ProMaster is available in heights ranging from 90-101 inches and the Ducato is available only with a height of 89 inches. The ProMaster also has more weight to it, weighing in at 8,550 lbs compared to the Ducato’s 7,716 lbs. 

But really, both vans are essentially the same thing

Ultimately, these two commercial vans are pretty much interchangeable. The Ram ProMaster has a slight advantage in terms of towing capacity thanks to its V6 engine, but the sizes allow for the same amount of cargo space inside. The Fiat Ducato has a bit more versatility in style options but, as far as commercial vehicles go, it’s the power that really matters.