Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2025 i What Motorhome

Even after 40-odd years in the business, it never ceases to amaze me how this industry keeps refining existing models and developing new ones year in, year out. Unlike in the car market, most major motorhome manufacturers release new models to the press (and dealers) every summer, which is where our search for the best of the best starts. Of course, we’re then able to make our first back-to-back comparisons at the Caravan Salon Düsseldorf, which is a truly exhausting week as we go from hall to hall, stand to stand. Smaller UK converters don’t miss out as they are invited to their own judging days in September and, by this point, we are beginning, usually, to have an idea of some of the front runners in several of the…

Luxury can be hard to define, but essentially, we considered all new motorhomes costing over £150,000, right up to mega liners priced at many times that figure. Niesmann’s new Arto – based for the first time on a Mercedes Sprinter – took the top spot, blending great design, clever features and on-trend styling. It feels more like an apartment on wheels than a traditional motorhome. And while many think bigger is better, we reckon the Arto 78 is superior to its longer brother, because it packs in more space-saving features. It shows that you don’t need to go large if you’re after an extra-special A-class. At 7.82m this is no wilting violet, but it’s an eminently usable size. It is quite tall, as befits a ‘mini liner’, because it benefits…

Bailey won this category last year with its first-ever campervan, the rear lounge Endeavour B62. A year on, and its van conversion range has doubled from two to four models and its new B63 has grabbed the trophy for the Bristol-based brand for a second time. The new B63 is a development of the four-berth B64, but designed around just two people and without the pop-top roof. It, therefore, has none of the compromises around storage found in its sister model. With no rear travel seats, the under-settee space is there for storage of bedding, etc. And, as the B63 only has to serve a couple, its living space is not stretched in the same way. The format is a classic, with a front lounge featuring a side sofa opposite…

WATCH the video! motorhome.ma/Genius Apremium-priced campervan deserves a premium base vehicle, such as the Mercedes Sprinter. It’s not just the appeal of the three-pointed star; the advantages stretch from the MBUX display to the nine-speed automatic ’box and smooth 190hp motor, as well as the option of a truly off-road-capable 4x4 system. However, the six-metre (actually 5.93m) Merc can’t match the internal dimensions of a similar-length Fiat, compromising living space. The next size up (6.97m) is compromised in a completely different way; it’s just too big for many buyers seeking the manoeuvrability of a campervan. It’s a seemingly impossible conundrum, but Malibu has come up with a solution, creating a 6.40m Sprinter by adding its own extension, in ‘extra-protect’ GRP sandwich construction to the rear of the L2 van. It’s so…

WATCH the video! motorhome.ma/review317 The 620 S is a new addition to a range that Auto-Trail launched a year ago. The Excel line-up now numbers five models but none is more compact than this, and yet this 6.20-metre motorhome feels remarkably roomy for its size. Crucially, for a ’van where size – or a lack of it – matters, the Excel is also 11cm slimmer than Auto-Trail’s other ranges. That’s important if you’re planning on driving in cities, exploring narrow country lanes, or if you’re comparing coachbuilts with campervans. The base vehicle here is the latest Transit, now with Ford’s own 12in SYNC 4 radio/navigation screen and the option of an eight-speed automatic gearbox. It has the usual car-like driving position, with twin armrests on the seats and plenty of adjustment…

The popularity of fixed single beds (usually in combination with a garage) shows no sign of waning, making this one of the most prolific categories. From a list of around 20 vehicles, we managed to whittle it down to seven really strong contenders. There were beautiful but expensive ’vans, as well as models with functionality or budget pricing at their core. The fact that we managed to decide on a winner without WWIII breaking out between the judges is a miracle! Eventually, the Hymer and Sunlight below were pipped to the post by Rapido as the C55 manages to be a fantastic all-rounder that also has on-trend (and desirable) compact dimensions. It’s only 2.17m wide and well under 7m in length. That could have led to a cramped interior, but…

For Knights Custom Conversions it has been a case of ‘close but no cigar’ over the last couple of years. This year, however, the planets have aligned for this bespoke Lincolnshire converter as the whole judging panel was blown away by its latest top-of-the-range conversion, the Prestige Tourer Plus, based on a long-wheelbase T6.1. You don’t have to look long and hard at this camper to realise that it’s something special. The quality of finish is immediately obvious, as is the passion behind each and every one of the vehicles designed by Jon Nightingale, the founder of Knights. Although this converter offers a range of standard vehicles, we suspect that none ever leaves the Fenland industrial unit quite the same – each one is tailored to its customer’s tastes, spec…

This was one of the hardest categories to judge, simply because of the huge number of worthy contenders from which a winner had to be picked. Having selected our top three, the new Eriba Car 600 (this German brand’s first-ever campervan) really impressed us with its build quality and panache, as well as a host of features that help it stand out from the crowd. Plus, being based on the Volkswagen Crafter, which is a class leader behind the wheel, its starting price of £71k was a very pleasant surprise that puts it in direct competition with Fiat and Ford-based rivals. The stunning duo-tone paintwork (white/blue, white/red or silver/grey) is included, whichever combination you order. The spec also features front fog/cornering lights, a heated multifunction leather steering wheel, Light Assist,…

You know the format: a large front lounge with drop-down bed above, central kitchen, and a washroom across the rear that hides a garage under its supersized wardrobe. Arguably, Chausson was the first to make this type of low-profile motorhome successful – so successful, in fact, that it has many imitators. Back in 2017, however, this French firm came up with something that arguably worked better for a lot of customers. Its 630 model was an immediate hit, but in post-Covid times it became a casualty of a severely pruned model range when all manufacturers were struggling with chassis and component supply. Now, the 630 is back for 2025 and the queues of customers wanting to see inside it at the NEC show spoke volumes about the rightness of that…

Because it’s the reason to buy, our judging criteria in this category revolve firstly around the bedroom, but without compromising the rest of the motorhome. There are key things to look out for with island beds, starting with the mattress size. Check out those corners, too, and make sure they’re not excessively rounded; while this improves access around the bed, it’ll impact on your sleep if a foot dangles out of the duvet. Then there are beds that slide back during the day to create a chaise longue – make sure you can still get around the bed when it’s fully flat. Bed height can be too low, impacting on the storage beneath, but if the bed is too high your ability to sit up in bed, or even access…