Full review

Words & photos: Peter Vaughan

The Auto-Trail Excel 620G

The Excel name returned this season on a new line-up of slimline low-profiles (2.24m wide), based on the Ford Transit. This 620G is the smallest model.

Starting at £61,634, it’s one of Auto-Trail’s most affordable motorhomes – and one of its most contemporary-looking.

It’s not just about aesthetics, though, with practical touches like a low entrance step, opening overcab sunroof, external shower and a lithium leisure battery. We particularly like the choice of five cab colours, including this Chrome Blue. 

The options

While those paint options are at no extra cost, you do need to budget for the two options packs. The Lux Pack (£1,578) adds the 9.5in touchscreen with sat-nav and colour reversing camera, as well as an external barbecue point, TV aerial, Omnivent two-way fan, solar panel, carpets and an upgraded habitation door.

Then there’s the Drivers Pack, (£1,975) which includes automatic headlights and wipers, front fog lamps, a heated windscreen, cab air-con and cornering lights. 

And, to match the spec shown here, you’ll need alloy wheels (£995), the 21.5in Avtex TV (£420), cab blinds (£680) and a 3.5m awning (£1,095). That’s a total of £68,377. 

Unlike its bigger brothers, the 620G has the 130hp engine, but that should be perfectly adequate for something this size. Ford’s six-speed automatic gearbox can be added for a reasonable £1,860 and, as with any Transit, the cab is a nice place to be.

The exterior

Externally, the key feature is the garage, with its larger loading door on the offside (where there are useful shelves just inside). Headroom here is 1.10m and width 75cm. 

Water tanks are of good capacity (100 litres fresh, 80 litres waste) but underslung and neither heated nor insulated. 

Note, too, the height of the gas locker, which will require more effort when changing cylinders.

The interior

Inside, the clean design features handleless top lockers, fabric surrounds to the windows, plenty of ambient light (some dimmable) and tweed-style upholstery. 

The half-dinette seems roomier because the table can be stowed away (in its own locker alongside the fridge) and the overcab sunroof is one of the biggest. It feels much more confined sitting on the bench seat with the table in place, though, and we’d have liked reading lights over the cab chairs.

With no extension leaf on the table, three (at most) can dine.

The beds

The 620G also offers three berths. The lounge converts into a transverse single bed (1.92m by 0.88m max) with the aid of three bulky infill cushions, but once erected it blocks the habitation door. 

Of course, the main bed is a fixed transverse double above the rear garage. It measures 1.93m by 1.28m (increasing to 1.43m by your pillows). 

There’s enough headroom to  sit up (with no cupboards in the way) and reading lights are conveniently situated. 

Fresh air will flow from the window at the foot and small roof vent above, but there’s no ventilation under the mattress and, with the bed mounted 1.22m off the floor, you’ll need to use the ladder for access. 

The kitchen

The kitchen has a cooker with three gas rings and a combined oven and grill, as well as a decent amount of worktop thanks to a flap by the door and a cover for the sink. 

There’s a generous compressor fridge (149 litres) and plenty of storage, including two large drawers. There’s an unusually large wardrobe, too, mounted under the bed. 

The washroom

Opposite the galley, the washroom has white, wipe-clean walls and good space. There’s an opening window, a large mirror and plenty of room to use the loo or the washbasin. 

Unfortunately, showering is not so appealing as you’ll have to deploy a shower curtain. 

Where to buy

Auto-Trail’s dealer network includes 34 outlets around the UK. In Scotland the dealer is Perthshire Caravans and in Northern Ireland it’s Abbey Caravans & Leisure, while in Wales Spinney Flintshire and Threeways Motorhomes cover the north and Continental Caravans is in the south.

In England, you’ll find a good spread of Auto-Trail retailers, from Tyne Valley Motorhomes near Newcastle down to Marquis Motorhomes’ Plymouth branch. 

The company also has dealers in Australia and New Zealand but none in Europe.