Benimar Tessoro range overview

What happens when you combine Ford’s latest Transit with Spanish motorhome manufacturer, Benimar, and Marquis Leisure’s knowhow? That’s the Tessoro!

It’s an eight-model line-up of low-profile coachbuilts for 2023, in lengths ranging from 6m to 7.4m, all with four berths and four travel seats. They are all on 3,500kg chassis, meaning drivers with a standard car licence can drive them.

All come with the more powerful 168bhp Transit engine allied to a smooth six-speed manual gearbox (automatic is available as a £2,500 optional extra). The only other factory-fitted option is a towbar and electrics (£1,400).

All Tessoros have their habitation doors on the UK nearside – unusual for imported motorhomes. Similarly, all have NCC (National Caravan Council) approval.

New for this season, across the whole range, central locking now includes that habitation door. All models come with warranties for five years covering the coachbuilt bodywork, two years for the conversion/habitation, and three years for the Ford base vehicle.

An overall length of 7.38m (over 24ft) allows for fixed single beds set over a sizeable garage at the rear. Washroom facilities are found at the foot of each bed – a shower compartment on the offside and toilet room nearside.

It’s the same forward lounge format as its fellow Tessoros (it’s a single side sofa in this model, though), and you get the additional benefit of that drop-down double bed (maximum dimensions 1.90m by 1.39m). Just be wary of a rather tight payload here, especially if you are considering four-person use.

This may be the only sub-6m-long Tessoro, but it still caters for up to four, although it will appeal to couples more.

It has a large rear kitchen and comfortable front lounge with a drop-down double bed above. Its short body length makes it easier to drive and park. And its short rear overhang augurs well for better handling.

Chefs will love the kitchen for its cooking facilities, storage and worktop space. It extends along the nearside into the rear and the fridge/freezer is located on the back wall.

Here’s a floorplan that gives you settees at the rear and a typical Benimar lounge at the front – over both of which are drop-down double beds just waiting to glide down into position at the touch of a switch.

It’s that U-shaped rear lounge, though, that will draw you most to the 482. Enjoy views out to three sides wherever you park up and, if there’s just two of you, there’s plenty of space to sprawl.

All Tessoros boast Truma’s Combi 6 system operating from gas and/or 230V mains electricity. It comes complete with iNet X control panel, which includes an app so you can use your mobile phone to set your heating and hot water controls.

Another floorplan with huge storage area at the rear and large washroom just forward of this.

At the front is the lounge with twin inward-facing settees. If you want to carry four passengers, there are two rear travel seats, both with Isofix, that fold down into the settee bases when not required.

One feature of the central kitchen you’ll love is the slide-out, floor-to-ceiling racking system.

The only model with an island bed, flanked by wardrobes (the one on the nearside is shelved; the offside offers full hanging depth), plus drawer storage in the bed base – and you still also get an electric drop-down double over the lounge.

With that permanent bed at the back, however, you can give yourselves all the privacy of a closed-off bedroom, complete with en suite facilities.

The 494 has a separate shower cubicle and toilet room, on the offside and nearside respectively.