Auto-Sleeper Burford

A French bed on a Mercedes Sprinter base vehicle, all for £119,100. Enjoy the convenience of a Cinderella toilet and a high-spec British-style kitchen, too.

The Burford is Auto-Sleepers’ largest and most expensive coachbuilt motorhome. Built on the Mercedes Sprinter rear-wheel drive chassis-cab, it has been updated for 2025 with a completely new look inside, featuring darker Ventura cabinetwork, new pale fabrics and Alde’s ‘wet’ central heating system.

This is a motorhome designed to appeal to couples who want a traditional British motorhome with space to accommodate occasional extra guests. It’s a four-sleeper, two-for-travel model that also has a sister model, the Burford Duo with single beds in place of the French double seen here.
 

Head-turner

First impressions matter, and the Burford turns heads on the campsite with its platinum-coloured GRP body panels (which are scratch and impact-resistant) as well as its substantial 7.92m length and long rear overhang that you’ll have to watch on rough ground.

Externally, its skirt locker is perfect for storing items like a hose, grip mats and a mains lead. This prototype lacked internal access to the space beneath the fixed French bed, but that will be rectified on production models.

The offside offers access to both the 91-litre fresh water tank and the 91-litre waste water tank (both underslung), as well as the filling point for the 25-litre underfloor LPG gas tank.

On the nearside there’s an external 230V socket and barbecue point, ideal for setting up for outdoor life on your pitch.

A Thule roof-mounted awning (part of the Mercedes Premium Pack), an LED awning light and rear corner steadies add to the Burford’s practicality. With its extended rear overhang, this motorhome can feel a little springy at the back, so the corner steadies help to minimise any bounce when you’re inside.

For security, there’s a CRiS chip and a pre-installed Sargent CAT 6/S7 tracker (for which a subscription is required). The electric slide-out entrance step automatically retracts when you start the engine.

The rear GRP panel features Hella LED light clusters, a colour reversing camera with an LCD rear view screen (again, part of the Mercedes Premium Pack), and brackets for a bike rack, fitted low down for easier loading and unloading of your cycles.

Star performance

Underpinning the Burford is the latest-generation Mercedes-Benz Sprinter with a 2-litre Euro 6.3 turbo-diesel engine delivering 170bhp. The model tested included the optional nine-speed torque converter automatic gearbox – a smooth set-up that’s perfectly matched for long-distance touring. It’s a 4.1-tonne vehicle, so you’ll need a C1 licence, but payload is usefully over 600kg. Remember that this is a two-berth motorhome without a garage, so that should be plenty.

Standard features include cruise control, Tempmatic semi-automatic cab air-conditioning, electrically adjustable and heated mirrors and an electric parking brake, while the Merc has several driving aids, including Crosswind Assist, Hill Start Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Active Brake Assist.

The cab also gets the latest MBUX infotainment system (not shown in our photos as the prototype was built on an older chassis) with a touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and DAB radio (another part of the Mercedes Premium Pack). Both driver and passenger seats swivel to become part of the front lounge.

Back to black

The Burford is a well-established model in Auto-Sleepers’ range but it gets a revised look inside this season.

New for 2025 are stylish black fixtures and fittings (cupboard handles, switches, taps, etc) and a choice of Amalfi (shown here) or Pamplona soft furnishings. Or you can opt for half-leather at £2,000 or full leather at an extra £4,000.

The contrasting colour-matched curtains and scatter cushions give a boutique hotel vibe, while Reflex foam in the lounge seats and a memory foam mattress on the fixed French bed ensure comfort and support.

Natural light pours in through the rooflights above the cab and lounge, while double-glazed windows with integrated blinds and flyscreens allow for both ventilation and privacy. Interior carpets are removable for easy cleaning, and there’s a new black grab handle to help with entry.

Storage is generous, from overcab lockers and drop-down under-seat access to the full-height wardrobe and even a cocktail cabinet (complete with crystal wine glasses – an Auto-Sleeper tradition!).

Safety is also well catered for, with smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and a fire extinguisher all fitted as standard.

British spec kitchen

On the offside, the Burford’s kitchen is spacious and well-equipped, featuring a dual-fuel hob with three gas burners and one electric hotplate, a separate oven and grill, and a built-in Dometic microwave (repositioned above the galley, rather than over the fridge/freezer).

The worktop area is enlarged with a pull-out extension panel, perfect for preparing meals.

The large fridge/freezer is opposite, while the main galley includes a drawer for cutlery (which is hidden behind a cupboard door), dedicated spots for a bin and kitchen roll, plus a sink with draining rack and new black tap.

An extractor fan with downlighters helps keep the space fresh while cooking, and a decorative splashback adds a dash of style here.

Fit for a princess

A dedicated shower cubicle is always a welcome feature in a motorhome and here the Burford doesn’t disappoint. It’s constructed from a one-piece GRP shell, eliminating joints and reducing the risk of leaks. Inside, you’ll find thoughtful touches such as a convenient rack for toiletries, twin drain holes for quicker water run-off, a dimmable light, and an extractor fan for effective ventilation. New for 2025 is the black anti-slip shower mat.

The washroom also includes a mirror, storage cupboards, shelving, and a radiator for comfort.

Fixtures are all finished in the new-for-2025 black, which gives the space a modern feel.

Something a bit special in this Burford is the optional Cinderella Travel incineration toilet, a £4,000 option. The Norwegian company has been making this type of loo since 1997 but is a novelty in a factory-produced motorhome and a first for Auto-Sleepers.

The version installed runs on gas and 12V, requires no water and turns human waste into ash. It’s perfect for off-grid touring as you don’t need to keep finding chemical waste points and in normal use it’ll only need emptying once a week.

Then the ash can simply be disposed of in general waste – or maybe you may want to keep it for your roses!

Dormez Bien

As mentioned, this is a four-berth motorhome, featuring a French bed at the rear nearside. This bed measures 1.86m in length, with a typical cut-away at the foot, so, while at its widest point it measures 1.24m, it tapers to 1.03m at the end, so do have a lay down and try the bed for size before making any decisions.

The bedroom area has a true home-from-home feel, separated from the kitchen by a proper door rather than a curtain or blind, although the opening is 1.80m high, so taller owners will need to stoop. Although the bed size is modest, the bedroom is spacious with a well-lit dressing table featuring a mirror with integrated lighting, plus a large wardrobe that includes a lockable cupboard.

A second double bed can be easily made up from the front lounge for visiting guests. At 2.05m by 1.23m, it’s a surprisingly comfortable arrangement but is unlikely to see much use as the Burford has only two travel seats.

Heating and services

An important upgrade for the 2025 Burford is that heating and hot water are provided by an Alde 3030 Plus ‘wet’ system. This offers continuous hot water and excellent warmth throughout. The water tanks also now benefit from ultrasonic sensors, giving more accurate and reliable readings. The leisure battery is lithium (100Ah) as standard, lighter and longer-lasting than traditional lead acid units. The updated Burford also comes with a Flojet 12V water pump and the latest MPK rooflights with integrated LED lighting.

Standard entertainment kit includes the Avtex AMR985 WiFi dual-SIM router with a 5G-compatible antenna – just slot in your own SIM card to get connected and start streaming YouTube!

The Burford is aimed at couples who want a very British take on a luxury two-berth motorhome. It has spec and space aplenty but its modestly sized French bed may not appeal in comparison with typical island bed rivals. It makes up for that in the kitchen and washroom, as well as offering that sought-after rear-wheel drive Mercedes chassis.