Auto-Sleeper Nuevo EK Plus motorhome

A long-established model that’s been updated, including the new CombiNeo heating and hot water system

A couple of years ago, the shortest ‘L1’ chassis-cab from Sevel (Fiat, Peugeot and Citroën) was discontinued. Why is this important, you ask? Well, it had a big impact on the sub-6m end kitchen floorplans that have almost been around for more than two decades.

The next chassis size up meant increasing the length of these motorhomes by at least half a metre. Yes, you got more space, but they weren’t really that compact any more.

So Auto-Sleepers decided to tackle the problem by marrying the Fiat base to an Al-Ko chassis and the ‘Plus’ suffix for the Nuevo EK is the result.

Wide boy

Driving is pretty straightforward. Foot on the brake, pop the automatic gearbox into drive, release the manual handbrake and off you go. I prefer a manual handbrake to the electric button-operated ones, but it does get in the way a little, and did show scuff marks from the swivel cab seat.

The dash is fully digital, with controls on the steering wheel for the cruise control, phone, etc. The volume controls are tucked away at the back of the steering wheel, but in a pretty intuitive place. This new Nuevo is 6m long, but also 2.32m wide, so it does feel a little broad on some narrow lanes. However, it is also very surefooted, both navigating towns and at higher speeds on dual carriageways. That’s thanks to the Al-Ko chassis.

There is a downside, though, and that’s the firmness of the ride. You do feel the surface of the road and it can cause rattles from the rear. Adjusting tyre pressures might help, as well as maybe adding air assistance to the rear suspension. However, the normal source of rattles in a motorhome – the blinds, sunroof and overcab mouldings, etc, – were quiet.

And it’s worth pointing out that the top glovebox compartment on the passenger side has a vent into it so, on a hot day with the air-con on, this can keep your chocolate cool and at hand. Finally, the gas system and main interior lights switch off automatically on start-up, which can be handy.

However, if you stop for a day of sightseeing, remember to switch the gas back on (for the fridge) before leaving the motorhome.

Stepping inside

The habitation door is at the rear nearside and is linked to the central locking. Pressing the unlock button, the step comes out, the light above and the grab handle inside illuminate, and the small cab lights come on. It’s also worth noting that the step goes in after a while, but you just use the button to extend it again. The step also retracts automatically when the engine starts. Note, too, that the central locking is keen to relock itself pretty quickly, so always keep the keys on you.

The door has a non-opening window with blind and flyscreen and a bin. It also opens on a gas strut that feels strong enough – I would keep hold of it in strong winds but, otherwise, just push open a little and it smoothly swings out and round. There’s a button by the door for the ambient lighting (more on this later), and the control panels for the motorhome and the Truma CombiNeo system are here.

It’s a fully digital colour control panel and is very easy to use – I might have to switch my allegiances from the good old-fashioned switched systems now. You will also find the awning winder by the door; it’s a handy place, especially if you need to quickly retract it when the weather turns. Inside, it’s a conventional layout. The cab seats swivel to face two sofas opposite each other, what the European manufacturers are now calling a face-to-face lounge.

Here, though, it’s a pure two-berth, meaning there are no complicated rear travel seats that compromise on sofa comfort. Also, that Al-Ko chassis has a secondary benefit in allowing a flat floor from the cab straight through. Often, there’s a step down and cab chairs are higher. The front seats are where I typed this review, as the motorhome comes with two tables, a free-standing one for dining and a smaller version for coffee, etc.

This occasional table has a leg that slots into a hole just behind the cab. It’s solid and is offset, so it can be rotated to give easy access to the cab. It works well and stores on the inside of the wardrobe door, so, even if you have a wardrobe full of gear, it’s a doddle to reach. You should also note the fabrics. The lounge seats are covered in a soft velour, but the cab seats are a mix, with sides and arms in artificial leather, which has a wonderfully suede-like texture.

These areas get more wear and this material should resist the effects of you getting in and out of the cab seats. While the cream seats are very neutral, accent cushions in gold and black offer contrast. There are blinds and flyscreens on both side windows, but you get proper functional curtains, too, with neat little rope-style tie-backs (a bit 1980s? Ed) that are fixed to the wall so you don’t lose them.

In terms of lighting, you’ll find over-locker ambient lighting and four movable spots, two on each side. There are also three smaller pin lights on each side above the cab. These are all warm white options, but the two rooflights also have bright white light if you need it – the switch is on the side of the wardrobe.

There is also more task lighting under the microwave. Sockets-wise, there is a three-point one on the front of the seat base as well as USB-A and C. There’s a second USB port (both types), next to the 12V socket. There is no dedicated space for the TV and no aerial socket.

However, the motorhome does come with a WiFi system, so you can stream TV on a tablet or laptop. The router is in the wardrobe, but the password faces the back wall and it’s not very convenient if you need to log on with a new device. You’ll also need to provide your own SIM card to get it operational.

Cook's corner

The kitchen consists of a side dresser that holds the fridge, plus the main galley unit across part of the back wall. There’s a full cooker with three gas burners and an electric hotplate, as well as a cast iron grid for supporting pans of a decent size. Below is a small grill and an oven.

To the right is a rectangular sink, also with a hinged glass lid. This comes with a removable drainer and there’s enough worktop to the side to rest the drainer. It also has a small removable cutlery rack that sits on the lid when raised. There’s an extractor above the cooker, while the overhead lockers incorporate a cupboard, a microwave, and two open recesses – one has a better retaining lip than the other.

Low-level storage includes a locker under the cooker, with three drawers next to this. One of these is a cutlery drawer. Then, next to the entrance, there are two doors offering access to more storage – the lower one has a safe in it, which you’ll need to get on your knees to access. The fridge is a Thetford unit that runs off gas, 12V while driving or mains, and you can select these manually or choose the auto option.

It’s quite small (76 litres) as it steps around the wheelarch, so the salad tray at the bottom is compact. Above is a double-door cocktail cabinet; its catches don’t have positive locking and need a good firm shove on closing. Inside you’ll find a set of Auto-Sleeper glasses; if they are not to your taste, you can always swap them out with your own stemmed versions.

There’s a worktop extension that slides out above the fridge and a pop-up worktop next to the sofa. You won’t be lacking preparation space in this motorhome!

As part of the run of high-level lockers above the lounge, one cupboard has a rack for plates and two brackets for bottles. 

Singles or double?

The sofas make into the bed, either as a double or twin singles. First, extract your bedding from under the driver’s side sofa (next to the heater – this space is pretty much designed for sleeping bags and duvets).

Then the bases pull out to meet in the middle and the backrests drop into place to make a good-sized double in a matter of minutes. You might want to think about flipping the base cushions over as the knee rolls form a bulge in the centre of the bed.

Alternatively, you can also turn the settees into twin singles in less time – pull out the seat bases a tad, just enough to drop the backrest down against the wall. Your feet rest on the cab seats to extend the bed length.

I thought this wouldn’t be comfy, being a sloped surface, but I actually slept very well. On the second night, I tried the double bed, but I preferred the single, being quicker and easier to make and leaving access to the loo in the night. 

Endless water

The washroom is, possibly, my favourite part of this motorhome. It’s almost a dressing room, thanks to the extra door into the wardrobe. This mirror-fronted hatch means you can reach almost every section of the wardrobe with ease. The wardrobe is excellent, too, with a good-sized hanging rail with a decent drop – room for a couple of my long dresses.

There’s a shelf at the back, a deepish recess below, and a further lower shelf with a slide-out basket. There’s a motion sensor light in here, too. It’s brilliant. The toilet is a tad high but, if you swivel it, you can lightly rest your feet on the lip to the shower. And the shower area is where you’ll find the basin.

The mixer tap doubles up as a showerhead but it has a button on the back to switch between tap and shower spray. There’s a riser bar and a tambour door closes off the cubicle when you need to use the shower. The lights (one above the loo and one in the shower) are touch operated.

The basin does impede shower movement, especially in the derrière area, but it’s a good compromise, because most people will use the basin regularly, but maybe the shower much less. Grey tile-effect wallboard here looks modern and will be easy to clean, while twin drains ensure that water drains away quickly, even when I used it on the continuous hot water heating for a long shower. 

That’s one of the benefits of the new Truma CombiNeo system. When running, it heats up the water over a series of fins while topping up the boiler. The original Truma Combi has a finite supply and once it’s gone, it will have to fill up and then reheat. This more domestic system is very good, especially if you like a long splashy shower – although, obviously, you’ll still have to top up the fresh tank.

The CombiNeo system is also lighter and takes up less space in the motorhome (compared with the existing Combi unit) – both positive features in any motorhome. The downsides? The catch on the washroom door is annoying as you need to give it a very firm push each time to get it to properly latch.

I’m not so sure about the lower door frame, which you need to step over to enter the washroom. The loo roll holder is tucked away on the wardrobe wall, under the towel rail, and is awkward to access when on the throne. It needs to be moved to under the window or on the door. Plus, the shower needs a shelf for shampoo and the like.

The Nuevo remains a compact motorhome, yet with plenty of lounge space – even room for entertaining friends.

However, the real star of the show is definitely the washroom – it’s not too big, not too small, it’s just right, with the added benefit of the new CombiNeo system. And, while rivals are now over 6m long, the Auto-Sleeper stays below that magic figure.