Full review

Less than three-and-a-half-years year ago Bailey built only caravans, but now the Bristol company is looking to break through 1,000-motorhomes-a-year barrier with the arrival of its entry-level Advance range.

The new four-model line-up will sit around £5-6k below the existing Autograph range and target the established Swift Escape and Elddis Autoquest, but with the same Alu-Tech wood-free construction (including wall thicknesses) as the Autograph.

The Advance 615 is a sub-6m model that looks low and slim thanks to a much narrower body width compared with the Autograph range. That size makes the Advance appear better integrated with the Peugeot cab and, with a minimal rear overhang and standard 130bhp engine, this Advance will not be short of driver appeal.

Step inside the living area and this feels like a larger motorhome. Part of that is attributable to the lofty 2.10m internal height and part is down to the layout.

Basically, the 615 takes the discontinued Compact 520 floorplan and replaces the fixed bed with a rear lounge. It is light inside too, with a Midi Heki rooflight and the rear and a decent spread of LED downlighters and ceiling-mounted halogen lamps.

Without direct competitors in the Elddis and Swift line-ups, the 615 makes an interesting addition to the choice of compact – and affordable – coachbuilts.

It feels younger and fresher than its upmarket Autograph sisters, while offering a class-leading drive.

We hope you enjoyed this abridged version of the full First Sight review that appears in the January edition of Which Motorhome. If you want to read the full version you can pre-order a copy of the January issue of Which Motorhome here. It goes on sale on 11 December, 2014.

If you prefer to read a digital version, you can get the digital version of Which Motorhome magazine here.

You can also see more of the Bailey motorhome range.

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