Advertisement
Benimar Tesseo 490 (2008)
Sections:

Key Features

Model Year 2008
Class Low Profile
Base Vehicle Ford Transit
Price From (£) 32,354
Engine Size 2.2TD
Maximum Weight (kg) 3,500
Berths 3
Main Layout Island Bed
See full details
Advertisement

At a glance

Benimar Tesseo 490 2008

Full review

IF the Tesseo model name is unfamiliar to you, the simple reason is that this is a brand-new range for 2008, and the big news – interior layout of our chosen 490 aside – is the Ford Transit underpinnings, something we haven’t seen on a UK Benimar for many a long year.

Tesseo is positioned within the Benimar hierarchy just above the entry-level (and also Ford underpinned) Sport range and directly beneath the more familiar Fiat-based Perseo.

The 490 is unique within the line-up in that it sports a full island rear bedroom in lieu of the transverse doubles fitted to the 400 and 440.

This goes the full hog, with his ‘n’ hers wardrobes, bedside cabinets and reading lights, together with the unusual provision of simply gigantic side windows to go with the Mini Heki rooflight.

It remains to be seen, also, whether the large mirror behind the headboard will make it onto UK models.

More expected is the large storage void beneath the bed, an area that is made more useful still by the provision of a huge slide-out drawer, while dedicated flatscreen television provision is factory-installed.

Up front, the kitchen sits in an unusually prominent position by the door, with the enormous marble-alike sink unit being particularly in-your-face.

Worktop space is negligible, but the latest Dometic fridge looks like something out of a blockbuster Star Wars film!

The washroom opposite manages to extend to a proper separate shower cubicle, although given the 490’s overall length, you can probably forgive the rather compact nature of this room.

The lounge does without any proper settees, so each of you will end up sitting on a single, self-contained seat, although the occupant of the nearside seat can, at least, put his or her feet up on the slightly longer seat base.

This seat converts, incidentally, into the 490’s third travel seat.

So, not the most opulent of lounges, but the startling orange upholstery is aided and abetted by a window behind the offside seat, an unusually deep nearside window, an opening panoramic rooflight over the cab and a crank-operated rooflight over the lounge.

This review first appeared in the November 2007 issue of Which Motorcaravan. To subscribe to the magazine, click here.
Content continues after advertisements
Advertisement
Advertisement

Expert motorhome advice to your door!

Why not subscribe to one of our fabulous magazines and get expert advice, travel ideas, technical help and all the latest news for your motorhome and your motorhome adventures!

MMM Motorhomers' Magazine

Want to know more about MMM magazine?

Every month MMM has articles written by motorhomers who have been there and done it, from great UK and European (and further afield) tours, campsite reviews, owners' reports and DIY projects among other things. MMM's tests, reviews and expert buying guides are not to be missed. MMM's technical advice is a must and includes everything from weekend jobs to longer-term DIY projects. And much more!

About MMM magazine  
What Motorhome Magazine

Want to know more about What Motorhome magazine?

Every issue of What Motorhome magazine provides essential buying advice for anyone looking to buy a new motorhome or campervan or upgrade their existing model. With a pedigree of over 30 years of offering the best motorhome and campervan buying advice, every issue of What Motorhome includes more new motorhome and campervan reviews than you will find in any other magazine.

About What Motorhome  
Campervan Magazine

Want to know more about Campervan magazine?

Campervan is the exciting monthly magazine that will give you all the inspiration you need to explore the world in your campervan. Every issue is packed with real-life campervanning experiences, inspiring travel ideas in the UK and further afield, the best campsites to stay on, campervan road tests and reviews of the latest models, and much more!

About Campervan magazine  

Our verdict

Benimar's new budget range for 2008 is Transit-based and offers some novel layouts including the island bed Benimar Tesseo 490

Advantages

Unusual layout with large island bed
Light and airy interior with large rooflight
Washroom though compact does have a separate shower cubicle
Ford base vehicle is cheap to service

Disadvantages

Lounge isn't the most opulent
Kitchen has virtually no worktop and is oddly positioned

Sign up to our free newsletter

Join our community and get emails packed with advice and tips from our experts – and a FREE digital issue!

Sign up now!

Subscribe to the best motorhome magazine

Access the latest issue and a decade of previous editions – all fully searchable!

Discover more

More dedicated motorhome content

Advertisement
Advertisement