Full review

Low profile coachbuilts with drop-down beds are a ‘latest fashion’ that’s proved to be far from a flash in the pan. It’s in the Ixeo that this style is represented for Bürstner, with three ranges and 17 layouts available. The Ixeo Time is the entry-level product, but this 700 comes from the standard range.

The 700’s sibling, the 664, is almost identical, except that just an extra 300mm of length allows the 700 to provide L-shaped seating and a large side sofa. It's priced from £54,900 on the road (the test model was £57,386).

Camper chassis

Fiat’s camper chassis provides a lower overall height than the standard frame, creating easier access to the living area, better handling, and maybe even slightly better fuel economy, thanks to enhanced wind-cheating characteristics. Fiat claims improved fuel economy for its low-emission Euro 5 engine, but just as important might be the ability to legally enter the low emission zones that are springing up all over Europe.

The cab is enhanced by Bürstner’s Chassis Pack, adding a passenger airbag, cruise control and cab air-conditioning.

Designer interior

First impressions were very good when I picked the test ‘van up from Bury-based Emm-Bee Motorhomes. External styling is classy, the test vehicle enhanced with Champagne paint and alloys that are part of the Design Pack, which also provides half-hide-style upholstery inside. Inside, Nova Amber upholstery is in neutral brown and cream, but Nova Rosso and Salsa provide red and blue alternatives. The joinery is enhanced by some lighter colouring – particularly in the lounge, where curvy, matt cream lockers (mounted to the underside of the drop-down bed) look superb.

Lounge

The lounge is lit from above by a squadron of LED downlighters and an overcab sunroof – necessary, as the drop-down bed precludes the fitting of a conventional rooflight. The table is typically Continental – that’s to say it looms large in the space. However, it folds in half and its top slides this way and that, so it’s not too intrusive. With cab seats swivelled, there’s room for eight to sit, while four people should have plenty of room, both to eat and relax. And residents get a properly belted travel seat, with even the rear seats getting adjustable head restraints.

Storage

Storage spaces are plentiful, with the full-length wardrobe, under-sofa and under-rear-bed lockers being the stand-out features. Both lockers have good-sized external access doors and the bed includes an internal tambour-doored cupboard in its foot. High-level storage sees four overheads in the bedroom and two in the lounge.

Kitchen

The kitchen is configured as an L-shape, with fridge and oven across the aisle. As usual, the continental hob lacks any form of auto-igniter. The Smev oven, being placed on top of the fridge, is rather too high for comfortable use. The rest of the kitchen is pretty good, with a set of deep drawers and a cupboard too, but much of the space is used up by a slide-out twin-bin, designed for recycling. Task lighting is thanks to a pair of halogen downlighters, rather than LEDs. A lack of ceiling-mounted fittings makes things a tad dark overall and I would add a lamp or two and convert to LED power.

Washroom

Washrooms located next to French beds are long and narrow, and the most common design is much less than perfect. Thankfuly, the 700’s ablutions are different – the basin is in the same place, but the shower compartment is a walk-through device, with the loo located right at the rear. This gives lots of advantages, including plenty of space to use basin and toilet and a bigger shower. The only downside in here (apart from those halogen-powered lights) is the lack of somewhere to put things down, but this washroom is still one of the best of its type.

This drop-down bed is easy to manage: just operate a central latch and the bed lowers easily. Stowing proved easy too, the latching system performed faultlessly, even with the ladder stowed on the mattress. In fact, good size and plenty of headroom, plus a comfy mattress made this bed a pleasure to lie upon, with LED lights illuminating the nearside head-of-the-bed and the overcab sunroof providing essential ventilation.

Water tanks follow the Continental norm, with an internal fresh water container and underslung waste. The waste tank has a large bore outlet and a hose is supplied for situations where you can’t get right up to the site drain. Unsurprisingly, it’s Truma’s Combi that supplies warmth and hot water here, in the gas-mains-powered form, that’s an option well worth having.

The Ixeo 700 provides Teutonic style and build quality from the firm that debuted the design, so it should be near the top of your must-see list. Don’t forget that this motorhome’s lounge provides more space and versatility than your average half-dinette-based set up, so viewing should also include some time spent in lounging and dining mode before you make up your mind.

This motorhome review of the Bürstner Ixeo it 700 was published in the June 2012 MMM.
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