Full review

A MOTORHOME large enough to sleep four adults, but with forward-facing belted seating to carry them all safely, and enough storage space for clothes, food and toys such as skis, fishing rods and cycles in the garage?

Bürstner think they have the answer with the Quadro, a low-profile with a drop-down bed.

The sleeping arrangements are of a style more usually found in A-class motorhomes, comprising a drop-down transverse double bed over the dinette/kitchen area, and a permanent transverse double over a rear garage.

What greets you as you mount the electric step on the offside is a nearside forward-facing half-dinette, with a solid rail-hung table, opposite an offside kitchen. Above the kitchen-dinette area is the drop-down bed.

On the other side of the caravan door is a separate fridge and oven/grill over a large cupboard. Facing this is the washroom and to the rear are two steps leading up to the transverse bed.

While the dinette benefited from a decent-sized bit of glass, the kitchen’s was on the miserly side. Having a window in the door would have helped, although it was supplied with a flyscreen.

When it’s time to get comfy at the end of the day, it becomes evident that this is not the colourful Bürstner’s strongest point. Okay, you’ve got the half-dinette, and you can just about use it as a chaise longue if you’re short and don’t wriggle.

If you move, even a little, the seat base works its way forward and slumps off the edge. This is true even if you sit upright.

Of course, you have the two swivelling front seats, but this doesn’t really constitute a lounge in my book. The dinette bench is too upright to relax in, but you can at least pull the base of the backrest out a bit to improve the situation.

The other position that can be roped in for evening feet-up relaxing is the fixed rear bed. I found that there was headroom enough to sit bolt upright, though taller folk would have to slouch a bit.

The eating layout is well thought out. The table, which I longed to get rid of for the rest of day, but couldn’t, comes into its own when it’s time to replenish the energy stores.

Now we come to the kitchen, which is workable, though it lacks proper worktop space. This is not the problem it might be as the table more than makes up for this deficiency.

A non spark-ignition three-burner hob rests under a flip-up glass lid which doubles as a drainer and worktop. A second glass lid covers the good-sized stainless steel sink.

As you have a lovely big cycle-devouring garage underneath, you need a couple of steps to scramble up to the rear bed. The smart constructors have edged the two permanent corner steps with amber LEDs, making getting back to bed when visiting the facilities in the dark hours undemanding.

This is a high bed, no question, but it’s relatively easy to get onto and down from, and the steps are solid and immovable.

Once you’re up there, the sheer comfort of the sprung mattress and slatted base becomes apparent. In fact, it’s one of the most comfortable motorcaravan beds I’ve ever slept in.

Time for a little moan to balance the praise, though – windows both ends of the bed mean you can’t rest your pillow there to read. You’ll destroy the blinds if you do.

Bed number two I’d consign to the teenagers.

A frosted green window and satin aluminium handle adorn the washroom door. Inside this apparently spacious washroom is a rather small round washbasin, which swivels away, providing more room to shower, something for which a curtain needs to be brought into play.

For folk who hate plastic curtains, this is a pleated variety, so it’s not so inclined to wrap itself clammily around your legs. Room for scrubbing your back is disappointingly limited once the curtain’s in place, however.

A big wood-fronted cabinet provided space for the first aid for my face and there are two mirrors, one of which is over the basin. The showerhead also has to be used for the basin; not a solution I’m enamoured with, but there’s a place for loo roll and towels and a stack of receptacles for oddments.

Lighting is good, with a traffic-light set of domed lamps down one wall, and a couple of spots over the vanity mirror. 

Inside the ‘van, storage is more than adequate for four, with a wardrobe on one side and a big stack of shelves on the other, beside the rear bed. The kitchen storage is well thought out, with a cutlery drawer and two further drawers (with big deep wire baskets which pull right out), make finding things a piece of cake. Alongside is a massive cupboard capable of accepting large boxes of supplies.

A reasonably sized wood-fronted cabinet and various nooks and crannies will accept all your washbags and kit for four in the washroom. There’s so much storage we only used a fraction of the available space. Perhaps we travel light.

A full version of this review first appeared in the July 2008 issue of Which Motorcaravan. To order a road test reprint call 01778 391187. To subscribe to the magazine, click here.