Full review

Here’s an idea that has been growing an increasing following on the Continent and has now been adopted by a UK manufacturer for the first time. We’ve seen Fiat Ducato high-roof campers with pop-tops from the likes of Globecar, Hymer, Pilote and Westfalia, but always with a rear bedroom layout.

Auto-Trail’s new Adventure uses a similar elevating roof but combined with that British classic of a rear lounge floorplan. Of course, as with its imported competitors, the Fiat Ducato (here in 6.36m-long XLWB form, but also offered in a 5.99m length as the Adventure 55) has standing room without raising the roof – unlike smaller campers such as VW T6s. The pop-top is only there to provide an extra bedroom, reached via a ladder just behind the cab. The upper bed is a fully adult-sized double – measuring 2.02m by 1.30m – so you might even choose to use it as your main bedroom in summer, when the flyscreened ventilation panels (front and nearside) in the canvas will make hot nights much more bearable.

When the Adventure needs to serve as a four-berth, however, there are rear travel seats in the form of a half-dinette and the end lounge can be converted into a second double bed (1.84m by 1.60m) across the width of the campervan. The rear passenger seats are automotive in style with a lot more shape (and comfort) than the bolt-upright benches of some rivals.

The new flip-up table (hinged on the sidewall) is a great feature here, especially as there’s no leg to get in the way. There’s a more conventional island leg table (with its own storage locker) for the rear lounge, where the two side settees each measure a fairly generous 1.60m long – plenty for feet-up relaxing. Concertina blinds are fitted at the windows here, along with reading lights in each corner but, of course, the fitment of the elevating roof precludes a rooflight. There are, however, two USBs over the tail end of the offside sofa and a TV point (with 12V/230V sockets) is found at the opposite end. There is good storage (for bedding, etc) under the nearside settee but the opposing bench offers limited capacity as it houses the Truma Combi boiler and leisure battery.

The nearside kitchen features the usual two-burner hob and sink as well as an oven/grill, which is a rarer find in this class of motorhome. There’s also an 85-litre three-way fridge with removable freezer section under the wardrobe, while a worktop extension provides the necessary cook’s preparation space at the forward end of the galley. Just one drawer is fitted, the rest of the storage being in less-convenient cupboards.

The aisle between the kitchen and the washroom opposite is a minimum of 430mm, while the little room itself is to Auto-Trail’s usual style with a fold-down basin and small mirror-fronted storage. Downsides are the height of the loo, the position of the shower control and the lack of ventilation (this area could do with a window).

The Adventure comes with a 60W solar panel, a flyscreen for the sliding door, 16in alloy wheels and a 6.2in touchscreen display for the radio, reversing camera and motorhome-specific sat-nav. Fiat’s 120bhp Euro 6d engine is standard, with upgrades available, while special paint colours of Abarth Grey or Sky Blue give the new range its own sporty vibe.

If you enjoyed this review, you can read loads more like it in What Motorhome magazine. You can get a digital version of the latest issue of What Motorhome magazine here.