Full review

AT first glance, this six-metre compact low-profile motorhome has a transverse fixed bed across the rear just like many others.

But it’s a lower bed than rival ‘Van’ models like the Hymer Van, Bürstner Travel Van and Adria Compact SP, so needs no steps up to it and as a result has no garage below it, only shallow storage.

The clever bit is that half of the bed slides and folds back on itself giving extra floor space and galley space whenever it’s not needed as a place to sleep.

Its sister model, the Hobby Van T 500 GFSC sports the usual raised bed with garage and wardrobe beneath.

This FSC version shifts the wardrobe from under the bed to the foot of the bed, for much easier access. Veering away from the curved-sided style that Hobby established for the more expensive Van Exclusive, this Classic has… classic straight sidewalls. Access is by way of a manual step.

Behind the Ford cab (with engine upgrade on our test model, and a stereo), the half-dinette houses two well-padded rear travel seats, with adjustable head restraints.

This area converts into a third berth. On-site, two can sit happily on this settee, one on the side-facing seat and two in swivelled cab seats (all UK models will have matching upholstered cab seats and rear speakers fitted as standard), and the lounge doesn’t seem too compact after all.

The table is proportioned for two to dine, and a neat swing-out extension makes room for a third and fourth.

Standard upholstery in cream leather and brown cord is modern and appears hardwearing. Two spotlights and one three-bulb ceiling light help a large window (deeper than it is wide), to brighten the area.

The water tank sits under the bench, but the side-facing seat is completely empty for useful storage. The dinette isn’t lacking in storage potential – there are three split-level lockers on one side, one split into four sections on the other side, two fabric pockets and a large shelf above the cab with a deep lip.

All cupboards are pleasingly positive-locking. A small cupboard slotted behind the seats, opposite the kitchen, contains supports for a bin bag.

Kitchen
It’s not a kitchen for serving up a three-course dinner, but there’s a good six inches of worktop in front of the hob and an extra flap usefully folds up over the bed. In our test model, a three-burner hob was the extent of the cooking facilities; all future UK-bound models will lose two of the four cream-fronted kitchen drawers in favour of an oven and grill.

A big sink sits above the four (soon to be two) drawers – the top drawer is fitted with a plastic cutlery tray.

Three split-shelf cupboards sit at eye-level and, together with a cocktail cabinet, round off the storage for kitchen gear. The Dometic fridge is a decent size and the cream front integrates well with its surroundings; with its manual ignition, it doesn’t give off the most modern impression.

The kitchen area is well lit by recessed spotlights, complementing the natural light that floods in through the thin full-height door window, two Mini-Hekis, and the huge sunroof that curves over the lounge and cab.

With two out of three windowless walls surrounding the bed at the rear, the rooflights help to keep the area as bright as it needs to be. Truma Combi E heating keeps everything cosy.

With the bed set low, and rolled back into its day time position, the interior has a more open feel than traditional garage layouts. Beneath the bed, a shallow storage area remains that’s accessible from inside and out.

Taller occupants will sleep with feet tucked underneath the wardrobe, which is a wide space with two hanging rails and shelves at one end – a light comes on when the door is opened.

Two fabric pockets sit next to the wardrobe, and five overhead lockers reach around the remainder of the bed. At the head end, there’s a very small corner shelf in the far corner and a window. Satin-look gold-coloured curtains pull across to separate the bedroom from the rest of the ’van.

Washroom
A compact motorhome deserves a compact washroom, and this one is small but not without style.

The circular shower tray (with step to accommodate the wheelarch) is mirrored by a similarly shaped roof vent above, and a white shower curtain pulls all the way around to enclose spray from the adjustable-height showerhead.

The Thetford loo swivels. Two mirrors are bordered by useful railed shelves below, and a shutter-doored cupboard under the basin is small but useful.

Grey plastic is a feature that’s more caravan-of-the-1980s than motorhome-of-the-2010s; it’s prevented from being overwhelming by the rich-coloured wood. Five lights and two hooks complete a well-designed area in this well-designed ’van.

This article was first published in the April 2010 issue of Which Motorhome magazine.