Full review

HYMER'S C-Class range is a series of four overcab coachbuilts perfect for families, with three of the available layouts sleeping six occupants and all enabling at least four to travel in seatbelted safety.

The C-Class also used to be bottom of Hymer’s stack price-wise too, but no one would suggest that this is a budget motorhome at nearly £55,000 – more for a right-hand drive base vehicle.

Hymers have never been cheap, though, and their quality is pretty much unsurpassed for a mass-produced brand.

And to be fair, this is the second biggest C-Class model, at 6.99m long. Even so, this C684 is going to have to be good.

Immediate impressions are positive, with plush upholstery, net curtains with embroidered decorative panels at either side, and the warm colour scheme featuring various orangey-fawns and creams.

It may not be overly practical considering all those potentially sticky fingers, but it looks great.

The furniture is very slab-fronted, however, although the silver-coloured decorative strips and handles add a classy feel. What does immediately feel posh is the single knob on the control panel.

Reminiscent of BMW’s i-drive control system, you turn the dial to your required facility and then press the knob to activate it. Very swish!

This motorhome may be aimed at families, but the layout will also appeal to those who like instant single beds – a couple could sleep one at each end and never have to make up a bed.

Bunk beds run across the rear of the vehicle, and these are plenty long enough for adults.

The bottom mattress flips up to turn this area into a large garage, with a tall external door offering just about enough height to get a bicycle on board.

There are also two half-height wardrobes situated on top of one another, allowing one to be used for taller items such as umbrellas or walking poles if desired. And the kitchen offers loads of cupboard space too, although there is a good reason for this...

Situated behind the dinette, the galley is basic by British standards, simply offering a three-burner hob for cooking.

This leaves loads of room for foodstuffs, as without a grill or oven there’s little else to take up the space. The circular sink (which has a very stylish mixer tap) only offers a minute draining board, but at least you get lots of worktop space.

To be fair, the low-level kitchen cupboards use every inch of their dimensions thanks to various wire racks and pull-out shelves. The fitted cutlery drawer is generous and the gas taps are easily accessible by way of a wooden door where the grill would usually be. But best of all is the huge Dometic AES fridge/freezer.

The washroom is sandwiched between those wardrobes and the rear bunks, and is roomy enough for everyday use.

The Thetford swivel cassette toilet sits in front of an enormous wall-mounted mirror, while to your right are two tall cupboards.

The shower, with its solid doors, couldn’t be called anything but pokey though. How strange that Hymer’s usual swivelling-washbasin system hasn’t been used here to make more use of the space.

The most successful aspect of this C684 is the lounge, with its very spacious dinette (which turns into another bed, suitable for one adult or two children), inward-facing settee and twin swivelling cab seats.

Three swivel spotlights are attached to the underside of those high-level lockers, and there’s a drop-down flatscreen TV mounting just forward of the kitchen sink. This lounge is a very comfortable and spacious place to relax – unusually so for a floorplan based on a pullman dinette.

Above the cab, with its fake-wood dash and, in this case, left-hand drive controls, is a double bed of truly gargantuan proportions.

There should be no complaints about a lack of wriggling space or headroom here, although it is a long climb up the ladder to that deep mattress.

And don’t forget to shut the blind on the large Heki-style rooflight before you head to bed, otherwise you’ll be in for an early awakening!

As with most motorhomes of this ilk, the powerhouse of this Hymer comes courtesy of Fiat’s 2.3-litre 130bhp Multijet engine and six-speed manual gearbox. It is just about adequate, but with only delivery mileage it occasionally seemed sluggish.

The on-road experience would have been enhanced beyond all recognition if the 3-litre 157bhp power unit had been fitted, and as the Hymer is already pricey it would be worth paying extra.

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