Key Features
| Model Year | 2013 |
| Class | Low Profile |
| Base Vehicle | Fiat Ducato |
| Price From (£) | 56,500 |
| Engine Size | 2.3TD |
| Maximum Weight (kg) | 3,500 |
| Berths | 3 |
| Main Layout | French Bed |
At a glance
Full review
THE Kreos 3008, on the Ducato, is joint smallest of eight Kreos low-profiles, measuring 6.99m nose-to-tail. It has four travel seats, but can sleep five in comfort – there’s a fixed longitudinal rear bed, a drop-down transverse bed over the lounge, and another below, made from the dinette.
First impressionsExternally, the Kreos could be mistaken for a German motorhome, with its smart but very sober mien. The front’s silvery-grey extends over the smooth low-profile and defines all the edges of the white, aluminium body panels.
There’s no doubting the quality finish and, like all Laikas, this one was fully winterised, with thick Styrofoam insulation (its floor coated underneath with glass-fibre) and heated water tanks.
The Kreos uses Fiat’s Camping-Car chassis, which is wider of rear track than the standard version and designed to enhance stability. Compared to the (more expensive) Al-Ko chassis, however, it stands higher and more ‘tail-up’. This example came on the optional 4,250kg Maxi chassis, which gives ample payload, provided your licence permits you to drive it. On the standard, 3,500kg chassis, payload is relatively tight for four travellers at 420kg – and that’s assuming you travel with only 20-litres in the 110-litre-capacity fresh water tank – but it’s acceptable for two.
In the cab
To obtain Britain’s first 2013 Kreos 3008, the Family Travel Centre (supplying dealer for this test) accepted a left-hand drive model – naturally, production models will normally be right-hookers.
All the usual niceties (alarm, central locking, cruise control, air-con, passenger airbag, cab carpet) are part of the Plus Pack, which will be standard-fit (but extra cost) on British-spec ’vans.
The interior was almost rattle-free, doubtless aided by the Camping-Car chassis, which we found more supple than its Al-Ko counterpart. The Kreos has the 130bhp motor, as standard – quite sufficient for normal driving but the 148bhp version is desirable. If more power is wanted, the 177bhp, 3-litre motor is available, as is the Comfort-Matic gearbox.
Lounge
The spacious lounge has room for six in comfort. The floor extends seamlessly into the cab, so seats here are height-compatible with the table. The table is fixed to its pedestal but the top can slide in every direction. Illumination is provided by a large, opening, overcab skylight, a central LED panel in the ceiling, and three LED reading lights.
Utilising memory foam, the seating is extremely luxurious with well-shaped backs and plenty of headroom.
Laika takes pride in accommodating taller people – 1.93m (6ft 4in) may not seem notable standing room, but remember the ceiling is also the drop-down bed...
Kitchen
The rounded L-shaped kitchen unit complements the curved half-dinette onto which it backs. It’s compact, but Laika has crammed in lots of features. The stainless-steel sink has an integral drainer, plus a chopping board lid, and a modest pull-out section increases the small amount of worktop.
The four-burner hob has auto-ignition, glass lid, and extractor fan above, and below, a combi oven/grill.
Storage is ample, with a good drawer below the oven, and behind a stylish curved door, two deep drawers, the top one having a removable cutlery tray.
Overall, it’s a good kitchen, though worktop is limited.
Washroom
In a motorhome with a French bed, the washroom is usually slotted alongside – and so it is with the 3008.
The curved wooden door slides open, revealing a low, generously proportioned, basin and a shelved cupboard. The washroom is well-equipped, with toilet-roll holder, towel rail, mug-holder, soap dispenser and robe hook.
The separate shower cubicle is smooth plastic-lined, has a bi-fold door, a riser-bar, two wall pockets for toiletries and a wind-up skylight. Lighting is from an elegant floor-to-ceiling LED strip. Once again, you have oodles of headroom – over two metres.
Beds
French beds can be disappointing, especially when there’s a large cut-away at the foot. However, again, Laika looks after its taller customers. The fixed bed is an excellent 1.96m (6ft 5in) long and the cut-off is modest, tapering from a maximum bed width of 1.36m (4ft 5½in) to 1.15m (3ft 9in).
The supremely comfortable mattress is 12cm (4¾in) thick, on sprung slats, and at 71cm (2ft 4in) above the (slightly raised) floor, is at a comfortable height. There’s also plenty of headroom (83cm, 2ft 8½in) below the overhead cupboards.
The (optional) drop-down bed over the lounge is electrically powered. Maximum width is 1.40m (4ft 7in) but tapers slightly towards the offside. Length is a satisfactory 1.91m (6ft 3in).
The mattress, however, was a little thin at 7.5cm (3in) and the supporting slats weren’t sprung.
Below the bed, there’s still reasonable headroom (68cm, 2ft 2½in), and you here can form another, lower lounge bed.
It’s probably the best, most comfortable, easiest-to-make dinette bed available. Dubbed a single, it’s wider than many French beds, so if the four travellers have visitors staying over, sleeping facilities are available.
Space race
A garage is always useful for outdoor gear, even when, as here, it’s only full-height for part of the ’van’s width – under the fixed bed. It has everything expected in a quality motorhome’s garage – a flexible light, power socket, heating outlet and anti-slip floor. There’d be room here for a spare wheel but one isn’t supplied. There’s space through to the far side, underneath the washroom, with a small drop-down door on the nearside.
Internally, there are side cupboards and a front shelf over the cab, and in the lounge, ample overhead cupboards and shelving. There’s a cubby in the lounge floor and another cupboard for shoes and the like inside the habitation door. Behind the kitchen is a full-height wardrobe with two shelves below. Finally, in the end of the fixed bed are two large drawers.
In all, there’s plenty of room for holiday clobber.
Read the full review in the July 2013 digital issue of MMM
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