Full review

Now with a distinctive new rear panel for 2018, Auto-Sleepers’ long-lived, two-model Nuevo range is still one of the most compact British coachbuilts on the market, measuring well under 6m overall. It also gains an iNet control box for its heating and a Trackstar Category 6 tracking system (with a year’s subscription) this season.

Inside, arrangements continue with a classic layout that’s been around since 2002. And for good reason – Auto-Sleepers’ brochure calls it iconic and it simply works brilliantly in a small coachbuilt ’van like this. The base vehicle is Peugeot’s Boxer, with a brand-new 2-litre Euro VI-compliant engine that’s far smoother than its rather rattly, vocal, Euro V predecessor – and more potent, too, despite the downsized capacity as the company specifies the 160bhp version. The gearbox is a six-speed manual but you can opt for an automatic if you have your Nuevo on Fiat’s near-identical Ducato (Peugeot still doesn’t offer an auto’). A 130bhp Comfort-Matic Fiat is £2,000 extra, while the 150bhp version is another £2k on top of that.

The best-selling Nuevo EK has cab seats that turn to face a cosy twin-sofa lounge, which in turn easily makes into a transverse double bed or alternative lengthways singles using the cab seat bases as the foot of each bed. Two tables do duty, the first a full-sized free-stander, plus a pedestal-mounted smaller brother that mounts between the cab seats for drinks and snacks.

Further aft there’s a cabinet on the nearside that doubles as working space for the kitchen and sideboard for the lounge. This also makes a handy nightstand when the double bed is made. Above is a microwave, below a good-sized fridge with the added luxury of automatic energy selection. Ranged across the rear, the rest of the kitchen is very nicely equipped, with a full domestic-style cooker and a stainless-steel sink, plus plenty of drawers below, two lockers above. 

Next door, in the rear offside corner, the bathroom makes the very best use of space thanks to the fact that the washbasin is mounted on a swing-wall that moves forwards, helping to create a spacious separate shower. The loo is one of Thetford’s swivel-bowl stalwarts and, above, there’s a reasonably roomy wooden locker.

Forward of the bathroom, the Nuevo circular tour is completed with a roomy wardrobe with drawer below. Truma’s Combi boiler lives beneath – the drawer nicely warmed, so it might house some nicely toasty socks. The stablemate ES version has an overcab pod that offers a double bed with decent headroom and makes this Nuevo a four-berth. Now rear travel seats are needed and the lounge provides them with a sofa-replacing half-dinette, complete with two belted places. Opposite, the other sofa remains, as does the ability to make either two single beds or a transverse double. 

Nuevo’s standard-fit kit list is impressive, but to get all the toys you will need to find another £2,500 for the Premium Pack. That adds alloy wheels, cab air-conditioning, cruise control, a Thule wind-out awning, colour reversing camera, Garmin sat-nav, leather steering wheel and an 80W solar panel. Further options are the Media Pack (£995) and Winter Pack (£295).

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