Full review

Unmistakably Auto-Trail and, to the trained eye, unmistakably British, this 7.36m motorhome, unsurprisingly, is supported by the doyen of base vehicles – Fiat’s Ducato. The chassis is the standard item, which is a shame as the camper-specific alternative would make its stance quite a bit lower (better for crosswind stability, cornering, etc). Power comes courtesy of the 130bhp motor, driving through the six-speed manual gearbox.

The standard spec includes the most wanted pieces of kit – a passenger airbag, cruise control and cab air-conditioning. Then the Media Pack fitted adds a DAB radio with sat-nav, steering wheel controls and a reversing camera. Aside from that neatly installed camera, the rear panel is home to an excellent item that Auto-Trail has been providing for years and remains unique to the brand – a neat lockable cover enclosing the spare wheel at a back-friendly height and kept clean, dry and easy to get at should you need to change a wheel.

The lounge has a simple, clever (but not new to Auto-Trail) design feature that makes it feel quite a bit more spacious. Where in most other coachbuilt motorhomes, the transition panel between the cab and the living area extends all the way up to the ceiling, here it stops lower down. This leaves the upper region of the front end clear of any obstruction and the whole living area gels better with the cab.

Twin, unequal-length sofas combine with the expected swivelled cab seats to provide seating for up to seven. The Media Pack adds a drop-down TV mounted in the cab – just right when viewing from either sofa.  The table is a good-sized free-stander, so dinner for four is a distinct possibility. The only downside is its home, which is rather awkward, under the bed.

The lounge can also become a transverse double bed, made in the usual way by pulling out sofa bases and dropping in the backrests. The result is a flat bed, with snug, fitting cushions, which is very comfortable. As standard the Tracker comes with only two travel seats. However, £825 adds a pair of rear travel places in an alternative half-dinette design, which is perfect if you want a four-berth.

 As much as the lounge is typically British, so the kitchen follows its lead. And that means plenty of kit that allows you to cook just about any meal up to and including a full roast. Thetford’s slot-in stove is fitted with three gas burners, a gas-saving mains hotplate and, below, a separate grill and oven. The rest of the kitchen does well with one of the latest tall and slim fridges, a deep pan drawer and a sink with small drainer. There’s a big cupboard and two slimmer units, so plenty of storage, but no cutlery or utensils drawer.

Although the fixed bed is the likely reason to buy, the washroom will probably be an important deal-maker as well. Because it is exceedingly good. Unlike some, the wardrobe is not included in the washroom, but outside it, next to the bed. Twin doors make the wardrobe easy to use and next door is a full vanity unit.

The washroom does just about everything else very well indeed. There is a window, a rooflight and loads of storage. The basin is set into a sensible countertop and the separate shower is enclosed with a rigid screen. At first glance the shower seems rather long and narrow but its proportions are rather misleading as, in use, it’s plenty wide enough and the generous length provides loads of space to move around while douching. The loo features a niff-busting exhaust fan, with replaceable filter, thus completing a great washroom that I’d be happy to use every day.

With a thick comfortable mattress and a width approaching domestic proportions, the French bed here is very comfortable to settle upon. Not only that, but the cut-off towards its foot (which must be there to allow the washroom door to open fully) is not too extreme. The only thing that might be a deal-breaker is the fact that this bed is only just six feet long. So, if you are taller than about 5ft 10in it may not be for you.

If you enjoyed this review, you can read the full version and more in the October 2018 issue of MMM magazine. You can get a digital version of this latest issue of MMM magazine here.