Full review

Externally, it’s the new rear panel that catches the eye – now more modern-looking, especially the angular, better integrated spare wheel housing, as well as new LED rear lights. Other external tweaks include detailing on the overcab and a new roof-mounted, wind-out awning. Inside, décor changes include new high-level locker door colours, while the transition panels ’twixt cockpit and living area have been reduced in height to give a more spacious feel in the lounge. The upholstery scheme is neutral.  Modern seat coverings are partnered with muted purple scatter cushions and curtains in a matching tartan. All looked great.

This motorhome is based on a 4.25-tonne maximum weight base, so check your driving licence. Standard-fit bits include a passenger airbag, cruise control, hill holder and Traction+.Why is the Tracker RB’s island bed mounted transversely? In the RB, it’s mostly about views. Now you lie abed looking out through a big side window. Once it’s dark, the entertainment can continue, as above the window is a home for a TV.

Up front, cab seats pivot easily to face a pair of unequal length sofas – seating for around seven and four-person dining from a free-standing table. If it is nice out, then dine al fresco – a free-standing table means that there’s one less piece of camping furniture to buy. The large sunroof above floods the lounge with light and the lack of full-height transition panels really does create an enhanced feeling of space. Note the drop-down TV that’s part of the Media Pack 2. It plays DVDs, too, and is well-positioned for viewing from the sofas. Move to rest your bum on either cab seat and you’ll discover that each is served by a reading lamp.

Standard-fit cab blinds and good-quality pleated versions for the sunroof and side windows make achieving blackout easy and the lounge bed comes together easily, too. Pull out both sofa bases, drop in backrests and you’re done. The bed is long, because it stretches across the full width of the ’van, but the length of the shorter sofa means that the bed narrows to only just over three feet wide on the nearside. A double bed? Hmm, probably only for the lightly built.

In the kitchen there’s a sink with integral draining board, a full cooker with separate grill and oven and a microwave. Ventilation is good, too, as a multi-speed suck/blow roof fan is almost powerful enough to lift you off the floor. There’s quite a bit of storage room and a big fridge across the aisle, but there’s a lack of drawers. There is, however, a big plastic tray in the large ‘downstairs’ cupboard that’ll take cutlery and utensils.

For 2017, in the washroom there’s a separate shower compartment on one side, while the toilet room’s door swings across the aisle to create an en suite for the bedroom. Bear in mind, though, that there’s no door, nor even a screen, between the bedroom and shower. The shower has strong rigid doors, enough room, perfectly placed lighting, a shelf for your gel and flannel, and a roof vent. Across the aisle, the toilet/washroom follows suit with a deep basin, two cupboards, the toilet set at a comfortable sitting height and a big mirror with nicely inset strip lighting. And, above, is a Mini-Heki roof vent.

The bed is blessed with several great features: it’s set at an easy-access height, there’s plenty of headroom to sit up, lighting is good, the mattress is thick and comfy, and there’s a Midi-Heki for star-gazing above. Less good is the lack of any bedside surfaces, so nowhere for your specs, book, clock, water glass and the like. There’s five drawers, two overhead lockers and no less than seven cupboards here. There’s a mechanism beneath the bed that allows its head to rise while the foot slides back, which creates more space to move around the bed.

A large locker door outside gives access to a wide, deep, but not very lofty space under the bed that should be plenty big enough for the outdoor kit we love to take on holiday. There’s more room beneath the sofas – less on the nearside as space is shared with the gas locker. And it goes on, with seven high-level lockers around the lounge – the two above the cab are particularly large, deep and wide.

Apart from the lack of lights on the ceiling, the rest of the artificial illumination is comprehensive and capable of creating a lovely night-time glow. There’s also a neat strip lamp mounted at the foot of the toilet room door and switchable from bedroom or lounge, so anyone can see their way to the loo in the dark without waking partners or being ‘blinded’.

Heating and hot water are supplied by a Truma Combi unit, mounted below the head of the bed. Then, with an additional box of tricks fitted, you have the ability to control things from your iPhone or Android device, both at a distance via the phone network or in the motorhome via Bluetooth.

If you enjoyed this review, you can read the full version and more in the January 2017 issue of MMM magazine.

You can get a digital version of this latest issue of MMM magazine here.