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Auto-Trail V-Line 635 Sport campervan
Sections:

Key Features

Model Year 2018
Class High top
Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato
Price From (£) 50,106
Length (m) 6.36
Berths 2
Belted Seats 2
Main Layout Rear Lounge
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At a glance

Berths: 2 Travel seats: 2 Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato Gross weight: 3,500kg Payload: 480kg

Full review

Auto-Trail joined the van conversion market with its V-Line range back in 2013 but, back in the 90s, it built the quirky Badger, sporting a GRP high roof with what might be called a ‘duck bill’ extending out over the windscreen. The return of Auto-Trail to the campervan market saw the company once again come up with a radical design that harks back to the Badger as the first V-Lines were fitted with an equally radical GRP extra-high roof. However, rather than providing upper berths, it had a coachbuilt-style overcab sunroof and created more interior headroom, allowing a flat floor right through the interior.

Auto-Trail’s next series of high-tops (V-Line SE) were far more conventional beasts. Lack of demand saw the demise of the original V-Line (Sport) range. But the SEs continue with four models running from the 5.41m 540, through the 5.99m 610, and on to a couple of 6.36m variants. This all-rear-lounge range demonstrates the popularity of the layout.

The V-Line 635 is based on the 6.36m version of the ever-present Ducato, and this longest variant offers plenty of internal space. The usual swivelling cab seats turn to face a handy offside surface with a cupboard in its base. Next comes the washroom while, on the nearside, the kitchen partially obstructs the side sliding door. In the rear, the lounge provides a pair of inward-facing sofas.

Cruise control, cab air-conditioning and cab blinds are all present, as is a passenger airbag that’s an option on some other models. If you want more you can add the Media Pack (as fitted here), which includes a super sat-nav/Bluetooth/radio/CD player, steering wheel controls and a reversing camera.

With the SE’s back doors gone, the Sport Pack’s rear lounge wraps around in a U-shape, making things even more sumptuous.  As you go into feet-up mode, there’s the curve of the corner backrests to give support, while the adjacent washroom wall has a home for a TV at the perfect viewing height. Opt for the Media Pack and you get a telly and aerial too; all ready to go.

The lounge is greatly enhanced by that GRP rear panel, while the single, large rear window helps natural light levels and gives a real feeling of being in a proper leisure vehicle. The single-leg dining table is neatly stowed up front but that location limits its size so it proves to be only big enough for two to eat at in comfort.

It’s all standard stuff when it comes to bed-making, as sofa bases pull together, backrests drop in and the job’s done. No infill cushions are needed and your bedding should store conveniently in the open locker above the cab. In transverse double bed mode the lounge corner cushions can stay in place, while the only spares are easy to stow under the bed.

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The swivelled cab seats can be pleasant pews to use while slurping the first cuppa of the day and great if the other person in your life is still having a snooze before rising. The aforementioned adjacent side cabinet has that useful surface atop its cupboard and it’s furnished with a set of TV power and aerial sockets to make it even more useful.

Delve into the wardrobe and there’s a small round table and a single leg that emerges to plug into a floor socket between the seats. Thus, there’s a handy little diner for two – perfect, if the bed is still made up.

Work surface is often lacking in van conversions, but this galley offers a good slab ’twixt sink and cooker and a very generous flip-up slab at the forward end. The great little stove that is Thetford’s Triplex has an oven/grill and three gas burners – one a high-speed job, while above there’s a swish 800W microwave. Across the aisle, the fridge, at nearly 100 litres, should be big enough to suit two people’s needs.

Auto-Trail has created a cleverly designed unit that incorporates a mirrored cupboard above and shelves below its high-quality drop-down basin. It’s a great design, while the rest of this washroom is entirely conventional, with integral shower and a swivel-bowl loo. Just couple of points to mention: the toilet is mounted rather too high for comfortable sitting and the nylon shower curtain will inevitably stick to your soapy body when used in this small space.

With overhead lockers, adequate two-door wardrobe (over the fridge) and space beneath the rear lounge seating, the rest of the Auto-Trail’s storage provision is conventional and fine for a couple’s kit. Then there’s the boot, which keeps potentially dirty outdoor gear out of the living area. You’ll be OK with long ‘n’ slim items, too, as an internal hatch will let them slide through into the aisle. A couple of folding bikes should fit in the boot, and that’s a good thing as fitting a bike rack could be problematic unless it’s of the towball-mounted type. The interior of the boot lid houses levelling wedges, awning winder and a tripod and leg that allows the use of either table outside.

LPG supply is taken care of by a 25-litre underslung tank fillable at depots and garages right across Europe and beyond. Final bits and bobs that come with the Sport Pack are a barbecue point inside the boot and an external (cold water) shower point on the ’van’s offside flank.

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Our verdict

The latest V-Line 635 campervan is good looking, well built and very well equipped – the Sport Pack adding comfort and sophistication to what is already a great tourer for two

Advantages

Plenty of kitchen drawers
GRP rear panel with large window and opening boot

Disadvantages

High-mounted toilet
Nylon shower curtain

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