Full review

There’s no other motorhome on the market with the same layout as the Burstner Ixeo 640.

You can’t say that about many motorhomes, especially those from major manufacturers. And, while the 640 isn’t conventional, we reckon that it shows signs of brilliance.

The unconventional approach starts in the lounge, where a pair of reclining, automotive-style captain’s chairs sit centrally in the vehicle, mated to swivel cab seats and smaller inward-facing perches on either side.

On the offside there’s a walk-through, past the fixed table, from the cab to the kitchen and bathroom beyond, while, on the nearside, the travel seats and side seat are joined.

It might not look like other motorhome lounges, but – for both travel and unwinding on site – you get four really comfy, supportive, reclining chairs.

Better still, the seats do not have to do double duty as part of the bed. The double bed lowers – electrically – from the ceiling and just like the Ixeo 680 that debuted and impressed us so much last year, this 640’s bed also runs lengthways.

That allows it to measure a full two metres long but, even more importantly, this is an island bed with full access on either side. The only other drop-down island bed on the market is in Chausson’s 620.

What the Chausson can’t quite match is the way the Bürstner’s bed disappears so neatly into the ceiling.

If you need a third berth, there’s an option to make one from the lounge and to only partially lower the drop-down bed, but that rather seems to miss the point.

With the main bed fully lowered, it offers pretty much all the advantages of a fixed bed, but without taking up any floorspace – and, in a motorhome that’s only 6.49m long, that makes quite a difference.

Downsides? Well, with the bed filling the ceiling there’s no big skylight to let daylight flood in.

The Ixeo’s innovative approach continues in the kitchen. The galley is behind the lounge but it runs across the vehicle, with the chef standing facing towards the rear of the motorhome.

Here, you’ll find a three-burner hob, a round stainless-steel sink and an oven (as an option) that’s set conveniently low down.

The fridge is fitted adjacent, on the other side of the gangway, and is a tall, 145-litre capacity model with automatic energy selection. Nearby, there’s a touch of bling in the form of a glass-fronted glasses cupboard.

The bathroom is, perhaps, the least unusual aspect of the Ixeo 640’s layout, but it is no less impressive because of that. It runs across the rear of the motorhome (leaving space for a tall external locker on the offside) and includes a separate shower.

It’s a superb washroom with plenty of space, plenty of storage and great details – much like the rest of this little Bürstner. Get your head around the fact that it’s rather unusual and you’ll find a compact two-berth that really excels in almost all areas. 

If you enjoyed this review, you can read the full version and more in the May 2017 issue of What Motorhome magazine.

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