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Carado I 447 A-class motorhome
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Key Features

Model Year 2018
Class A-Class
Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato
Price From (£) 59,750
Engine Size 2.3TD
Maximum Weight (kg) 3,495
Berths 4
Main Layout Fixed Single Bed
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At a glance

Berths: 4/5 Travel seats: 4/5 Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato Gross weight: 3,500kg Payload: 435kg

Full review

For the first time in its 11-year history, Carado has added two A-class motorhomes to its range. They’re identical in length and layout forward of the bedroom – the I 449 providing an island bed and this one having twin, high-level singles.

And that layout (inherited straight from the low-profile Carado T 447) sees swivelling cab seats facing an L-settee, with an L-shaped kitchen next in line. Before the bedroom, the ablutions can provide an en suite to the single beds, which sit above a garage.

Under the hood lurks the 130bhp version of the 2.3-litre motor, coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox. The test vehicle proved easy to drive, with decent mirrors and a good view forwards; the panoramic pleasures are a part of what a good A-class can provide. However, at seven-and-a-half metres, this is a quite bulky vehicle and, with the large garage fully loaded, the 130bhp engine might be found wanting. I would consider the 150bhp upgrade (£1,600) money well spent.

The cab is furnished as standard with a nearside door (with electric window) and Aguti captain’s seats. Multi-adjustable and with built-in belts, these are upmarket pews and a nice surprise in an entry-level ’van. Cab kit, too, is comprehensive, because – for the UK – the Chassis Package is standard. So, all Brit-spec Carado A-classes get air-conditioning, a passenger airbag, cruise control, ESP with Traction+, radio pre-wiring and height adjustment for the passenger seat. If you want more kit there’s the Chassis Comfort Package.

This Package adds alloy wheels, plus (inside) a leather gearknob and steering wheel, chromed instrument rings and silver dash trim. The tactile nature of the leather wheel really does make driving more comfortable. I know as, sadly, my ’van lacks it!

In the living area it’s plain to see that this is an entry-level product, as the design is rather, err, plain. But it’s none the worse for that as it’s neutral-coloured and well screwed together. The latter is a fact demonstrated by minimal conversion noise on the road. There’s nothing downmarket about the upholstery, as it’s very well executed and trimmed with half-faux-leather – the kind that looks so good that you find yourself sniffing closely for maybe that hint of cow.

Cab seats swivelled, the L-shaped diner invites six people to sit, drink and eat from a generous tabletop that moves laterally in every direction.

You’ll find no shortage of space in the drop-down bed. Stretched out, I found this bed to be one of the best drop-down doubles I’ve tried in quite a while. There’s a home for a TV above the fridge, mounted on a slide-out bracket. The test ’van was fitted with a TV and an automatic satellite system as part of the All-in-One Package (which also adds an awning and bike rack).

A standard L-shaped kitchen? The standard stuff is a sink with no drainer and very little prep’ space – a slab of surface in the corner, but that’s your lot. The Thetford hob helps, though.  Because of its design, it is easy to get at all your pans – excellent. More brownie points are earned by the oven/grill – another Thetford device and mounted below the hob, not loftily above the fridge where others put it. And, an extra-large fridge/freezer has upmarket, turn-on-and-forget Smart Energy Selection.

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The shower cubicle is well furnished with shelves and, importantly, a steam-expelling rooflight. Carado has seen fit to panel the shower’s ceiling with a wipe-clean surface. There’s plenty of headroom but it’s a little smaller than you might expect and the hump of a wheelarch intrudes. Move across to the offside and there’s the toilet/washroom – its door opening across the aisle to enclose the bedroom with an en suite. Do bear in mind, though, that anyone sleeping up front will need to come into the bedroom to use the shower; there’s no second door to enclose just the bed. The toilet room has good storage, with a tall cabinet and a cupboard below the basin, plus a big mirror above.

Putting my trusty tape rule across the two singles, I found both were a tad wider than standard for the type and more than two metres long. Thicker, comfortable mattresses here ride on the more usual wooden sprung slats and they’re easily approached by stair-like steps. You can go bigger, too, as the portion between the beds slides out. Add an infill and, voilà, a humungous double that lets you sleep crossways, too. Now the access steps are covered, but it’s no problem as Carado provides a ladder to get you into bed.

Undoubtedly, the superstar of the I 447’s storage story is the garage. This garage is big, with shelves for bits and bobs, but, importantly, it’s not encumbered by tanks, heaters or the access door to the gas locker, so you get to use all of the available space. The other impressive stowing spaces are the twin (wide, deep) wardrobes under the foot of each single bed. Plenty of overhead lockers, space under the side seat, and a couple of in-floor compartments finish the tale.

There’s a good range of lighting and, importantly, some ceiling-mounted illumination. The leisure battery is a superior AGM unit and the heating is the more powerful 6kW unit, running on both mains and gas.

I found only a couple of problems: the heating control unit, mounted low down on the nearside single bed and, conversely, the control panel a little too high above the inside of the habitation door. I could stretch up to the control panel, but would need the swear box when kneeling on the bedroom stairs while trying to set the heater/boiler controls.

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Our verdict

The I 447 A-class motorhome is well equipped and sensibly designed with great build quality. Its métier is great value, but the extra-large beds could also be a deal-maker.

Advantages

Excellent garage storage
Huge beds – drop-down and singles

Disadvantages

High-mounted control panel
No privacy screen between shower and rear bedroom

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