Full review

German manufacturer Carado calls its V132 a ‘cuddly compact’ and if you’re looking for a motorhome with more modest dimensions, and yet one with lots of storage and payload, this is surely worth serious consideration.

The Carado V312 is not so much compact as super compact. It’s not only under 6m in length – 5.95m, in fact – but only 2.14m wide, too, making it not much wider than a van conversion. And yet, you’ll find a motorhome that features plenty of storage, a payload of 950kg, and a large garage, too.

The price is keen and competitive, too. The model we reviewed at the Motorhome and Caravan Show at the NEC in October was equipped with lots of high spec and options, but still came in at a cost of just over £42,000 on the road. You can watch a video of that review here:

Inside, the layout is very much in line with a classic continental style. There is a half dinette lounge, with a functional table and comfortable seating. The provision of USB sockets here is a welcome and thoughtful touch.

Moving through the interior, the kitchen has a good amount of worktop on either side of the combined cooker and sink unit; useful for meal preparation, of course. The kitchen area is compact but nevertheless well-equipped, with a three-burner hob, oven and grill. There’s a fridge with a freezer compartment, too.

At the rear of the Carado V132 motorhome is the transverse double bed, positioned across the vehicle and mounted above the sizeable garage. Because of its height, it’s accessible by using the ladder provided, though it takes only a couple of steps to get into the inviting bed. This is a good size, too, at 1.94m long and 1.4m wide. Beneath this bed is a wardrobe.

Beside the bed and opposite to the kitchen is arguably the star feature; for a relatively small motorhome, the washroom is impressive. It’s a well-designed space, with a swing wall that pulls across to create a separate shower and toilet.