Full review

Overcab coachbuilts have disappeared from many manufacturer’s brochures in favour of low-profiles with drop-down beds. But the type survives in budget-priced ranges, primarily for hire fleets, making it harder to find with luxurious equipment levels. Yes, Auto-Trail and Swift persevere with overcab coachbuilts – or at least the choice of roofline on their top models – but now we’re talking XL-sized ’vans.

So, what we have here, from Eura Mobil, is a truly unique mix. Especially as its layout is a UK favourite, rather than the garage-based Germanic norm.

There’s lots to like here, such as the van conversion matching overall length, which is a big plus. But don’t small coachbuilts, and especially ones without a fixed bed, suffer a lack of storage space? Not if, as here, there’s a 37cm-high double floor and large externally accessed locker under the rear seating. That double floor also gives this Activa One another major advantage over any comparable British rear lounge model – its water tanks are not only generous in size (140 litres fresh, 100 litres waste) but they are both inside, in a heated, insulated location.

The body’s wood-free construction also boasts GRP roof and walls and joints without cold bridges, double-sealed service hatches, framed windows and a heated overcab. There’s a 10-year water ingress warranty, too, and a three-year guarantee on the furniture.

The base vehicle is the Fiat Ducato in Camping-Car low, wide-track chassis form. It comes with a 130bhp engine, 16in alloys, ESP and Traction+, automatic climate control, sat-nav, reversing camera, etc.

But it’s the layout that’s king here – as with most motorhomes. This isn’t the sort of long lounge that makes for near-horizontal sprawling, and its fixed table may be a negative for some, but the windows on three sides and wrap-around seating are packed with appeal.

Remember, too, just how compact this ’van is. The kitchen is adjacent for easy serving of dinner and comes with a three-burner hob, 140-litre fridge and, in Geoff Cox’s right-hand drive model, an oven above the cooler. Other options here are: spare wheel, Prestige Pack, bike rack, and Combi 6EH gas/electric heating. That makes for a specification worthy of the price tag north of £60k.

The Combi will also supply hot water to the all-in-one shower/toilet room with swivel cassette loo, a (new-for-2019) basin that rotates to increase showering space and screens that create a semi-separate shower with twin drains. All-in-all the bathroom design appears to use its limited space well.

If you’re using the Eura Mobil as a two-berth, then the instant availability of the overcab bed – claimed size 2.00m by 1.50m – easily makes up for having to climb a ladder, as long as you’re reasonably agile. And the 570 HS can double up as an occasional four-berth, thanks to the rear lounge offering face-forward travel seats (albeit a long way from the cab) and the seats making into a second bed (2.00m by 1.40m).

If you enjoyed this review, you can read loads more like it in What Motorhome magazine. You can get a digital version of this latest issue of What Motorhome magazine here.