Full review

Italian motorhome manufacturer, Laika, has announced several additions to its line-up mid-season, including this new Ecovip 329 coachbuilt motorhome

On the face of it, this is a typical fixed single bed low-profile motorhome, but it has a new feature – the rear beds can rise and fall electrically (all of a piece, including the centre ‘bridge’ between the beds).

Lowered, this makes for easy access to your beds – much more so than with a conventional garage layout. And, when they’re raised, there’s enough space beneath the beds for a motorbike. There’s a 30cm difference between the upper and lower settings, while the beds themselves are a good size (one is claimed to be almost two metres long).

Payload for the standard model (on a 3.5-tonne chassis) is 562kg, but this can be increased via a chassis upgrade to a 3,650kg, 3,850kg or even 4,400kg gross weight. The last option takes payload beyond 1.4 tonnes!

The garage also comes with heating, lighting and a chequerplate floor for your motorcycle.

The Ecovip 329’s front lounge features an L-settee with a large rectangular table and a small side seat on the offside. There are useful overcab cupboards, as well as a sunroof, while a drop-down bed is optional.

Fitting the electric 1.25m-wide lounge bed here has little impact on the living area as Laika equips its vehicles with generous headroom. Here, without the bed, there’s 2.10m standing room inside. An added benefit of the Ecovip’s extra height is taller cupboards – up to 54cm high for 20% more volume.

Unusually in its class, the latest Laika has a flat floor through the cab and into the lounge and kitchen areas (there are two steps up into the bedroom).

The galley, meanwhile, comes with a three-burner hob, circular stainless-steel sink and under-counter 106-litre fridge, as well as plentiful drawer-based storage. An oven is optional, UK buyers will be pleased to note; although that will, of course, reduce the galley’s storage capacity.

Unlike longer rivals, the 329 has an all-in-one washroom on the nearside, instead of splitting the ablutions facilities across both sides of the aisle, as you’ll find in longer motorhomes. This and the smaller fridge are the key features that have allowed this layout to fit into a sub-7m body.

But, despite the single ablutions room, Laika has managed to include a semi-separate shower with duckboard and curved screens. The corner basin comes with a soap dispenser and there’s an opening window.

The interior lighting is all by LED and there are two wardrobes – one under the rear beds, one adjacent to the kitchen. Heating is the powerful Truma Combi 6.

In common with the latest best practice, the Laika’s bodywork is entirely wood-free in its construction, with superior Styrofoam used for the insulation.

Based on the 130bhp Fiat Ducato 35 Light as standard, the Ecovip can be ordered with either 150 or 177bhp engines at extra cost.

If you enjoyed this review, you can read 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.