Full review

Two years after the German premiere, Malibu coachbuilts have established themselves in the mid-range motorhome sector on their home market – and now they’re coming here. There’ll be five layouts, from 6.66m to 7.25m, each available as a low-profile or an A-class, with this 460 model being the longest of three single bed floorplans.

New features for 2018 will help Malibu stand out. The improved double floor provides a continuous flat floor in the living area with loading now possible from the outside hatches as well as trapdoors in the floor. The rear has been redesigned (to reduce repair costs) and the graphics have been revised (now in anthracite and gold). High-quality, wood-free construction is a given, while a GRP roof protects against hail and the GRP underfloor against stone-chipping and moisture, and the connection between walls and floor and roof avoids thermal bridges.

A large garage (with maximum load of 250kg) for bicycles or a scooter is standard across all models, and the fresh water tank (125 litres) is now in the heated double floor, with the waste water tank (90 litres). The water drain valve is also within the double floor, just inside the entrance. The wardrobes (under the foot of each rear single bed) also take advantage of the double floor to create extra hanging height.

It’s not just the double floor construction that reminds you of Malibu’s parentage, though, but also the class-leading forward visibility for the driver, made possible by the sloping fascia. The cab also has a pleated windscreen blind that can be partially raised from the bottom up for privacy, while, overhead, the drop-down bed is said to be the largest in its class at 1.95m by 1.60m.

The front lounge has an L-shaped sofa, while the single seat opposite has a cut-out to allow the driver’s chair to rotate through a full 180 degrees. We also liked the foot release pedal to slide or swivel the table. In the galley, the sink cover can double as a useful shelf, while storage is taken care of by six XL-sized drawers.

Opposite, an optional mini oven sits over the 145-litre fridge/freezer, but more unusual is the large wardrobe between the nearside single bed and the galley. We measured the twin beds at 1.88m long (offside) and 1.96m (nearside), which is pretty generous, but overhead lockers restrict sitting up for a morning cuppa.

The central washroom places all the facilities together, with screens creating a semi-separate shower, while the cassette toilet is raised up on a plinth. The angled bathroom door (and kitchen opposite) avoids the narrow aisle in the middle of the vehicle.

Finally, Touring Edition spec brings the equipment level up to what you’d expect of a luxury A-class: cab air-con, cruise control, tilting cab seat squabs, awning, second garage door, indirect lighting, double-DIN radio with reversing camera and a 22in TV. Further options on this 4-tonne 150bhp auto demo model took the total to £87,245.

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.