Full review

This P65’s layout is a common one – the low-profile’s interior design is fashionable, popular, oft found, numerous… Yes, there’s plenty of them to choose from and from many makers. There’s a Euro lounge with drop-down bed above, then the kitchen, closely followed by the washroom, with twin beds above a garage in the rear.

The key components are the single beds, while their popularity is thanks to ease of access for both sleepers and the fact that either person can get in and out of bed without disturbing their partner’s peaceful slumbers.

The impressive kit count begins with a solar panel, external shower point, twin skirt lockers (one either side), centrally locked habitation door and LED rear lights. Badges on the front wings confirm the standard-fit 150bhp engine and, in the cab, are climate control, a DAB radio, sat-nav, multi-function leather steering wheel, cruise control and rear view camera.

Mounted on the camper chassis (lower, with a wide-track rear axle) and with the motor driving through a six-speed gearbox (an auto is available for £1,750), on-road progress was usual for the Ducato – easy to drive with excellent mirrors, good brakes and predictable handling, albeit with a firm ride. The lounge consists of swivelled cab seats that face a fixed table and a forward-facing travel seat with two belts.

Pick a layout component that’s the most common and it’s the Euro lounge that probably gets the prize. Where space allows, the basic design can acquire an inward-facing seat (as here), while the travel seat might get a side bench section to turn a half-dinette into an L-shape. As much as the Euro lounge is numerous, so is the propensity for them to convert into truly awful beds. Thankfully, though, there are no bed-making struggles in the P65 as it has a drop-down double rather than converting the seats.

I reclined a while on the comfy mattress, while inspection of the environs revealed plenty to like. With no supporting metal struts in the way at head or foot, there’s access to the walls and Mobilvetta has used it well. Pigeonhole shelves at both ends of the bed provide a home for night-time stuff where most rivals have none. You can access the heating controls at the foot and even the TV niche (which is mounted high up, aft of the habitation door). Privacy curtains closed, this is a cosy space with entertainment included. This bedroom has a rightful place in my top 10 of drop-down beds.

The P65 has a pretty average overall length for a single-bed motorhome and, it first appears, a pretty average kitchen. As with dozens of others, it’s L-shaped, on the nearside, with a big fridge opposite. All standard stuff, but this galley manages to slot in a good range of appliances and an impressive amount of storage space. The three-in-line hob continues to be a great design, making it easy to get at all your pans and leaving some precious working surface in front. The sink has a drop-in cover that provides a bit more – the lid neatly stowing in its own slide-out nest within the cutlery drawer. 
A couple of alloy rails hold sliding hooks and a rather novel pipe-style kitchen roll holder. Above, a part-shelved locker is roomy and, below, a large cupboard is furnished with a slide-out and shelf. And there’s more: on the offside, a tall slide-out larder and more shelves flank the large fridge/freezer and oven/grill above it. 

Twin single beds will be the main reason to buy a P65, closely followed by the garage beneath them. The beds are approached by steps, so easy to use and to get in and out of without disturbing your partner. Flat surface and shelves in between provide for cocoa, books, specs and clock. And, with a centrally located slide-out and infill cushion, an alternative giant double can be made. A decently long drop-down bed is perfectly partnered by singles that measure 6ft 2in and 6ft 5in. They have reasonable width and are comfy, too, so all is well – especially for taller motorhomers.

The toilet room demonstrates good design, while still looking good. No ‘on trend’ surface-mounted washbasin here, but a robust (actually quite stylish) stainless-steel bowl set into a practical counter. Opposite, the shower benefits from a curved acrylic door and includes a roof vent, duckboard and rack for gel and flannel, etc.

Truma’s seemingly omnipresent Combi provides heat and hot water and it’s the more powerful 6kW model, running on gas and mains. Great, and there’s mains electric underfloor heating, too. Cue an even spread of silent heat and toasty tootsies when you’re hooked up.

The garage is large, its twin doors tall enough to let full-sized bikes pass. Then, at the foot of each bed, there’s impressive wardrobe and cupboard space and, above, six high-level lockers, while further forward, floor lockers include a neat bottle store. Plenty of storage space, then, but there’s not so much payload – something that’s all the more relevant with a large garage and four berths.

But if your driving licence allows, a chassis upgrade to 3,650kg can be had free of charge. 

If you enjoyed this review, you can read the full version and more in the May 2018 issue of MMM magazine. You can get a digital version of this latest issue of MMM magazine here.