Full review

What would the perfect motorhome look like? Perhaps, an A-class (for style, space, winterisation and more) with a rear lounge (for the ultimate in room for relaxing)? It certainly seems that Frankia, Hymer, Mobilvetta, Pilote, Rapido and Roller Team all believe it could be, at least for the UK buyer.

While much of the new 8094dF comes from sister models in the 80-Series and will be of no surprise to those who know their way around an imported motorhome, you only have to turn left as you enter and go beyond the usual split washroom facilities to find something completely different – and alien to many continental motorhomers.

Here, it would have been easy for Rapido to copy a British U-shape and – as with most copies – come up with something nearly as good. Instead, it created a stylish L-shaped sofa and an ideal space for two people to relax. Those eight scatter cushions suggest lazy afternoons with a good book, while the upholstery is different to that used in the dinette up front. Crucially, too, the seats are actually 40mm lower – you wouldn’t have dining chairs and settees of the same height in your home, would you?

Up front, the 8094dF differs from its forebear in having a very British dinette of side-facing settees. Combined with white walls, gloss white cabinets in a reversed ‘L’ (facing the seats) and optional creamy beige leather-like upholstery, the effect is one of open-plan spaciousness. That’s enhanced, of course, by the panoramic A-class windscreen, while the more contemporary Castello furniture might make it seem airier still. You could seat six here, or there’s room to spin the cab seats right round and put your feet up on the sofas. As usual with a Rapido, the angled forward cushions of the settees allow each captain’s chair to fully join in the lounging arrangements. Typically, too, the table is unobtrusive and adequately sized for a light breakfast, then it unfolds for a full gastronomic extravaganza.

Despite the open-plan style of front lounge, the 8094dF can also accommodate rear passengers. Each settee can be transformed into an individual, face-forward chair with three-point seatbelt, good visibility and plenty of legroom.

Even the kitchen impresses compared with most imports. There are bigger galleys, of course, but it seems to have everything – a kitchen roll holder, an extractor hood, a 160-litre two-door fridge/freezer, a three-in-line hob (which frees up a bit of worktop), a generous supply of centrally locked drawers, an illuminated splashback and a low-level oven/grill (as part of the upgraded UK spec).

There’s plenty of storage as well. Under the seat adjacent to the habitation door is a logical place for footwear. Bedding can be stored under its opposite number.

There’s a reasonably capacious wardrobe and plenty of eye-level lockers, too. But it’s in the basement where the Rapido beats lesser motorhomes. Equipping its 80-Series models with a double floor not only makes them eminently more suitable for winter camping, as well as creating a flat floor from cab right through to rear settee, but also gives the 8094dF enough storage space for you to start thinking about a chassis upgrade (3,700kg and 4,400kg options are offered).

There are skirt hatches on both sides of the vehicle, opening onto a 190mm-deep space that comes with LED illumination across the full width of the motorhome. If that’s not enough, then there’s an external locker under the rear lounge that’s the next best thing to a full garage.

At the end of a day’s touring, having an A-class gives you another plus – that instant, comfortable drop-down double bed in the cab (which unlike low-profile rivals doesn’t result in you losing all your lounge). If you prefer, there’s a second double to be made from the rear settee. The bed here is both longer and wider and, created from just four cushions, it is flat and very comfortable. The rear bedroom also has the advantage of being adjacent to the en suite facilities.

Close the toilet door across the aisle and the whole rear of the vehicle becomes a dressing room. There’s an excellent separate shower and the toilet area impresses with its storage, especially as all your gels and potions are held in place with elasticated straps – clearly someone at Rapido actually uses a motorhome!

With more modern styling and its new open-plan front lounge, the Rapido 8094dF builds on the success of its forerunner. But it’s the rear lounge that will have you signing on the dotted line – it really is a true lounge and not just an area with lots of seating.

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.