Model Year | 2016 |
Class | A-Class |
Base Vehicle | Fiat Ducato |
Price From (£) | 77,655 |
Engine Size | 2.3TD |
Maximum Weight (kg) | 3,500 |
Berths | 4 |
Main Layout | Front Lounge |
This new Premium Class comes from Pilote’s prestigious Le Voyageur offshoot, although it’ll be badged Pilote in the UK where the parent company is so much better known.
Long, comfy, side-facing settees remain a British favourite and in this ‘van’s lounge they are mated to superb captain’s chairs, a height-adjustable TV bracket and a flat floor throughout the motorhome. The table twists, folds in half, and slides along rails in the floor. You can always get it out of the way, or in the perfect position for any meal.
With feet going onto cab seats, the lounge settees also make a couple of single beds, but this A-class comes with a manual drop-down bed as well. A pair of single beds emerges (a conventional double is an option), accessed via a slide-out ladder with staircase-style steps. The mattresses sit on Froli springs for comfort, and there are individual reading lights and a little shelf for your bedtime book.
Not having a fixed bed means the LV6.8LF can boast a surprisingly generous kitchen. It’s L-shaped, has acres of worktop and storage includes deep drawers, a condiments shelf, two bins and a rack for four bottles. A tambour door hides yet more practical shelved stowage. Opposite is a 160-litre AES fridge/freezer with a grill/oven above - a bit high up. The hob has only two burners, but a three gas-ring hob with mains hotplate and low-level grill/oven is promised as an option. The sink lid, which gets in the way, is the only real issue.
The bathroom impresses, too. Mirrored doors hide oodles of shelved space, while the wardrobe has a hanging rail that slides forward when you open the door. The only criticism is that the swivel loo sits on a plinth, making it high for smaller legs.
The winterised inboard fresh tank holds 200 litres. But you’ll need to think about whether the standard 3,500kg chassis is enough for you, as the Pilote can carry four. Despite the lounge design, the seats can be reconfigured in different ways for travel.
Another demand on payload will be the huge garage. A generous 1.30m tall, it boasts two large doors, lights on both sides, mains and 12V sockets, and tie-down hooks top and bottom.
This is an abridged version of the full review appearing in the March 2016 issue of What Motorhome.
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