Full review

RS is the UK’s only producer of an A-class (the Elysian), with upmarket van conversions also part of the product mix.

The Endeavour, however, is the overcab coachbuilt on an Iveco chassis. Some seven variants are offered, rear bedroom and washroom arrangements being the main differentiator. There’s a certain level of customisation to every vehicle. What you get is a vehicle that’s absolutely rock solid on the road. In its latest guise, it’s a bit sleeker than its predecessors, too.

This demonstrator had a semi-automatic Agile gearbox. All future models will have the more impressive new eight-speed ‘box that irons out the hesitancy of the earlier model.

In the Iveco cab, the all-black dashboard confirms this is a base vehicle that means business. There’s air-conditioning and a stereo that’s basic but does offer Bluetooth. This example came with a Waeco PerfectView reversing camera, as well as superb Aguti seats with variable air suspension. Overhead, the hinged bed fitting allows easy access to the rest of the living quarters.

On the road, this 30-footer is a perfect combination of docility and effortless capability. There’s plenty of power and the ride is pliant, with any rattles subdued.

Once on site, it’s straightforward enough to adapt the rear travel seat into an L-shaped settee which, along with the settee and cab seats, is massively accommodating. If you want more living space on site you can always go for a slide-out.

In truth, the free-standing table supplied seemed a little lost. You could specify something bigger, but then you’d have to think about access around it.

As well as the bodywork panels, RS makes its own furniture, and it’s built to endure. Locker doors, for example, are foil-wrapped. It’s the thickest of double-floor constructions here, too - hence the steps up into the vehicle.

There’s just the one garage door (a second, on the offside, is an optional extra), but it’s huge, as is the space inside.
This is a vehicle that really can allow you to get away from it all. Hence the massive tanks – 334 and 265 litres for the fresh and waste water respectively – both fitted between floors. There’s also an 80-litre LPG tank.

There are some eight initial layouts in the Endeavour range (officially, this is the R230), all sporting a large garage at the back, but with different bedroom arrangements above.

Here, the shower and toilet facilities are forward of the bedroom, and you can section them all off with a solid sliding door.

The RoadPro satellite TV system for your on-board entertainment is one of just two optional extras - the other is the awning. Likewise, there’s a full spectrum of soft furnishings and furniture finishes.

But there are a few anomalies. For a vehicle that sits so squarely in the premium sector, there are far too many keys: seemingly a different one for every external hatch, when surely a one-fits-all would be more in keeping. And some of the interior’s lower locker door hinges aren’t of a style you’d associate with a £150,000 vehicle.

This example has an overcab bed and a unique end bedroom accessed via a large hatch. There’s a step to negotiate, but it’s relatively easy - and doubles as a storage locker.

In this bedroom, it’s not technically an island bed (although RS can produce such an arrangement), as the furniture is flush with the top of the mattress. That actually makes for easy access to some of the storage. Also in here, you’ve got a second Cello TV, a Heki rooflight overhead and side windows. Shorter folk will be able to sit upright in bed.

The mattress sits on a ply base with large holes for ventilation. Again, that seems basic for such an upmarket vehicle, especially considering the more sophisticated mattress and base combinations you can get. The overcab bed does use a slatted base. It’s 1.97m by 1.38m and far from claustrophobic, thanks to generous headroom, opening windows both sides, and a rooflight. There are even two lockers at the far end of the pod. Heating is ducted up here, too.

Everything in the washroom is of ‘domestic’ quality. There’s no stinting on storage – with six lockers and drawers – but equally impressive are fittings such as the marine-type toilet and full-size shower cubicle. A rooflight and window take care of ventilation.

It’s no surprise to see a generous kitchen in a motorhome this big, with plenty of space to fit in a stainless steel sink with drainer plus Thetford Caprice cooker – with dual-fuel hob and separate oven and grill, and pan store. Also here is a Sharp microwave, plus a Dometic extractor. There’s a good worktop with a handy slide-out section. There’s also a Dometic 190-litre fridge/freezer with automatic energy selection. It’s surrounded by storage lockers of varying sizes, one of which has a hanging rail.

All the shelves in the overhead lockers have height adjustments. But strangely the kitchen drawers are not soft closing.

Remember though, as a general rule, the more bespoke you get, the harder it can be to sell on your vehicle. Then again, you might just want to trade it in for another RS.

This is an abridged version of the full review appearing in the September 2015 issue of MMM.