Full review

WILDAX'S prototype motorhome Europa takes the front-wheel-drive dCi 125 model as its basis, and with a few thousand miles on the odometer, the Renault felt brisk, generated little engine noise and sported steering that was noticeably meatier in feel than that of your average Sevel (Fiat/Peugeot) contender.

The ride felt considerably more compliant than the Fiat’s, too (but not at the expense of communicative handling), while cab design and storage frankly leave the Fiat for dead. And finally – a Renault Master with a height-adjustable steering wheel!

Dynamically, then, it’s a case of ‘so far so good’ for the West Yorkshire newcomer, but what of the motorhome itself? In bald layout terms, the Europa doesn’t push any real design envelopes, with a large U-shaped end lounge allied to a nearside kitchen and an offside washroom. Given that this is exactly the sort of layout that tends to sell well to couples here in the UK, however, this is hardly a criticism.

Our test motorhome model sported the crowd-pleasing duo-tone leather upholstery that undoubtedly maximised show through-traffic at the NEC where we saw it (we understand that a more practical colour is available in return for your £1500 extra outlay, too), although Wildax’s standard soft furnishings are fine.

Everything else you see here, however, comes as standard, meaning your longer, darker evenings should feel anything but, given the embarrassment of all-LED reading lights, downlighters and ambient ‘rope’ lighting that illuminate the entire interior. Thankfully, you don’t have to have everything switched on at once!

The lounge itself is a thoroughly pleasant place to be, although I personally found the central rear seat base rather hard. MD, Duncan Wildman, was considering split settee cushions on production models, too (at 6ft 4in apiece, the current one-piece seats/single beds are pretty substantial and make up into a 5ft 10in-wide double), while forward access doors to the bedding lockers are definitely on the cards, as are Frankia FF2-style swing-up settee backrests for ultimate ease of bed make-up.

A different glue will put paid to the lunar surface look sported by our test model’s roof-lining, too.

The Europa’s ambience is pretty much spot-on, though: the tambour door roof lockers make a pleasant change from the norm, but these don’t always prove durable in use. Blinds are of the Remis high-quality pleated variety all round and the cabinetry looks and feels the part, too.

Further forward, the Europa’s kitchen demonstrates the sort of brilliant simplicity that instantly renders all other van conversion galley design obsolete. The cooker is familiar enough – a three-burner Spinflo Duplex with oven, grill and spark ignition – ditto the 85-litre fridge opposite, but if you’re wondering where the kitchen sink is, it lives beneath that big worktop and slides out once its transit catch has been released. Just remember to empty it before you put it back into transit mode...

The washroom opposite sports the usual (dated and plasticky) space-saving fare of tip-up basin and bench loo, but Wildax claim no shower curtain is needed, despite the presence of a window therein. Again, lighting is better than most, and the room gets its own blown-air heating duct.

Externally, there’s good news and bad. The toilet cassette is large, wheeled and fitted with a telescopic handle, and the water drains, while a little narrow bore, are paired together for ease of access.

Full marks to the on-board LPG gas tank, too, which should save you a few pennies on your on-tour heating bills.

Further marks are earned by the heated underslung fresh and waste water tanks, each of which can swallow a full 100 litres of water, although they do appear to hang rather low beneath the vehicle as a result – particular care would be needed when negotiating speed humps or boarding a ferry, for example.

• For new motorhome reviews see Which Motorhome magazine. This "first test" was published in the February 2011 issue of the magazine.