Rimor Sailer 56 Plus motorhome

You’ll certainly be smiling if the kitchen is your top priority when choosing a motorhome…

Being introduced to a new range of motorhomes can be a bit predictable these days. “Here we have the single bed layout and this one’s the island bed version…” If it’s a British brand there might be a rear lounge, too, but real innovation in terms of floorplan seems to have tailed off.

Of course, drop-down beds have been something of a game-changer, although these became mainstream more than a decade ago, with the last real development being models that have an end washroom and also a rear garage (with a huge wardrobe above). These, at last, brought bicycle storage without having to have a fixed bed. Chausson (unsurprisingly) was the originator with many others following suit once they realised the rightness (and popularity) of the concept.

This new model from Rimor – an Italian marque that’s been part of the Trigano empire since 2015 – takes much of that formula (side sofas, drop-down bed, sub-7m length and rear garage) and adds a new twist. It was one of the most memorable new launches at last September’s Caravan Salon Düsseldorf. Not only that but, with its huge kitchen area, it seemed as if it was ideally suited to British priorities.

New Sailer range

The 56 Plus is, in fact, one of five new models in a range that revives a moniker from Rimor’s back catalogue – we last listed a new Sailer in 2008.

For 2026, Rimor has split its flagship Super Brig range into two and swapped from Fiat to Ford chassis. The overcabs keep the previous title, while the low-profiles are now called Sailer. Rimor still offers Fiat-based Horus campervans and Sarus coachbuilts, while the Sailer and the Super Brig sit above the entry-level Kilig on the Transit.

Predictably enough, there are single bed and island bed floorplans in the new range, as well as two versions with a transverse rear double, but the 56 Plus stands out as the only one without a fixed bed – and something unique in the market. It’s also the most compact, at 6.96m long.

But it’s not just the overall length that’s relatively modest – the price is a nice surprise, too. Launched in the UK at the NEC in October, it debuted with a starting figure of £64,995. In Birmingham, that included £5,995-worth of extras in a special Show Pack and importer, Motorhomes and Caravans Ltd in Hull (M and C, for short), has confirmed that orders placed before the end of February will still benefit from this inclusive price, which looks sensational for such a well-equipped ’van. The only option on our test vehicle (something of a prototype, rushed to get to the NEC) is the automatic gearbox, adding £3,000.

The Show Pack, meanwhile, includes a 100Ah lithium leisure battery, 150W solar panel, dual MPPT solar controller, a Thatcham Category 1 alarm, Cello Traveller 19in smart TV, cab blinds, cab seat covers, a flyscreen on the habitation door and Ford’s 165hp motor, alloy wheels and 12in touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Apart from an awning, it’s hard to see what else you’d want to add.

The vehicle comes with a three-year warranty from Ford, two years’ cover on the habitation appliances and a five-year water ingress warranty. In addition, M and C adds a 12-month ‘go anywhere’ warranty, so you don’t have to return to Hull if the water pump fails in Walton-on-Thames or your boiler packs up in Bognor Regis. You don’t even have to go to a motorhome dealer. Cover is for up to £2,000 and can be extended at the end of the year for £180.

New tech

Another new development from Rimor is its MEB-300 Smart Energy System, which is said to provide more efficient charging of the vehicle and leisure batteries, extending battery life. It integrates energy from the alternator, mains hook-up and solar panel and also allows Bluetooth control of the lights and other functions from a dedicated app.

Here, the leisure battery is housed in its own exterior compartment in the nearside skirt, just behind the cab. The Ford base vehicle, meanwhile, comes with a colour-coded bumper, front parking sensors, front fog lamps and smart 16in alloy wheels in gloss black.

The Rimor bodywork features flush-fitting framed habitation windows, while the glazed habitation door is fitted with a gas strut, storage bag, two-point locking and a sturdy handle to pull it closed. Two internal steps mean that no outside step is required but the door isn’t linked to the central locking.

The large gas locker can house two 13kg cylinders side by side and isn’t too high for lifting refills aboard. The 70-litre waste water tank is underslung and is emptied by pulling and holding a T-handle, while on your knees. The 80-litre fresh water supply is inboard (under the offside sofa). Both tanks are a tad smaller than we’d ideally like.

The key external feature, of course, is the garage, which runs beneath the rearmost part of the kitchen and can be accessed easily through a large door under the hob. Then, to help you find what you’re looking for, there’s an LED strip light on a flexible lead – if you search for that elusive item in vain you can at least pretend to be Darth Vader…

Both loading doors are a good size and inside there’s a heater outlet and fixed lashing points on the floor, but no power points or external ™ shower. Headroom is a maximum of 1.15m (1.03m across most of the space), while width ranges from 51cm to 76cm. And there’s another (much smaller) external locker above the garage on the nearside, although you’ll need to be tall (or carry steps) to reach it.

Heating is from the powerful 6kW Truma Combi system (sited under the nearside seating), which is gas only as standard. Adding a 230V element or switching to diesel power is possible for an extra £495.

New interior design 

The Sailer has a brand-new interior design which mixes dark blue walls (wardrobe and washroom and the same shade under the drop-down bed) with walnut-style woodwork. Seats are upholstered in an unusual cream and grey towelling fabric that will certainly need covering if you have dogs. The cab seats contrast in a slightly darker cream faux leather but these are covers rather than a full retrim and looked as if they might become baggy in use.

It certainly has a contemporary feel and the blue makes a welcome change from white, grey or too much wood. Aesthetically, though, it’s the circular, backlit mirror in the entrance and the opaque porthole window in the washroom door that are most memorable – and a link to the Sailer moniker.

Those side settees are just a tad high for those of shorter stature but have plenty of length for feet-up sprawling. No scatter cushions are provided, so I took my own and enjoyed leaning back against the washroom while watching YouTube on my laptop. The TV provided is mounted high up above the wardrobe – swing it out on its bracket and you can watch from the cab seats or sofas, or even from bed.

With LED strips in the base of the bed above, plus another dimmable LED on the nearside and a large, opening overcab sunroof, the space never feels gloomy and, if you want more privacy, there are net curtains, too. The surround to the cab cutaway is heavily padded in case of head/’van interaction and, for once, the storage at the sides of the overcab is usable as there are lips to the open pockets.

There are no high-level lockers in the lounge and under-seat space is compromised by the foldaway travel seats. To use these, you remove the larger of the base cushions on each side and hinge the backrests (with height-adjustable head restraints) into position. Each forward-facing seat has a three-point seatbelt and plenty of legroom, as well as a decent view out, but only those with very long legs will be able to put feet flat on the floor.

At night, you can simply press a button to lower the double bed for sleeping. Rated at a maximum of 250kg, this bed measures 1.95m by 1.30m (slightly longer but a tad narrower than a domestic double). Its firm mattress sits on wooden staves and I found it very comfortable, with individually switched downlights above and ventilation close by from the sunroof and a roof vent. Duvet and pillows can stay put when the bed is stowed.

In this prototype, the bed came down to 1.24m off the floor, allowing the seats to be converted into another bed below, but UK spec will include longer runners so that the bed can come right down to seat height (approximately 88cm off the floor) for access without a ladder.

We were unable to make the lounge bed as the infill cushions supplied appeared to be for a different model but Rimor claims that a 2.20m by 1.40m bed is possible. In reality, the 56 Plus is more of a two-berth, using the drop-down bed fully lowered.

Huge L-shaped kitchen

It’s the huge rear kitchen, running aft of an equally huge wardrobe on the offside and along the back wall that is this Rimor’s key selling point. The amount of worktop space here is pretty much unrivalled in this size of motorhome.

Into that L-shape, the Sailer places a three-burner hob under the rear window and a shallow sink with hose-style tap on the offside; in the corner is a Mestic coffee percolator plus storage pods for your caffeine supply and even an inverter for off-grid use. Someone at Rimor must know how important a good cup of coffee is to my daily routine…

The galley then continues on the offside where the two-door, automatic energy selection fridge/freezer has a 153-litre total capacity. Above this is the Can combined oven and grill – it’s 1.54m off the floor but, before you complain, there really isn’t anywhere else it could go.

Low-level storage is a bit compromised by the intrusion of the garage and gas locker but there’s a capacious cutlery drawer and plenty of large top lockers, as well as a spice rack and an open shelf with glazed upstand to keep things in place.

A final mention, too, for the wardrobe, which is more domestic than motorhome-sized, at 57cm wide and with a 1.25m drop from the hanging rail – pack your ballgown!

Opposite the wardrobe, the washroom is almost as impressive as the galley. There’s enough leg and shoulder room when ‘on the throne’ so even those that add an X to XL will be comfortable, while most will find the separate shower a good size, too, not least because you step down into it, so headroom is 2.06m.

There’s a salad bowl-style basin and a good-size cupboard (with retaining lip) behind the high-level mirror. An opening window provides ventilation and a loo roll holder is hidden in the locker under the washbasin. The only downside seems to be the single small outlet in the shower tray, causing water to pool at the front if you’re not parked completely level.

Ford Transit cab

It’s not just the habitation side that’s well appointed, as the Ford cab comes with a reversing camera, lane keeping assistance, traffic sign recognition, hill start assist, a DAB radio with steering wheel-mounted controls, heated mirrors, automatic lights and wipers, an electric parking brake and start/stop.

More importantly, perhaps, the Transit’s driving position is excellent with plenty of adjustment for both the seat and wheel. You sit rather lower than in a Fiat Ducato, so it feels less commercial, while performance from the 165hp engine is lively and the auto gearbox is easy-peasy to use with its rotary controller. The ride quality is relatively soft and that helps reduce the rattles, which were few (except on the very worst road surfaces).

Here’s a layout that you won’t find elsewhere, combining a spacious front lounge and drop-down bed with a garage and an unusually large kitchen. That XXL galley is a real USP but the washroom impresses, too, as does the standard spec and value for money. With innovation and a contemporary interior look, the Sailer 56 Plus deserves to be a real success.