Auto-Trail Tribute 660 campervan

Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato Price from: £42,115, ex-works Berths: 2 Travel seats: 2 Length: 5.99m Width: 2.27m Height: 2.65m Gross weight: 3,500kg Payload: 550kg

Rear lounge van conversions form a big part of the UK market. Most are based on the Fiat Ducato (or its Sevel sisters, the Citroën Relay and Peugeot Boxer), which lends itself well to conversion as it has greater interior width and flatter sides than some rival panel vans. At just a whisker under six metres overall, the long-wheelbase model is also a practical size for manoeuvrability, parking and even keeping costs down on some ferry crossings.

Auto-Trail’s entry-level Tribute range already included two six-metre campervans (the two-berth 670 and four-berth 669) and now there’s a third. However, the existing pair both have a half-dinette behind the cab to incorporate rear seatbelts, whereas this new 660 layout is a pure two-berth.

Doing away with the second lounge up front means more space can be allotted to the sofas in the stern, so these are now long enough to act as single beds – as long as you’re not too tall. The offside settee measures 1.88m, while its opposite number is barely shorter, at 1.86m. And, if you prefer a double bed, the sofas pull together to create a spacious, almost square, bed that’s 1.88m lengthways by 1.84m across the motorhome.

Of course, it’s not just at night that you’ll appreciate the extra length of the lounge. These sofas make feet-up chillaxing as easy as A, B, C and there are reading lights in all four corners of the space – a pleasant surprise in a budget-priced camper. There’s a push-up Heki sunroof for extra daylight, too, and two USBs and a TV point over the offside settee.

New Tasmin upholstery features in the 2020-season Tributes and a padded leatherette headlining and concertina blinds are more welcome, upmarket touches. But the lounge really comes into its own on a warm summer’s day when you can unwind with the back doors flung wide open.

There’s limited storage under the offside settee as the Truma Combi boiler and the leisure battery are both accommodated here, but there’s useful capacity under the nearside sofa for bedding, etc. The table has its own storage position behind the driver’s seat.

Also behind the pilot are the wardrobe and, below, the 95-litre Dometic 8-Series fridge with removable freezer. It’s worth noting that the furniture here limits adjustment of the driver’s seat, so try it for size, especially if you’re lanky or you like a more reclined driving position.

The rest of the kitchen facilities are by the sliding door and the Tribute galley has been redesigned this year to increase space in the aisle. A Triplex cooker (with oven/grill) means there’s no shortage of cooking equipment but the only drawer is for cutlery (and hidden in a large locker next to the oven). A flip-up worktop provides vital extra cheffing room and has a 230V socket below.

Opposite, it’s the usual Auto-Trail bathroom design (as also seen in V-Lines, Benivans and Chaussons) with a tip-up basin, mirror-fronted cupboard, shower curtain and rather high-mounted loo with awkwardly placed shower controls adjacent.

White is the standard external body colour, but grey, silver, black, red and gold are all available as options. Whichever paintwork you choose, though, don’t forget to budget for the Lux Pack which, for £1,349, adds a Zenec Xzent DAB radio with built-in sat-nav, a colour reversing camera, awning, flyscreen for the sliding door, 100W solar panel and – perhaps most importantly – an electric step at the side entrance.