Auto-Trail V-Line 600

Berths: 2 Travel seats: 2 Prices from: £47,999 Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato LWB

This campervan is so different and car-like stylish that I can swallow Auto-Trail’s line, ‘automotive concept’ and believe it. 

Both outside and in, the ’van is visually stunning and really does look every bit the ‘luxury leisure vehicle’ – Auto-Trail is aiming for.

The front lounge 600 is the first model in the new range. There’ll be a rear lounge version launched at October’s NEC show, while a French bed model is due to hit the blacktop in late February 2014.

The GRP high roof is very smart and provides an ‘upstairs’ look that matches Auto-Trail’s coachbuilts’ upper regions – the family resemblance is very definite.

The roof allows the fitting of a big, curvy sunroof above the lounge and features a built-in awning but, crucially, increases internal headroom to the extent that a double floor can be fitted. Yes, a double floor in a panel van conversion. Unexpected, rare, clever, practical? All of the above.

THE V-LINE ON THE ROAD
The V-Line comes with the 130-horsepower motor as standard (and a six-speed manual gearbox), while a few more quid applied to the invoice can see you driving away with 148 or 177bhp motors, and/or Fiat’s Comfort-Matic robotised semi-automatic gearbox.

Up in the comfy cab, there’s standard-fit air-con, cruise control and driver and passenger airbags in addition to expected electric windows and mirrors and central locking.

Differences from the standard Fiat item come as the Auto-Trail-added GRP roof changes overall height and probably weight distribution. Handling is affected, but not so much as you might expect, with just a tad more body-roll in corners. High-speed cruising proved easy – commendably so – with a lack of wind noise from the roof.

LOUNGE
The side sliding door is partially blocked by the inward-facing side seat that makes the V-Line’s front lounge design unusual.

Bear in mind that there are no rear belted seats in this two-berth camper, something that will surely bother you if you plan to make the ’van an everyday or sole vehicle.

Meals are taken from a single-leg, floor socket-mounted table that’s generous enough for two, dining from sofa and inward-facing seat. The table is stored in the rear, flat against the outside of the washroom wall and easy to extract with the rear doors closed. Its leg is also easy to get at, clipped inside the wardrobe.

STORAGE
Mentioning the table stowage brings me to that far rear, another aspect that proves that this motorhome is about more than just style. Ask any high-top campervan owner and many will tell you that storage of gear in their ’van is a pain. The V-Line solves this problem and then some, as the area inside the rear doors not only provides space, it can store some of the kit too.

KITCHEN
The main kitchen unit lurks unobtrusively beneath two hinged lids that latch, when opened, onto a magnetic plinth above the window. The kitchen top is a combination unit, rendered in super-stylish black glass, that incorporates a two-burner hob and stainless-steel sink. There’s real wow-factor here as the gas-on-glass hob and machined-in drainer look stunning.

Another surprise is the drawer-style fridge. The 12V compressor-driven unit’s slide-out makes getting at its contents easy but the design  – with baskets, pull-out freezer compartment and folding bottle holder – seems to make poor use of space.

WASHROOM
In short, the washroom is one of the best I’ve come across in a van conversion in the 13 years since I gave up my proper job and started playing with motorhomes for a living.

BEDS
Sofa and side seat bases simply slide out  and forwards to make the bedroom. Cushions drop in, one tiny – and I do mean tiny – infill is added and the transverse double bed is complete. Singles are available too, using the fully swivelled cab seat squabs for feet.

Sleeping space drawbacks are mostly to do with size, as no bed is longer than six feet and the one who’s feet are next to the side seat’s backrest support comes in at just 5ft 10in.

STORE AND KIT
With dedicated stowage for some of the gear that we all need to take away, six overhead lockers (including the neat overcab top-loader) and space under both seats, there’s plenty of provision for holiday paraphernalia except, that is, for one class of essential items. Bedding storage is an issue: I stuffed pillows and sheet in the overcab locker, duvet under the sofa.
 

It’s not surprising to see Auto-Trail re-enter the van conversion market, and as a motorhome maker, with previous experience of the genre, you might expect the company to make a reasonable fist of the job. The fact, though, is that the V-Line presents as an exceptionally good camper, with far more than good looks to its credit.