La Strada Regent S campervan

Berths: 2 Travel seats: 4 Base vehicle: Mercedes Sprinter Gross weight: 3,500kg Payload: 550kg

In the world of German campervans, a select few converters turn out vehicles that stand above the rest in terms of design and quality

La Strada is one of this bunch, producing on both Fiat Ducato and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter base vehicles. Predictably, the Regent S houses one of Europe’s most popular layouts, if not the most popular – half-dinette-based lounge ahead of kitchen opposite bathroom, with a transverse fixed double bed in the rear.

With Mercedes’ 163-horsepower diesel engine fitted as standard, there’s plenty of power available for a vehicle that measures less than six metres long. And, if you have the desire to venture off the beaten track, the Regent S can oblige. Allrad, the Merc 4x4 version, offers go-almost-anywhere talents, with increased ground clearance making this even more of a possibility.

There is a huge choice of materials and finishes. Two lining material colour choices, 15 different locker door colours, 10 wall panel hues and 16 fabrics mean no two Regents need be alike. There’s a neat configurator on La Strada’s website, too, that allows you to choose and view all of them in situ.

Enough decorating and down to practicalities... A decent night’s sleep is important and never more so than in your ’van and, as the Sprinter is narrower than a Ducato/Boxer inside, achieving a decent-length transverse bed is a challenge. La Strada has placed a pod on each side, creating a more balanced look from the outside and a decent-length bed (1.98m, or 6ft 6in) inside. With no side windows and reading lamps at both ends, it’s possible to sleep heads to either side – something that can be very welcome when the ’van is on a tilt.

As expected, there’s a big stowage area accessed through the rear doors, while inside, deep drawers live beneath the bed. All-round high-level lockers make sure that there’s plenty of stowage space for clothes and other kit.

Next in line is the fridge (a 12V compressor-type as standard, three-way as an option) and, above, a tambour-doored locker that houses the TV, positioned for viewing from bed, kitchen or lounge. The compact kitchen also has tambour door storage at high-level – great for avoiding bruised heads. A two-burner hob/sink serves the cook, there’s good drawer storage below and, while fixed worktop is in short supply, a very big flip-up surface comes to the rescue.

The lounge is standard fare, with swivelling cab seats, wall-hung table and twin-belted rear bench. These benches can be rather upright for comfy sitting, but this one has a base that slides forward, changing the backrest to a more comfortable angle.

There’s plenty of headroom in the Sprinter’s cab and La Strada has taken advantage of this with a panel that forms a deep shelf when lowered and a roomy locker when raised out of the way of the cockpit.

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