Lunar Landstar EWS

Berths: 2 Travel Seats: 2 Base vehicle: Mercedes Benz Sprinter LWB Payload: 250kg Maximum weight: 3,500kg

Lunar is one of a number of van converters who are looking to use longer wheelbases to bridge the gap between conversions and coachbuilts.

Its Landstar EWS is based on the 7.1 metre-long Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, so has enough room for a large end washroom and a fully equipped kitchen.

At a fiver under £60,000, however, it is also a lot more expensive than most conversions. So what do you get for your money?

The Sprinter is a rare choice for a base vehicle, and not just because of the extra expense. It's too narrow, for example, for a transverse bed.

But the driving experience is in a different class. The Landstar EWS comes as standard with a 2.1-litre 158bhp Euro V engine, and that is enough to make it surprisingly fast. The excellent gearbox is always in the right ratio for the occasion. In fact, this is a van that drives exactly how Mercedes-Benz intendedy. While tall vans inevitably get a buffeting from side winds, all production models will feature Mercedes’ Crosswind Assist feature.

The electronic sliding door seems unnecessary, but once you are inside you can soon see that the narrower width doesn’t have that much effect on the layout.

The lounge has room for six to sit, and four to eat – although the table is too wobbly. But while the glossy lockers add class, this is spoiled by an abrupt join to the dour grey of the cab, while bargain basement carpet has been used for the area above the door.

On test, heat was billowing out of the well-positioned vents within a minute, and the Truma Combi 4 system didn’t need to stay on all the time to maintain a comfortable temperature. It can be used en route too.

The full cooker - a Thetford Aspire model - is a rarity in a conversion, and comes with four burners, one of which is electric. Next to it there’s a big sink and a 54cm by 34cm area of worktop.

There’s more storage on this side of the kitchen than some converters fit in an entire ’van, and it's high quality too. But there was no catch plate on the cutlery drawer. I had to jam it shut with a bed infill while driving.

The washroom is certainly not the kind of compromise you often find in a conversion. Built across the back of the 'van, it wouldn't be out of plan in an A-Class. The basin is set into a curving worktop on top of a  unit that doubles as storage for a pair of 6kg gas bottles. There is also a huge separate shower enclosure with a handsome, curved door covering a circular shower base.

The 35-litre waste water tank may need regular emptying, but an added luxury is a heater vent to keep the washroom warm too.

There are two bed options in the Landstar – two singles or a large double.

The offside single bed is quick and easy to make, although the nearside is not so straightforward and is 5cm narrower, although it’s still wide enough to qualify as an adult single.

The double bed is made up by pulling a slatted extension from below the offside single across the aisle.. This creates a huge double bed - 1.90m long by 1.76m wide.
 

The Landstar EWS motorhome has a strong standard spec, plus a top-notch washroom and base vehicle, but choice of some materials in minor ares could be bettter.