McLaren Atom

McLaren motorhomes (and race-vans) are bespoke – either buy the base vehicle through the company or supply your own; you determine the specification and can request modifications to layout. This owner opted to retain the standard commercial seat arrangement of three up-front. These leather-trimmed seats are supremely comfortable, although access from the cab to the rear is made impossible.

McLaren site the kitchen behind the cab, with the washroom opposite the sliding door, then the wardrobe aft, above the fridge. The U-shaped lounge fills the rear – the expanse of cream leather giving an immediate ‘wow-effect’. The solid rear wall, with television attached, is finished in wood. Behind the wall (reached via windowless back doors), is a low under-settee store, finished in checker-plated metal, and a slim full-height hanging area.

Chef's delight
 

The kitchen is compact, its top almost completely occupied by the combined Smev sink and three-burner hob. With so little work surface, it would be better if the glass lid was split. There’s a grill below (normally combined with an oven), and slightly restricted access from the right to a cupboard – McLaren have since added an extra access door under the grill. There’s a mains socket in the kitchen front, and a ceiling light behind you, so you’ll stand in your own light. The fridge is rather small.

Washroom

Atom’s washroom is compact and rather plain. Finished in robust silvery-grey wallboard, it makes the most of available space with a drop-down basin, which we found rather high, and Thetford’s excellent bench toilet, plus well-sited loo-roll holder. There’s a shower with riser-bar, shower tray with drainhole at the front and a bulky, rather intrusive, shower curtain. Apart from a skylight, and rather natty LED wall cluster (whose light can be turned blue), that’s about it.

The plush lounge has flat seat cushions that make a level, comfy bed. Maybe the aisle is rather narrow (unavoidable on the slim Mercedes) and the big, twin-pole table doesn’t help access. This owner specified roof-mounted air-conditioning, and the LED lighting is white/blue and dimmable.

Bedroom

Beds are easily made; the strong bed-frame pulls out smoothly and any surplus seat backs store in the cab. McLaren’s tailor-made the beds for the Atom’s tall owner and his much shorter wife, so longitudinal singles of 1.95m and 1.72m respectively, have been made-to-measure, with a longitudinal double (1.71m wide) also possible.

Taking advantage of an excellent 720kg payload, there’s a rear store for mucky outdoor toys, plus under the nearside settee. There are high-level cupboards and a wardrobe with 86cm hanging drop.

This motorhome review of the McLaren Atom was published in the July 2012 issue of Which Motorhome. You can download the full magazine by clicking HERE