Auto-Sleeper Broadway EL Duo
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Description
Price from: £52,995 OTR As tested: £55,495 OTR Base vehicle: Peugeot Boxer LWB standard-height chassis-cab
Key Features
Model Year
2013
Product Class
Low Profile
Product Model Base
Peugeot Boxer
Price from (£)
£52995
Length (m)
7.16
Berths
2
Belted seats
2
Main Layout
Rear Lounge
Full Review
Like many manufacturers in these uncertain times, Britain’s longest-established motorhome converter, Auto- Sleepers, has taken a long, hard look at its products, rationalising and improving them for 2013.
The Peugeot coachbuilts have been reduced from three ranges to two – two Nuevo models (both 5.7m long on Peugeot’s short-wheelbase chassis-cab), and five Broadways.
OUTSIDE
Visually, Broadway 2013 is similar to a Cotswold (Auto-Sleepers has now dropped the Caravan Club Design & Drive award-winning Cotswold), the main difference being a more streamlined, lower-profile overcab.
Overall, Broadway EL Duo is handsome, with smooth, tough GRP sides and large windows at the sides and rear as befits a rear lounge motorhome.
When the remote central locking (including the habitation door) is unlocked, the external step deploys smartly and the LED awning light comes on – and there’s an internal hand-rail for support.
INSIDE
Once inside the Hartal door, the cab lies to your left, beneath a large, opening skylight – the passenger cab seat swivels, but the driver’s doesn’t because the washroom is immediately behind. The washroom extends along the offside, followed by the wardrobe.
Opposite, on the nearside, is a long kitchen unit, and at the rear is the U-shaped lounge, with long settees, big windows, overhead skylight and high-level cupboards all round. As with houses, a decision to purchase a motorhome (rightly or wrongly!) is often made within minutes of entry. First impressions count.
On that score, modern Auto-Sleeper coachbuilts rate highly with their conservative target audience, and all have similar décor.
LOUNGE
A rear lounge layout is particularly appealing in out-of-season camping – you can have a grand view of the cold, wet, British weather through the big picture windows, but it hardly affects you!
Bearing in mind that this is a two-berth, two travel seat motorhome, you each have a huge settee on which to lounge.
On the offside, on the back of the wardrobe, is a television cupboard; the reading lights are good; and there are rear audio speakers.
There’s a large, freestanding table and a floor socket holds the smaller, pole-mounted table.
KITCHEN
The really impressive kitchen runs for nearly two metres along the nearside – there’s even a large slide-out worktop extension.
Below is a black, curved-front, 96-litre Thetford SES fridge, then comes a stainless-steel sink with mixer tap and glass lid.
The full-sized Thetford Caprice cooker has three gas burners and an electric hotplate, separate grill, oven and pan cupboard, and a cooker hood above.
A Daewoo microwave, above the front end of the unit, is carefully positioned a modest 1.30m (4ft 3½in) from floor-level to the interior base, yet still leaving a practical 28cm (11in) below it to the worktop. In addition, there’s a huge amount of storage.
IN THE CAB
This is a Euro V Sevel cab, so like all current Peugeot, Citroën and Fiat vans, the fascia has a black finish. Peugeot’s own radio has steering wheel-mounted controls, CD, MP3 and Bluetooth connection – however, the instruction manual confirmed our experience that, engine off, the radio still switches off after only 20 minutes.
This example had Auto-Sleepers’ Premium Pack fitted, giving cab air-conditioning, cruise control, twin airbags and the very desirable rear-view camera monitor, attached to the mirror. Both seats are multiadjustable and each has a single armrest.
The Peugeot coachbuilts have been reduced from three ranges to two – two Nuevo models (both 5.7m long on Peugeot’s short-wheelbase chassis-cab), and five Broadways.
OUTSIDE
Visually, Broadway 2013 is similar to a Cotswold (Auto-Sleepers has now dropped the Caravan Club Design & Drive award-winning Cotswold), the main difference being a more streamlined, lower-profile overcab.
Overall, Broadway EL Duo is handsome, with smooth, tough GRP sides and large windows at the sides and rear as befits a rear lounge motorhome.
When the remote central locking (including the habitation door) is unlocked, the external step deploys smartly and the LED awning light comes on – and there’s an internal hand-rail for support.
INSIDE
Once inside the Hartal door, the cab lies to your left, beneath a large, opening skylight – the passenger cab seat swivels, but the driver’s doesn’t because the washroom is immediately behind. The washroom extends along the offside, followed by the wardrobe.
Opposite, on the nearside, is a long kitchen unit, and at the rear is the U-shaped lounge, with long settees, big windows, overhead skylight and high-level cupboards all round. As with houses, a decision to purchase a motorhome (rightly or wrongly!) is often made within minutes of entry. First impressions count.
On that score, modern Auto-Sleeper coachbuilts rate highly with their conservative target audience, and all have similar décor.
LOUNGE
A rear lounge layout is particularly appealing in out-of-season camping – you can have a grand view of the cold, wet, British weather through the big picture windows, but it hardly affects you!
Bearing in mind that this is a two-berth, two travel seat motorhome, you each have a huge settee on which to lounge.
On the offside, on the back of the wardrobe, is a television cupboard; the reading lights are good; and there are rear audio speakers.
There’s a large, freestanding table and a floor socket holds the smaller, pole-mounted table.
KITCHEN
The really impressive kitchen runs for nearly two metres along the nearside – there’s even a large slide-out worktop extension.
Below is a black, curved-front, 96-litre Thetford SES fridge, then comes a stainless-steel sink with mixer tap and glass lid.
The full-sized Thetford Caprice cooker has three gas burners and an electric hotplate, separate grill, oven and pan cupboard, and a cooker hood above.
A Daewoo microwave, above the front end of the unit, is carefully positioned a modest 1.30m (4ft 3½in) from floor-level to the interior base, yet still leaving a practical 28cm (11in) below it to the worktop. In addition, there’s a huge amount of storage.
IN THE CAB
This is a Euro V Sevel cab, so like all current Peugeot, Citroën and Fiat vans, the fascia has a black finish. Peugeot’s own radio has steering wheel-mounted controls, CD, MP3 and Bluetooth connection – however, the instruction manual confirmed our experience that, engine off, the radio still switches off after only 20 minutes.
This example had Auto-Sleepers’ Premium Pack fitted, giving cab air-conditioning, cruise control, twin airbags and the very desirable rear-view camera monitor, attached to the mirror. Both seats are multiadjustable and each has a single armrest.
Read the full review in the March 2013 digital issue of MMM
Our Verdict
This is a cracking motorhome in the classically British luxury two-berth idiom. The extra space of the 2013 model has been used to great effect, with long beds and a spacious lounge, as well as an excellent kitchen and washroom.
A live-in test at the back end of the year, is always a good indication of how a motorhome really works – and this Broadway passed with flying colours. Limited payload and the lack of an automatic option are the biggest downsides.
Advantages
Excellent kitchen
Generous washroom
Large beds and with sturdy frames
Disadvantages
The triangular corner-shaping upholstery blocks in lounge
Whale water filling system – more suitable for caravans
Short cut-off time on radio
