Auto-Sleeper Burford Duo

Berths: 4/6 Travel seats: 2/4 Base vehicle: Mercedes Sprinter Gross weight: 3,880kg Payload: 497kg

At not far off eight metres long, the Burford Duo is as big a motorhome as Auto-Sleepers builds.

Unusually at this size, however, it’s on a single rear axle Mercedes chassis, rather than the tag-axle, six-wheeler Fiat Ducato that you might expect.

Using the Sprinter base means you get rear-wheel drive and, as part of the optional-but-everyone-has-it Premium Pack, a superb seven-speed automatic transmission. The Merc also comes with a range of safety equipment, including adaptive ESP, ASR, Start-Off Assist, Brake Assist System and Electronic Brake Force Distribution.

Also included in the £4,000 Premium Pack are alloy wheels, cab air-conditioning, cruise control, a Thule awning, reversing camera, sat-nav and an 80W solar panel.

For 2018, Auto-Sleepers is also building all its Mercedes-based coachbuilts with Truma Aventa Comfort habitation air-conditioning (a £1,000 option) unless they are specified without. Most are also sure to come with the £995 Media Pack, which adds a Maxview VuQube satellite TV system with automatic tuning.

This big motorhome comes with a classic two-person floorplan, with a side settee lounge up front, twin single beds towards the rear and a full-width end washroom. If you need extra travel seats, one of the settees can be swapped for a half-dinette for an additional £1,000, while those looking to accommodate kids might also opt for the taller luton with overcab bed.

Apart from the delete-option habitation air-conditioning, changes to the Burford Duo for 2018 are minor and mirror those across the rest of the line-up. So, you can now control your heating remotely via the Truma iNet system and there’s a Trackstar Leisure Vehicle Tracker to keep your near-£80k investment safe.

Soft furnishings include new Casa Mila and Sagrada fabrics in a range of colours, taking the number of options to 13. The most noticeable change, however, is to the bodywork, which gets a completely restyled GRP rear panel with Hella LED tail-lights.

In standard format, the Burford Duo has an open feel up front, with the settees’ comfort enhanced by scatter cushions and armrests. The table is a removable free-standing unit and there’s an overcab sunroof for extra daylight.

The kitchen comes with a useful work surface area between its sink and full cooker with separate grill and oven and mains hotplate. Opposite, above the large fridge/freezer is a fitted microwave.

But it’s through a domestic-style door into the entirely separate rear bedroom that the Burford Duo really shows its cards. Here, low-level single beds come with fitted headboards, while his and hers wardrobes are suspended over the foot of each bed. Both beds are quoted as being 6ft 1in long but, as they are enclosed by a wall at each end, you’d be well advised to try them for size if you’re tall.

Beyond the bedroom, another solid door takes you into the en suite, complete with separate shower and white bowl-on-a-plinth washbasin.

If you enjoyed this review, you can read the full version and more in the December 2017/January 2018 issue of What Motorhome magazine.

You can get a digital version of this latest issue of What Motorhome magazine here.