Chausson 610 Flash

Berths; 4 Travel seats: 4 Base vehicle: Ford Transit or Fiat Ducato Payload: 589kg Maximum weight: 3,500kg

Chausson’s 2015 low-profile coachbuilt range offers huge choice, including choice of base vehicle - you can have a Ford Transit or Fiat Ducato.

There are two trim-and-kit levels too: entry-level Flash or fancier Welcome which for an extra £4,000 adds LED road lights, different bodywork at the stern and reversing sensors, central locking and a window and flyscreen  on the habitation door, an AES fridge, cab blinds, an illuminated kitchen splashback and a luxury mattress for the main bed.

Base vehicle choice offers five engine outputs, from 123bhp (Ford), all the way up to 177bhp (Fiat). The Fiat can also be had with automatic transmission on all engine options – 130, 148 and 177bhp.

The Ford Transit test vehicle’s optional 153bhp motor performed very well. The cab environment looks superb in its Ford Focus-esque design. The Fiat, in contrast, continues with its ‘washing-up bowl’ plastics, even if its updated exterior does look sleeker than the heavy Ford.

Inside you can swivel the cab seats to face a generous lounge which could seat as many as eight for dinner.

The drop down bed can stop at high level, where a ladder gives access. This allows a second double bed to be made in the lounge below.? But if only two are living aboard, another press of the button can lower the bed down to rest on the lounge seat squabs.

There are downsides to this, however: all four residents must turn in together, and the bed when stowed still limits  headroom to just six feet. Lighting is limited to one central multi-LED lamp, so it can be dark on gloomy days.

The kitchen does well with lots of floor space and very big drawers. But it could do with some ceiling lamps in its galley.

Cooking is by three-burner hob, with lids over the sink and hob providing the only working surface. Opposite, the obligatory enormous fridge/freezer is topped by a grill that takes a fair while to heat.

The 610’s bathroom is one of the very best I’ve ever seen – at any price. The shower in particular is one of the biggest you’ll find in any motorhome. The wardrobe is in the bathroom, too, and provides laugh-out-loud amounts of storage space.

Finally the spacious garage has no less than three doors. The nearside door extends up to almost full height, perfect for any long, slim items.

A ledge narrows the floor’s width somewhat. But with payload at well over half a tonne on a 3,500kg chassis, anyone can load up with confidence.

The 610h offers unrivalled storage and washroom facilities,
as well as an instant bed and big lounge, in a compact and great-to-drive package.