Dethleffs Grand Alpa A 7820-2

Berths: 2 Travel seats: 2 Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato Al-Ko Gross weight: 5,000kg Payload: 835kg

Launched in 2011 as an overcab coachbuilt for two people planning serious long-term tours, the Alpa came with a double floor, extra-large luton with single beds and a rear lounge. The 7.33m Alpa is still in the range but, for the 2017 model year, and for £11,500 more, it now has a big brother – the Grand Alpa.

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The theory is simple – take everything that has made the Alpa a success and give it more. More of everything except berths. It even has more wheels.

The result is a 5-tonne tag-axle overcab coachbuilt that’s certainly imposing – especially as it’s 3.23m tall. That’s higher than an original Austin Mini is long! As part of the Esprit Comfort range, this motorhome is not just big in overall dimensions but fully loaded, too. Its construction uses Dethleffs’ LifeTime Plus method with GRP roof and floor, and there’s a 40cm deep double floor with full-width basement storage. The rear garage, complete with GRP anti-slip flooring and mains socket, can carry up to 250kg, too.

Entry is via an extra-wide door for added convenience, with coat hooks and an umbrella rack immediately inside. Three steps take you up to the living area, but it’s actually a step down into the cab, which can be closed off with a sliding, wooden door.

When driving you’ll be pleased to find ESP, ASR, LED daytime running lights, automatic air-conditioning, cruise control and two airbags. But be sure to turn to the options list for an engine upgrade – the 177bhp unit is a necessity, rather than a luxury, on a vehicle of this size and weight. Of course, that’s what’s fitted to the example here – along with a host of other spec, taking the price to just a fraction over the £100k barrier.

That’s a chunk of money, but you’ll go some way to find a more luxurious rear lounge motorhome. There can’t be many larger lounges out there, either.

While the Alpa adopts a conventional U-shaped seating area, the Grand Alpa has a C-shaped lounge, with seats facing in all four directions. There are large windows on three sides, two opening sunroofs above and, here, the optional 32in TV (with satellite system).

The kitchen is equally generous in its proportions – and worktop – but some buyers may bemoan the Tec-Tower with its oven high over the fridge. The benefit is masses of low-level, drawer-based storage.

Further forward, there’s a large shower cubicle on the offside and a toilet area with opening window and bench cassette loo opposite. Its door closes off the area to create an en suite that also includes the wardrobes.

Sleeping is in the overcab – as per the Alpa – with single beds measuring 1.90m and 2.05m long. The beds are accessed via a set of three wide, fold-down steps – so you really do go upstairs to bed!

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

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