Elddis Envy 150 low-profile motorhome

A dealer special edition with an island bed

Words & photos: Peter Vaughan

The Elddis Envy 150

Elddis has long been the market-leader in the field of special edition motorhomes – in fact, it’s a sector that most others have now vacated. 

Here, as with others, it means a standard, mainstream model but with a new name and colour scheme, plus some extra spec, while still keeping a keen (sub-£70k) price tag. 

This island bed layout filled an obvious gap in the Elddis line-up when it arrived in 2021, but, with chassis availability since having been so poor, it’s probably the hardest version to find on the used market. And, if you’re buying new, why not treat yourself to one with all the toys?

The spec

Dolphin Motorhomes’ Envy 150 comes with an Iron Grey cab and contrasting silver sides to the living area, plus an overcab sunroof. 

The Peugeot cab gets air-con, cruise control and a reversing camera. Externally, there’s a 100W solar panel, barbecue point and cold-only shower, while inside the benefits include a microwave, larger rooflight over the lounge, cab blinds and a sumptuous Hypnos mattress for the island bed.

Built on the Tempo Libero version of the Boxer, the Envy comes with the 140hp motor, but no automatic option. Alloys are an extra-cost option. 

Elements such as the caravan-style windows that sit proud of the body and a habitation door that’s not linked to the central locking remind you that this is a budget-priced motorhome but there’s the reassurance of Elddis’ SoLiD construction bodywork, backed up by a 10-year water ingress warranty. 

Water tanks (100 litres fresh and 70 litres waste) are underslung. Whale’s CompleteHeat gas/230V blown-air system is also mounted under the vehicle to save space. 

Although the 150’s layout includes that desirable island bed, there’s no garage. 

Unusually, the only external storage is accessed via a small flap in the back wall. This leads into the large under-bed locker but the maximum height in here is only around 350mm.

The interior

Inside, the Autoquest feels quite different to most of its continental competition, with much less separation of the bedroom. 

There’s a clear view through the interior on the nearside and a much more open feel to the layout. The downside, of course, is that the bedroom is always on show, without even a privacy curtain.

Up front, too, the Elddis adopts a very British format, with side settees forming the lounge. Its sofas are rather too high for comfort, while the table is a free-standing unit that stores in its own cupboard. The only step is between the lounge and the kitchen.

The kitchen

The galley has a Thetford cooker featuring three gas rings, a mains hotplate and a separate grill and oven. Above is the microwave and opposite is a tall 133-litre fridge.

The bedroom

The washroom disappoints with no separate shower but, while the ablutions seem small, the bedroom is spacious, with generous floor space. 

All is not quite as it first appears because this is achieved with the bed in day mode but, even when the  mattress is pulled out to its full length (still only 1.83m), there’s still more room to move around the bedroom than in most rivals. 

If you need four berths, the Autoquest serves up a second double bed made from the settees.

The travel seats

And rear passengers are catered for, too, with Aguti travel seats (complete with Isofix) hidden under the sofas. You have to remove and stow every one of the settee cushions but, having done so, the bed bases fold up against the walls and the Agutis unfurl, creating two face-forward pews with integral three-point seatbelts. There’s more legroom for the offside occupant but each seat is more restricted in room for shoulders than legs.

Where to buy

The Envy range (covering the full gamut of Elddis campervans and coachbuilts, including the compact versions) – 12 models in all – is exclusive to Dolphin Motorhomes, with branches in Southampton and Christchurch, Dorset. 

However, equivalent special edition versions of Elddis motorhomes are available (with varying spec, etc) from dealers all around the UK.