Giottiline Siena 397 low-profile motorhome

Brownhills has just begun selling the Italian Giottiline brand, with this high-spec low-profile motorhome that's priced very competitively

The Giottiline Siena 397 motorhome

Words and photos: Peter Vaughan

Chances are that you’re not very familiar with the Italian brand, Giottiline, but equally likely is that you’ll be hearing a lot more about this marque now that Brownhills has become its latest dealer. 

It’s by no means a new manufacturer, having been founded two decades ago, but its focus has changed considerably from the eye-catching, but slightly oddball luxury models that were its first toe in the water.

Giottiline has been part of the Rapido Group since 2016. Two years ago the French parent invested in extending and updating the production line at Colle di Val D’Elsa in Tuscany, where the low-profile models for Itineo are also built. 

It may not be well-established here but Giottiline has a range of 19 models and about 100 dealers around Europe. For Brownhills, the emphasis is on a quartet of Ford Transit-based low-profile motorhomes from the Siena range. 

You can choose from a bunk bed layout, rear singles that are over a garage or two island bed models (with different lounges), all priced £70,995. But that is far from the full story because the Newark-based dealer has ordered all of its Sienas with a very comprehensive spec. 

What’s included

That starts with the metallic grey Ford cab with alloy wheels and the 170hp engine and six-speed automatic transmission as standard. 

On the outside, a 4.5m Thule awning and bike rack are fitted, while inside there are the carpets (cab and living area) and gas/electric Combi heating that UK buyers expect. 

The kit list is completed by the Security Pack and Siena Première Édition Pack, which would usually cost extra. For once, the options list is non-existent.

With the Security Pack comes a selection of base vehicle features, including cruise control, a heated windscreen, automatic lights and wipers, a pre-collision sensor and lane departure assistance.

Then, in the Première Édition Pack you get start and stop, remote radio controls on the steering wheel, ESP, Hill Holder, Hill Descent Control, a reversing camera (linked to the Xzent touchscreen with 9in display) and front fog lights. 

It’s certainly a fully appointed cab and there’s no shortage of performance from the Transit’s top-spec motor. With plenty of seat and steering wheel adjustment, plus the simplicity of that automatic gearbox, you should have no complaints from behind the wheel.

The exterior

While the Transit cab is grey, the Siena body is pure white with no graphics to transition the two, just some simple grey and red stripes. The overcab pod has an angular peak protruding above the windscreen and incorporates a large, opening overcab sunroof. All the bodywork is glass-fibre and the floor is an impressive 63mm thick. 

A five-year water ingress warranty is provided but this is subject to dealer checks at six months’ old and then at each ‘birthday’ of the vehicle.

There are no outside shower or barbecue points and the habitation windows standing proud of the body indicate that this is an entry-level motorhome, while entry to the motorhome is via a door with window, bin and flyscreen; it has a nice low step, too, and is linked to Ford’s remote central locking.

Another plus is the large gas locker (big enough for two 13kg cylinders), while the 100-litre fresh water tank is inboard for true winterisation. The similarly sized waste tank is underslung, heated and should drain quickly via its large-bore outlet. 

Of course, the key exterior feature is the garage, which has two full-sized loading doors (70cm by 96cm) and internal headroom of 1.01m. Lashing points are fitted in each corner of the space and there’s a single light and a 230V socket, but no spare wheel (although there’s room to carry one, payload permitting). 

Overall payload is quoted in the brochure as 466kg but that’s for a European-spec version; with the added kit here, it’ll be less but, at time of writing, we haven’t been able to ascertain a figure.

The interior

It’s a good-sized garage for an island bed model, while inside the Siena 397 feels as spacious as you’d hope from a seven-and-a-half-metre motorhome. With en suite facilities divided across the centre aisle and a lounge featuring face-to-face settees, this is one of the most popular floorplans of 2024. 

It’s not a large lounge, but it is open plan with a fold-in-half table that enhances the feeling of space – or unfolds to cater for family dining with a surface measuring 89cm by 89cm.

The single handle to twist or slide the tabletop is convenient and the downlights in the drop-down bed above ensure that the area is well lit.

Reading lights (with built-in USBs) above each cab seat are a welcome addition and, with the cab seats swivelled, four folk ( five at a pinch) can be accommodated. However, while the cab seats have loose ‘topper’ cushions to bring them up closer to the level of the lounge seats, the latter are too high for comfort, at 57cm off the floor. 

We also thought the Privilege upholstery (a mix of grey fabric and cream vinyl) rather betrayed the Siena’s entry-level origins, especially with the loose covers on the cab chairs. The removable habitation area carpets are also very thin. 

The lack of a window behind the offside seat leaves a blank wall here but at least there’s a deep window in the FAP door. 

Returning to positives, the coat hooks in the entrance are useful and there’s a TV bracket that slides out from above the fridge (the telly itself is, perhaps, the only extra outlay you’ll need to fund).

The kitchen

You’ll probably hope for a diminutive cook if their head is not to block your view of the television but, when it comes to The Great Motorhoming Bake Off, they’ll need to be tall to ensure that their masterpiece isn’t burning – the Dometic oven (which doesn’t include a grill) is 1.50m above the kitchen floor. 

It’s so high because it sits atop a supersized fridge/freezer – a two-door Thetford unit with automatic energy selection and 149-litre capacity.

The main galley is opposite, of course, where pale woodwork is contrasted with a grey worktop and gloss cream doors that sit proud of the carcasses. The three drawers all soft close, while the shelved cupboard adjacent was large enough for my coffee machine. 

The only mains socket here is in the base of the top cupboard, but there’s sufficient space in front of the hob for appliances to be used, as long as they have a long enough cable.

 If you’re looking for signs of entry-level motorhoming, the flat cupboard doors are one, but the chrome handles, the solid feel to the way doors and drawers close and the classy metal kitchen tap all hint at loftier aspirations. 

The heavy cover over the sink adds extra workspace, too, and you can flip it over to use as a chopping board – just remember to stow it for travel. Finally, the domestic-sized outlet in the stainless-steel sink is a practical touch.

The washroom

It’s then up a step into the washroom and bedroom areas aft, where the toilet door can be swung round to close off the rear of the motorhome. Headroom remains pretty generous back here, at 1.91m.

You step down again into the shower where a tinted folding door slides across to cover a generous cubicle with two drains in the tray and a shelf for your shampoo, etc. The step here could even, perhaps, be used as a seat or certainly somewhere to wash your feet; it doesn’t impinge on general room for showering.

Above is a tiny circular vent to let out the steam and a rail on which to dry clothes or towels. On the nearside, the toilet room looks a bit frill-free (especially the white plastic basin) and the door catching on  the carpet could annoy but the practicalities are mostly spot on. 

There’s enough room ‘on the throne’, even with the door closed, and the whole en suite can be separated from the bedroom with a concertina screen. 

There are large mirrors behind the washbasin and on the toilet door, while an opening window provides ventilation (there’s no roof vent here). Storage is generous and the top cupboard has a useful lip.

The island bed

Beyond the en suite, it’s the usual format of an island bed with wardrobes on either side. The windows have net curtains as well as fully framed flat blinds and there’s a small rooflight above. Reading lights (with USBs) are provided for bedtime bookworms and there’s just enough headroom to prop yourself up in bed, if not to fully sit up.

The mattress itself is on the firm side but not hard and it has a good length, at 1.93m. It is higher off the floor than in many rivals (89cm), but this enables the garage space below to be larger and bedtime access is still easy enough as there are steps on either side of the bed.

The downsides here are the fairly tight space to manoeuvre yourself around the foot of the bed – there’s only 19cm between the washroom wall and the mattress – and the clonking noise I experienced when turning over in my sleep. This was coming from wooden staves that simply weren’t strong enough to support one 80kg adult and were banging on the wooden bed base beneath. 

At the foot of the bed you can lift the mattress to reveal a locker that’s really generous in size but needs a better system to hold up the mattress while you load it; the stay here fell off in my hands and, in any case, had nothing to rest against.

There’s yet more storage in a corner cupboard at the offside, above which are 12V and aerial sockets for  another TV to be fitted.

The drop-down bed

This is a four-berth motorhome and the second bed is a double that lowers electrically from above the lounge just by turning a key. You don’t need to adjust any seats or the table before the bed comes down, but you will need the ladder to get into it.

Slightly smaller than the island bed, the front bed tapers quite noticeably towards the nearside but that does mean that the galley remains unobstructed if you want an early morning brew. If, however, you want to go outside, you’ll have to limbo under the bed, where headroom is now just 1.30m.

In this bedroom you have 62cm between the mattress and ceiling and the mattress here is just as thick as the one ‘downstairs’. A reading light is provided for one occupant of the upper berth, while the other could use the light in the cab. 

There isn’t a roof vent directly above this bedroom but the one over the kitchen and the overcab sunroof should cater for even those steamy Italian summers if you take the Siena back to its homeland. 

If you’re using all four berths, you’ll need to convert the settees into travel seats, which is a fairly easy process, although the upper part of each forward-facing backrest needs to be carried somewhere (and there are leftover cushions from the settees).

The nearside passenger seat works well, but the offside one lacks a window adjacent and is very short of legroom; neither has Isofix.

Motorhome supplied by Brownhills
Tel 01636 704201
brownhills.co.uk

Insurance: £645.63
Tel: 0800 975 1307
shieldtotalinsurance.co.uk
For quote details: motorhome.ma/QuoteInfo

Brownhills has got the spec/price ratio spot on with its version of this new Giottiline. Both the cab and living area leave you scratching your head as to what else could be added (just a TV, perhaps).

The layout follows a popular design and this Siena could work for two or four, but there are obvious downsides in the location of the oven and the height of the rear settees.