Hobby Premium Drive 70GE
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Description
Price from: £47,599 OTR Price as tested: £55,100 OTR Type Approval: European Whole Vehicle
Key Features
Model Year
2013
Product Class
Low Profile
Product Model Base
Fiat Ducato
Price from (£)
£49645
Length (m)
7.44
Berths
3
Belted seats
4
Main Layout
Fixed Single Bed
Full Review
Over the years, German company Hobby has produced some of the most distinctive, gloriously avant-garde designs seen in the rather conservative motorhome industry.
Hobby’s annual range revisions are always awaited with keen interest, and its 2013 offerings are truly mouth-watering. Three ranges are available, and the twomodel Ford Transit-based Siesta family has changed least.
The new Premium Van (Renault Master) and Premium Drive (Fiat Ducato) ranges, though, look like nothing else on the motorhome market.
OUTSIDE
Their gleaming white sides are slashed by deep, shiny black, overlaid panels, tapering towards the back, and the body flanks round smoothly onto a rear adorned with spectacular LED lighting units and a glossy black top panel, extending round the sides to emphasise the sensual curves.
This panel sports a full-width red reflective strip incorporating side and third brake light LEDs, plus spoiler and graphics which modestly proclaim ***** FIRST CLASS MOBIL! Not motorhomes for the shy and retiring.
INSIDE
Inside, the layout is pretty standard for a continental motorhome, with swivelling cab seats, a half-dinette opposite the door (incorporating two travel seats and an extendable, wall-mounted table) and an inward-facing seat to the door’s right.
On your left, over a slim cupboard, is the television mounting, with a large, illuminated glasses display cabinet above. Behind this is the tall fridge unit, with the kitchen opposite, on the nearside.
Then comes the en suite bedroom with a shower on the nearside and washroom across the aisle – its curved door swings across, providing complete privacy for the bedroom and ablutions.
Two central steps give access to the twin single beds, with wardrobes below. Under the beds lies the garage, accessed via external doors on each side.
KITCHEN
There’s no domestic-sized cooker, with oven and grill; nor a microwave. That’s the German way – clearly, the average motorhoming hausfrau doesn’t believe in cooking a threecourse Sunday lunch whilst on holiday!
Lower kitchen cupboards and drawers are finished in the same shiny cream, as is the fridge door (a change from the funereal black so common nowadays). Work surfaces are shiny black with glittering speckles, but the tabletop is a smooth cream.
LOUNGE
Compared to classic layouts such as rear lounges, this sort of fixed bed layout doesn’t really cater for ‘lounging’ in the same feet-up fashion.
That said, the two travel seats are nicely shaped and supportive, and the cab seats are excellent. Moreover, there are no dangling legs as the whole half-dinette is on a raised platform, giving a flat floor.
Even the side seat, frequently the poor relation, is comfortable.
The large and solid table has a swing-out extension, so can be easily reached by all, yet doesn’t obstruct access.
BEDS
The twin longitudinal single beds in the rear of the 70GE have very satisfactory dimensions – the offside berth is 1.98m (6ft 6in) long, whilst the nearside one is 1.92m (6ft 3½in). Both are a generous 81cm (2ft 8in) wide.
At 1.11m (3ft 7½in) above the floor, up two wooden steps, comfortable cold foam mattresses overlie sprung beech plywood slats.
WASHROOM
We like the split washroom concept, and always find round ‘teleporter’ showers amusing – ‘Beam me up, Scotty!’ This one has translucent double doors, and its floor, with a central drain-hole, has a supporting moulding for the overlying white, removable, shower tray.
Fortunately, given the modest headroom in the shower (1.87m, 6ft 1½in), there’s a skylight in which the tall can position their heads.
Opposite, the washroom is quite large, with much better headroom. The swivel toilet, mounted on a step, is way too high for comfortable use at 58cm (23in) – a footstool would be needed.
IN THE CAB
Like all new Euro 5 Fiat Ducatos, this Hobby has a black fascia, here enlivened (if that’s the word), by very faux wood trim.
However, the steering wheel and gearknob are leathercovered, and climate control replaces the normal manual air-conditioning unit. Cruise control and twin airbags are also present.
The only feature missing was a rear-view camera (available as an extra) – with no through vision, one had to rely on the big door mirrors; even so, visibility was adequate.
Both cab seats are fully adjustable and have two armrests apiece.
Hobby’s annual range revisions are always awaited with keen interest, and its 2013 offerings are truly mouth-watering. Three ranges are available, and the twomodel Ford Transit-based Siesta family has changed least.
The new Premium Van (Renault Master) and Premium Drive (Fiat Ducato) ranges, though, look like nothing else on the motorhome market.
OUTSIDE
Their gleaming white sides are slashed by deep, shiny black, overlaid panels, tapering towards the back, and the body flanks round smoothly onto a rear adorned with spectacular LED lighting units and a glossy black top panel, extending round the sides to emphasise the sensual curves.
This panel sports a full-width red reflective strip incorporating side and third brake light LEDs, plus spoiler and graphics which modestly proclaim ***** FIRST CLASS MOBIL! Not motorhomes for the shy and retiring.
INSIDE
Inside, the layout is pretty standard for a continental motorhome, with swivelling cab seats, a half-dinette opposite the door (incorporating two travel seats and an extendable, wall-mounted table) and an inward-facing seat to the door’s right.
On your left, over a slim cupboard, is the television mounting, with a large, illuminated glasses display cabinet above. Behind this is the tall fridge unit, with the kitchen opposite, on the nearside.
Then comes the en suite bedroom with a shower on the nearside and washroom across the aisle – its curved door swings across, providing complete privacy for the bedroom and ablutions.
Two central steps give access to the twin single beds, with wardrobes below. Under the beds lies the garage, accessed via external doors on each side.
KITCHEN
There’s no domestic-sized cooker, with oven and grill; nor a microwave. That’s the German way – clearly, the average motorhoming hausfrau doesn’t believe in cooking a threecourse Sunday lunch whilst on holiday!
Lower kitchen cupboards and drawers are finished in the same shiny cream, as is the fridge door (a change from the funereal black so common nowadays). Work surfaces are shiny black with glittering speckles, but the tabletop is a smooth cream.
LOUNGE
Compared to classic layouts such as rear lounges, this sort of fixed bed layout doesn’t really cater for ‘lounging’ in the same feet-up fashion.
That said, the two travel seats are nicely shaped and supportive, and the cab seats are excellent. Moreover, there are no dangling legs as the whole half-dinette is on a raised platform, giving a flat floor.
Even the side seat, frequently the poor relation, is comfortable.
The large and solid table has a swing-out extension, so can be easily reached by all, yet doesn’t obstruct access.
BEDS
The twin longitudinal single beds in the rear of the 70GE have very satisfactory dimensions – the offside berth is 1.98m (6ft 6in) long, whilst the nearside one is 1.92m (6ft 3½in). Both are a generous 81cm (2ft 8in) wide.
At 1.11m (3ft 7½in) above the floor, up two wooden steps, comfortable cold foam mattresses overlie sprung beech plywood slats.
WASHROOM
We like the split washroom concept, and always find round ‘teleporter’ showers amusing – ‘Beam me up, Scotty!’ This one has translucent double doors, and its floor, with a central drain-hole, has a supporting moulding for the overlying white, removable, shower tray.
Fortunately, given the modest headroom in the shower (1.87m, 6ft 1½in), there’s a skylight in which the tall can position their heads.
Opposite, the washroom is quite large, with much better headroom. The swivel toilet, mounted on a step, is way too high for comfortable use at 58cm (23in) – a footstool would be needed.
IN THE CAB
Like all new Euro 5 Fiat Ducatos, this Hobby has a black fascia, here enlivened (if that’s the word), by very faux wood trim.
However, the steering wheel and gearknob are leathercovered, and climate control replaces the normal manual air-conditioning unit. Cruise control and twin airbags are also present.
The only feature missing was a rear-view camera (available as an extra) – with no through vision, one had to rely on the big door mirrors; even so, visibility was adequate.
Both cab seats are fully adjustable and have two armrests apiece.
Read the full version of this review in the February 2013 digital issue of MMM
Our Verdict
Hobby’s Premium Drive range would sell well purely on appearance. However, it’s a worthy competitor inside, too, being a well-designed, well-finished product, at a competitive price. Provided you are tuned into Germanic ways of camping (and many are), then the 70GE, or one of its siblings, could be just the ticket.
Advantages
Driving experience – good handling,
comfortable ride
comfortable ride
Excellent single beds
Spacious lounge with comfortable
seating
seating
Disadvantages
Impractical, shallow shelves (from top
to bottom) in kitchen storage
to bottom) in kitchen storage
Lack of spare wheel
Lounge bed
