Hymer B544

WHEN Hymer launch a brand-new model, European dealers, manufacturers and owners takes notice. When it’s a replacement for their top-selling B-Class range it’s a case of ‘hold the front page’.

The Hymer’s ride is unbelievably quiet. The Fiat side of things, with its cruise control, electric mirrors, CD/radio and climate control made driving a pleasure, and the Aguti seats are supremely comfortable.

Also included are twin airbags, a single front door and a wooden top-loading cupboard beside the driver’s right arm. And there are cup or bottle recesses on both sides of that large dashboard too. And Hymer’s attention to detail even extends to a longer handbrake lever.

Once pitched, all you have to do is swivel the two front seats and you have a huge lounge with a long inward-facing settee on the nearside and an L-shaped one on the offside. The latter has a removable section and two three-point belts so that an extra couple of passengers can be carried safely.

The kitchen is behind the lounge, whilst the washroom brings up the rear in the nearside corner.

Lighting is soft and well-spread. The flatscreen TV is wall-mounted beside the nearside settee.

The general colour scheme adheres to the current fashion for brown and fawn. And with the normal plastic finish on the A-class bed being replaced by soft fabric, and the scalloped and rounded edges to the seating, there’s a softer feel not usually exhibited by German-built motorhomes.

The huge Dometic AES fridge/freezer holds an impressive 150 litres. An oven and grill makes up the top section of the all-in-one ‘Techno-Tower’ unit, and there’s a three-burner hob.

There isn’t a huge amount of worktop, as the major section of clear space is in the furthest corner, beneath the two 230V sockets, making this a great place for your toaster and kettle. Also, this galley doesn’t have a proper draining board beside the circular stainless-steel sink.

And there’s no need to set up a table when dining – the lounge is dominated by a huge fixed table that slides this way and that. It does have a space-sapping quality that seems a shame in what would otherwise feel like a cavernous lounge that could easily seat eight adults. At each end are cup holders that pull out from the solid top.

You may expect to find a separate shower in such a high-end motorhome, but this isn’t the case. The Thetford bench cassette toilet sits along the back wall, while three towel hooks, a large storage cupboard and an opening window surround the toilet.

In front of your knees is a semi-circular grey plastic washbasin that’s attached to a false wall that pulls around to cover the toilet, making a very large showering area.

The mirror that sits above the washbasin is huge, and there’s another opening roof vent as well as a smaller fixed one for a useful degree of ventilation.

The twin-door wardrobe and clothes cupboards span the gap between the washroom and the sturdy one-piece habitation door with electric step.

Three coat hooks are usefully fixed above the smallest of these rear cupboards.

With just two people on board you can fall into bed in a matter of seconds, not least if you opt for the electrically-operated shop-style shutter (not fitted to this demonstrator) that covers the windscreen.

The preparation of the A-class bed is continued in the standard way – by tipping those Aguti chairs forwards and undoing the seat-belt-style buckle attached to the ceiling to drop the bed down into place. You’ll be amazed by this bed’s size though. In fact, Hymer claim it’s the largest one of its kind in its class.

There are more berths available, and two kids could be accommodated on the settees, though the table limits available space on the offside. Alternatively, the slatted base to the nearside settee slides out to make a very generous single bed.

Within the double floor is a large, if narrow, storage area that runs beneath the washroom floor – it’s plenty big enough for storage of outdoor gear.

Also giving access to the double floor are eight hatches along the living quarters’ floor – two of which give easy maintenance access to the inboard waste and fresh water tanks, where they are fully insulated against cold climes. Even the waste water drain valve is inboard so that it doesn’t freeze up.

This has to be one of most controversial-looking Hymer motorhomes in years, especially after a period when most of their A-classes had stunning silver bodywork or grey sides and curvy profiles.

This B-Class is slab-fronted as function (a better drop-down bed) takes priority over form. The vehicle looks fine from some angles, but ugly from others.

There must be a compromise between utility and beauty but here the emphasis is definitely on living comfort rather than sleek styling.

A longer version of this review was published in the December 2010 issue of Which Motorhome magazine.

It may not win any beauty awards from the outside, but inside it’s a cracking motorhome that offers more comfort than ever.