Hymer ML-T 570 ‘60 Edition’

Berths: 3 Travel seats: 4 Base vehicle: Mercedes Sprinter Gross weight: 3,500kg Payload: 365kg

If there’s one thing that gets heads shaking when it comes to Hymers, it’s the sometimes inexplicable array of optional extras – at least some of which most people would consider essential – that inevitably bump up what is usually not a particularly low price to begin with.

Well, it may have taken 60 years to get there, but here’s the solution. Look out for models badged ‘60 Edition’ and you get all manner of extra kit as standard.

As a starting point, Hymer goes for the 163bhp engine with seven-speed automatic transmission – one offering plenty of grunt; the other, silky smooth gearchanges. The cab feels far too ‘commercial’ for me. Hymer lifts things with 60 Edition touches like the Zenec double-DIN head unit for the stereo/rear-view monitoring system. And there are steering wheel controls for your phone, too.

Storage is a bit of a mixed bag. There’s dashtop shelving, rather slim pockets in the doors and each sunvisor unit offers some shelf space, too, whilst above there are lockers either side of the opening sunroof. Cab blinds complete the picture.

The conversion stays ‘continental’, which means the habitation door (which has a window, elasticated storage retainer, flyscreen and large grab handle) is on our offside. Not a problem for most users, but some might object. While I think of it, although there’s a satellite TV system (the sixtieth anniversary celebrations continue), the official height figure doesn’t include the dish on the roof. Allow yourself another 22cm here.

There’s a certain luxurious feel as you step into the living area. You can admire the quality of the exclusive upholstery, for sure (stain-proof protection is standard). It’s the usual continental-style seating area, with an L-shaped settee and an over-reliance on the swivelled cab seats (themselves, darned good Aguti units) for on-site living. The overhead lockers are also worth noting, with their curved finish and sturdy nature, not forgetting the ease of catch operation.

There’s a slightly curious mix of mains sockets – four to the lounge/kitchen area and a further one in the washroom (in its vanity cupboard), but nothing in the bedroom. Surprisingly, too, there’s no sign of a USB outlet (they’re still on the options list, as part of a multiple sockets upgrade for £320). It is a slight surprise to be confronted with a table this small lacking an extension. It does get an anti-fingerprint coating, though, as does the kitchen worktop. Also, I’m not the biggest fan of TV watching whilst on tour, but there’s little doubt Hymer has done us all proud here with its 32in flatscreen Alphatron S monitor. Like the satellite dish, mattresses and other key items of kit, it’s proudly Hymer-badged. Better still, that monitor can be used as a smart TV, I found out, when querying the presence of a keyboard on board. You just need the right internet connections. 

It’s great to see a full Thetford cooker here. It rather dominates what is still a slightly small kitchen overall, but there’s no doubting the effort that has gone into this galley. There’s an acrylic splashback. A sink sits to the right of the hob, while its loose cover can be used as worktop or flipped over to reveal an acrylic chopping board. And there’s a useful flip-up worktop to the left of the cooker (note also the open storage panelling beneath it). Thetford’s tall ‘n’ slim 142-litre fridge with freezer sits to the right, set high enough above floor level for a drawer to fit in under it. There are four other kitchen drawers, three between the fridge and the oven, one below the latter. And there’s also a single high-level locker (with three LEDs to its underside), which is divided and shelved.

The most comfortable beds? Here’s a formula for success – cold foam mattresses over Froli-type springing. That’s what you get here – and I’d defy anyone not to sleep well on them. Lighting is good, as is window and rooflight ventilation, plus there are plenty of places to store things, with open shelves also helping to alleviate the feeling of claustrophobia an all-lockers arrangement would bring. My only beef is you can’t sit fully upright when in either bed because of the lockers overhead. Oh, and you’ll have to check the bed lengths are suited to you – my measurements are in the data panel, and they’re slightly different to Hymer’s own figures. Those beds sit high, too, meaning there are steps for access in singles format, a ladder if you choose to make a transverse double.

There’s the cleverest use of space in what is really a small washroom, thanks to a swing-wall design. It allows the whole room to switch roles – offering either a decent, fully lined shower area or a toilet room with fixed basin near to hand. That full-height tambour door is a space saver, but again there’s a solid feel to it. There’s a bench toilet here, which I applaud. I simply feel they’re more hygienic because you don’t have to clean all around them (compared to swivel-bowl designs and their often unreachable locations). You can almost forgive the lack of a window. Hymer seemingly couldn’t find a place for its usual nifty toilet paper dispenser, either.

The 570 isn’t over-blessed with storage. High-level lockers (especially in the bedroom) tend to put appearance over capacity. And, as in many imports, the fresh water tank takes up all the space in the rear seat base. Leaving the lounge seating in its L-shaped settee set-up at least allows some luggage room under the settee (also accessible from outside). Over the cab, it’s just open shelving. There are some saving factors, not least the 350kg limit in the capacious garage, where you’ll also find handy shelving. The wardrobe has dual-access at the foot of the offside bed. And, there are also a few other storage locations dotted about…

If you enjoyed this review, you can read the full version and more in the July 2017 issue of MMM magazine.

You can get a digital version of this latest issue of MMM magazine here.

This Hymer ‘60 Edition’ is a superb motorhome in so many ways. And, at last, here’s a Hymer that’s (more than) properly equipped as standard, without recourse to the options list.