Itineo SB700

Berths: 6 Travel seats: 6 Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato Gross vehicle weight: 3,500kg Payload: 545kg

We’re pretty over-indulged when it comes to A-classes in the UK. It’s like our taste in wine: we pick the best from what’s produced elsewhere.

The all-A-class (and low cost) Itineo range has had something of a shake-up. The 7-metre SB700 we are testing here succeeds the SB720, whose larger SB740 cousin won the Family Motorhome of the Year 2015 award. That was thanks in part to the rear dinette that doesn’t feature here. The SB700 does retain bunks, though, in an otherwise full six-berth layout. There’s also a new furniture finish and rear end look.

The ‘van also has three windscreen wipers and that distinctive curved front end, only it’s toned down without the bold colours that have been tried in the past.

It’s all standard Fiat Ducato running gear, here, and powered by the adequate 130bhp engine – with the usual upgrade options.

This was certainly a well-behaved vehicle to drive. It took corners well, happily powered up steep slopes, was nimble enough around town and there was no sign of the rattles that still beset some A-classes. If you’re really going to be hosting an extended family, however, you should consider the chassis upgrade options to give yourself suitable payload margins.

In the cab area, a large area of black plastic will show the dust, and the stereo’s only speakers are here.

Inside, one of the attractions of the SB700 is a party-sized lounge. Eight could sit around the large table, though it might struggle for main meals.

There’s an L-shaped settee behind the driver and long settee along the opposite side. Or you could make a half-dinette from the forward-facing travel seat, or turn the opposite settee into a single dinette.

Backrests come with added padding attached, in a contrasting brown to the light velour main upholstery. The furniture complements these colours, while ivory gloss locker doors sport large, easy-to-use handles and pneumatic struts.

The main rear travel seat is forward-facing, but travel seats five and six are more controversial. Rearranging cushions and some of the settee structure creates a forward-facing seat on the UK nearside and a rear-facer immediately behind the driver. Both lack any kind of metal framework and only have unfinished ply base boarding with plastic hinges.

The cab double bed is manually operated, with a three-rung ladder for ease of access. Just one reading light up here is parsimonious, but it’s nice to see a rooflight overhead for ventilation. Shelving would have been a bonus.

Kids will love the bunks, although both are long enough for a bit of storage at the foot end to have been considered. Both get a light and an opening window, however.

Back at the front, there are heavy-duty curtains for the cab windows. Fully lined, they save a fortune in manufacturing compared to fitted blinds and shutters – and some prefer them.

There’s a transverse double to be made from the lounge – or possibly two single beds.

Night-time lighting is excellent, with a good mix of ambient and direct lighting, but I missed not having one switch that could turn the lot off in one go.

When it comes to the kitchen, Itineo has confirmed that UK models will get an oven/grill as standard above the fridge/freezer opposite the main kitchen unit – a Thetford 150-litre capacity unit with automatic energy selection. You lose a locker when you gain the oven, but locating the oven here does, of course, mean the main kitchen unit is untouched. It’s L-shaped with enough space for a three-in-a-line gas hob and a separate sink, but not much more at worktop level. There’s a neat trio of drawers with soft-close and central locking features that you wouldn’t expect in a vehicle at this price, and something of a cavern of a double-door cupboard under the sink.

The washroom has one of the biggest tambour doors I’ve seen anywhere, but inside isn’t as spacious as one might expect. There’s a large shower cubicle at the back of the room, with a basic shower head with no riser adjustment. It’s a welcome surprise to see Dometic’s more premium ceramic-bowl toilet, although the white plastic small corner basin is definitely more ‘budget’. There’s also no window, but there is a rooflight and limited storage.

If you use a bit of muscle and haul the tambour door around far left, you’ll find that a pleated divider extends across and you have a generous changing area, with a wardrobe that is narrow for six, but offers full hanging height and two removable shelves.

I’d countenance against putting a bike in the garage, as it’s tricky to wheel even just one in and there are no lashing points.

So do you get a lot for your money overall?

Among the pluses are the GRP-clad bodywork, the large lounge and bunk beds, the lower of which can be folded up for a small exterior and interior-access garage area.

But there are compromises: there’s just one mains socket as standard, the windows are caravan-style ‘hung’ units, and it’s only a manual step at the habitation door (with no alarm if you’ve left it out as you drive off). Truma’s Combi 4 heating and hot water system is also gas only, although upgrades are available.

This is an abridged version of the full review appearing in the October 2015 issue of MMM.

The lounge is a winner, but kitchen and bathroom both need improving. This ’van might work better as a four-berth, with the travel seats further forward to allow for more kitchen space.