Laika Kreos L 5009 low-profile

Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato Price from: £123,140 Berths: 2 Travel seats: 4 Length: 7.89m Width: 2.30m Height: 2.99m Gross weight: 4,500kg Payload: 713kg

Words and photos: Peter Vaughan

The Laika Kreos L 5009

When did a motorhome last make you mouth ‘wow’ as soon as you clapped eyes on it, or immediately on stepping aboard? Well, the new flagship from Italian marque, Laika, had exactly that effect on both your Road Test Editor and MMM’s Deputy Editor when seeing it for the first time.

And the beauty is not just skin (or 44mm of aluminium and XPS foam) deep, as quickly became clear when Head of Product Management, Michel Vuillermoz, showed us around this new model.

Described as ‘a celebration of Italian design and craftsmanship’, the Kreos was actually conceived by GFG Style, the company of Giorgetto and Fabrizio Giugiaro.

With over 300 production vehicle designs and 200 prototypes to their names, this father and son pair might more usually be associated with the latest Lamborghini or a futuristic concept car. Their influence is apparent in the clean lines of the exterior, as well as the materials and colours inside that give this Laika a unique feel.

The exterior

Outside, you can choose a white cab or metallic black. Either way, you’ll notice the mouldings on the doors that merge Fiat and Laika bodywork, while the typical fussy motorhome graphics are replaced by a simple rising line from the cab to the bedroom windows.

The glazing is, of course, completely flush with the entirely wood-free body, while the overcab sunroof must surely be the biggest on the market. The roof (in glass-fibre, like the underside) is shaped to channel rainwater off the front of the motorhome, not to the sides or (worse) to puddle on top.

Then, where the roof and sides meet, there’s a gentle curve with the optional awning sitting neatly atop, where it doesn’t increase the vehicle’s width.

Of course, underneath the Kreos is an Al-Ko chassis with wide rear track, while the front suspension is reinforced. Maximum gross weight is 4,500kg, with a limit of 250kg for the rear garage.

That comes with two huge top-hinged doors and internal height of 1.28m. Both 12V and 230V power points are fitted, along with adjustable tie-down hooks, an exterior shower point and the electric waste water valve’s switch. The chequerplate panel for a motorbike’s stand is a familiar feature for Laika but a new addition is the rack for a dozen bottles of Chianti.

Forward of the garage, the fresh and waste water tanks (200 and 150 litres, respectively) are sited in the heated double floor, where the design allows for their removal for maintenance.

Just aft of the cab, hatches on either side of the motorhome provide access into the storage element of the double floor, which is 250mm high and illuminated by an LED strip across the full width of the vehicle. It’s worth noting that the Kreos doesn’t come with a spare wheel, though.

The spec

Like its German rivals, you also have to ignore the starting price here – this example (with over £20k-worth of options) is representative of what you’ll expect to pay.

The standard spec includes ESC, Crosswind Assist, cruise control, Start&Stop and remote central locking (including the habitation door), but you’ll need to add the Super Chassis Pack (£2,600) for niceties such as the leather steering wheel, automatic air-conditioning, Traction+ and 16in alloy wheels.

Our test vehicle also boasted a Zenec 9in touchscreen display with reversing camera, DAB radio and sat-nav. It can be added as a Multimedia Pack (£2,270), or as part of the Da Vinci Pack (£3,970) fitted here, which also includes the TV bracket, external shower, and drop-down front bed.

If you don’t need the last item, an interesting alternative to consider is the optional ‘electric panorama sliding roof window’ (£1,500) that can even be opened while you drive.

And on the subject of driving, we can’t imagine Kreos buyers sticking with the standard 140bhp engine and manual gearbox. The 180bhp unit (£3,590) and automatic transmission (£3,360) are what you want to ensure effortless motoring in this 7.89m motorhome.

The interior

If the Kreos’ exterior design is a cut above the norm, the interior is in a different league to most rivals. Open the Premium XL habitation door (with closure of bank vault-rivalling solidity) and you can forget the ‘world of beige’ of many motorhomes and think chic apartment instead.

Choose from five upholstery styles (including real leather), while the Natural Walnut furniture is real wood. But it’s the extensive Deep Ocean panels (on top lockers and seat bases and around the fridge, washroom and bedroom) that give the Laika its unique design flair.

It’s not just about looking pretty, however. The flat floor from the cab through the lounge, kitchen and washroom, even into the sleeping quarters, is very welcome. And while the front bed robs you of the huge sunroof option, it does disappear almost flush into the ceiling, leaving headroom of 1.87m below.

There’s no shortage of daylight in the lounge, either, thanks to the vast overcab window. Artificial lighting is even more generous, with dimmable LED strips everywhere imaginable, including at floor level, around the cab roof and under the settee squabs.  

The layout

For now, there is just one Kreos layout, with twin beds astern and a front lounge featuring an offside sofa and nearside L-settee. Other floorplans are expected to follow, along with an A-class version.

The big difference in the lounge is the round table, which, with an 800mm diameter, is not as dominant as in many German motorhomes. It’s also super-sturdy and looks stylish with its outer ring in Corian.

Above, the long aluminium handles on the top cupboards are another designer touch, while the soft-closing Häfele hinges would do any domestic kitchen proud. The upholstered ceiling is another premium aspect, while  walls and furniture are designed for the ideal spread of heat.

As you’d anticipate, the heating system itself is from Alde, with gas/electric power and radiators throughout the vehicle. Heating even extends into the cab, as well as including a heat exchanger for warmth and hot water en route to your destination. There’s a Truma DuoControl remote switch to change between gas cylinders, too, and an EisEx defrosting device.

The seating also looks luxurious with the Milano real leather (£2,560) complimented by velvety Pisa cushions (£370) that add an extra layer to the backrests, as well as pillows and scatter cushions. In reality, though, the comfort doesn’t quite match the appearance as the backrests are rather upright and the bases a tad short.

If you want to watch the TV, press a button and it’ll glide down in front of the offside lounge window – up to a 32in screen can be accommodated. Now, one person can stretch out, feet up on the sofa, while their partner can recline in the passenger cab chair.

Note, too, that twin USBs are fitted on the wall on either side of the lounge.

The kitchen

Three versions of the Kreos kitchen are available. British buyers may prefer the Grand Chef option (£800), which replaces the standard three-burner hob with a Thetford Triplex unit incorporating a combined oven and grill. Do that and, for a further £820, you can also add a microwave.

Here, though, the Kreos sported a more unusual option – a Bosch dishwasher! It’s an £1,150 option and only uses eight litres of water per cycle. And, if you pine for doing things the old-fashioned way, there’s still a double sink integrated into the Corian worktop. The front sink has a flush-fitting cover, while the rear one has a slotted surface, which allows plates to drip dry.

That’s not the only posh addition as the matt black tap has a hose-style fitting. Then there’s the coffee machine option with shelf and a wall rack for the espresso capsules.

As well as a large overhead cupboard, the galley includes a generous array of drawers. Then, beyond the shower cubicle, is a floor-to-ceiling pull-out pantry that has six shelves for tinned or packet foods and bottles. Its metal construction means you’ll need to pack things tightly to stop rattles.

Finally, the fridge – a super-sized, two-door model with separate freezer and doors that open either way – is on the opposite side of the motorhome. Above it is the oven (no grill), which is quite petite and won’t suit chefs who are also of diminutive stature as it’s 1.62m off the floor.

Down at floor level is an unusual heated drawer – for your socks and undies?

The washroom

Next to the kitchen is what appears to be a sauna! This is actually the shower, with both a conventional showerhead and an overhead rain shower. It has 1.88m headroom and large-diameter outlets in the tray, as well as near-domestic amounts of space for a good hose down.

On the offside, the toilet room can be used comfortably with its door closed or you can open it round to close off the back of the motorhome; a substantial sliding door in turn making the bedroom private. Here, Corian is used for the basin, and triple mirrors make for an impression of space.

The loo, for once, is at a comfortable height, so the only downside is the lack of rails or straps to restrain the contents of the lockers.

The bedroom

Of course, the washroom facilities create an excellent en suite for the end bedroom, where the high-level twin beds are of identical sizes. Each has an antibacterial, anti-mite, breathable mattress on a base of plastic springs

for even greater comfort. Access is easy, via folding steps, and there’s a full-sized, wind-up Heki sunroof in the ceiling.

Go for the TV Plus Pack and not only do you get a 32in telly in the lounge but also a 22in screen at the foot of the offside bed. Not so practically positioned, however, are the light switches at the end of the other mattress, which could accidentally be operated by your toes as you sleep!

A large central cupboard, plus corner shelves, suggest that this is another of those motorhomes in which you can’t sit up to read in bed, but no, Laika has that one covered. Lifting head sections of each single bed ensure that you can enjoy breakfast in bed or comfortably watch the second TV.

More berths

You’ll also be able to watch your favourite shows in the electric drop-down bed as, when this is lowered, the lounge TV is now perfectly positioned. Again, this bed is superior in many ways – for size and comfort but also the provision of a roof vent, twin reading lights and a headboard to prop yourself up against.

You will have to stoop beneath it to enter or leave the vehicle, though.

It’s also possible to have a double bed at the rear. As standard, there’s a 1.04m-long centre cushion between the twin beds but it’s possible to extend this to the full length, creating a bigger than super king size bed in which you could sleep lengthways or widthways.

However, while so much of the Kreos’ design is clever, the hefty slot-in support for this bed extension seems clumsy and, when its ladder is added, you can’t open the toilet door. Much neater are the slide-out wardrobes under the foot of each bed – a shelved one on the offside and with a hanging rail on the nearside. Note, though, that only short garments hang neatly as the height from the rail is only 690mm.

Motorhome supplied by Camper UK, Lincoln
Tel: 01522 411252
camperuk.co.uk

Insurance: £756
Tel: 0800 975 1307
shieldtotalinsurance.co.uk
For quote details: motorhome.ma/QuoteInfo

This is a motorhome that really feels special as soon as you step inside, before you discover its many impressive details. Lounging comfort could be improved but, in almost every other aspect, Laika has excelled itself. We can’t wait to see the Kreos range grow to offer other layouts.