Malibu T440 QB motorhome

Berths: 2/4 Travel seats: 4 Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato Gross weight: 3,500kg Payload: 530kg

Malibu? No, not the coconut-based rum from Barbados, the beach city in Los Angeles or the type of surfboard… You might just have heard of this brand of van conversions, originally also wearing the name of its parent company, Carthago. Now, though, Malibu coachbuilts – low-profiles and A-classes with the same set of five layouts – are coming to Blighty this summer, with a network of dealerships being appointed as we write.

Fixed single bed floorplans dominate but this is the sole island bed model, at just under 7m long. It’s narrower than most of its ilk, too, at 2.27m but the underpinnings are ubiquitous Fiat, with the low-frame camper chassis and 130bhp motor as standard. With Malibu branding emblazoned across the grille and the logo repeated on a black background on the overcab moulding, there’s no mistaking the marque – at least from the front.

But it’s under the skin that these motorhomes aim to impress. They may be more affordable than Carthagos, but at close to £70k for this demo model, they are a long way from entry-level. That’s explained by the high-quality, timber-free body construction with a deep double floor (where water tanks reside in a heated and insulated home).

There’s storage in the ‘basement’, too, with external locker doors (with superior catches) and sturdy internal floor hatches (with hinged lids) providing access. Not only that, but there’s a scooter garage with GRP tray, anti-slip coating, 250kg capacity and interior height of up to 1.25m. And all the external locker doors are created in-house, cut out of the original side panel, so strength and insulation are assured.

The layout is typical but the front lounge – with an L-settee and single side-facing seat – is better than many of its ilk. Seat heights are comfortable and a foot pedal allows easy movement of the tabletop. There’s no overcab sunroof here, but the small lockers lining the luton add a little extra locker space.

The kitchen is compact but stylish. All the low-level storage is in large drawers and the sink cover doubles up as a neat, slot-in shelf. Hefty springs on the top lockers – all with positive locking – give a real feeling of quality. The biggest downside is the small size and high-up location of the oven – over the fridge/freezer.

A solid sliding door is used to close off the rear en suite bedroom where the mattress is mounted 1.03m from the floor. The mattress measures 1.94m by 1.43m and there’s a mirrored headboard, reading lights and USB port. A tip-up head to the bed will be perfect for those relaxing Sunday mornings with a newspaper but there’s no obvious place here for a TV.

The bathing facilities offer a decent-sized shower (despite some wheelarch intrusion) and a toilet/washbasin area behind a tambour door opposite. There’s plenty of room to use the loo with the door slid shut but getting your face over the washbasin for a wake-up splash will probably mean leaving it open.