Nu Venture Nu Rio SD

Berths: 2 Travel seats: 3 Base vehicle: Citroën Dispatch Gross weight: 2950kg Payload: 523kg

Small but spacious describes this coachbuilt from Nu Venture, based on Citroën’s Dispatch and supplied by Robsons of Wolsingham, which has just completed a decade as a Nu Venture agent. The sub-6m length and 1.96m width are among the key selling points. If you think the on-board facilities have been pared down as a result of this, think again.

The Citroën base provides a more car-like experience than most, thanks to a lower seating position. Sat-nav and a tracking system are standard.

The Nu Rio SD is the most popular format. The interior features a central settee with dinette opposite. The floorplan has an end-kitchen with a washroom in the rear offside corner. Main access is via a stable-type door. All the windows are flush-framed and double-glazed, with cassette blinds and flyscreens inside. Bodywork is GRP-clad, with polystyrene insulation.

When it comes to sleeping, you can opt for twin single beds or a double – in either scenario you will be sleeping lengthways. Taller users might want to speak to Nu Venture about the (proven) possibility of adding extra length to either of the bed arrangements.

Lighting – all LED – is excellent. There’s also a choice of soft furnishings in the living quarters.

The kitchen comprises a sink with drainer and four-ring gas hob with grill, and a small Dometic fridge with manual gas ignition. A cutlery drawer and small cubby locker, cupboard under the grill and two overhead lockers provide the storage. There’s also some worktop on the other side of the habitation door, with a fold-down flap.

Things are a little compact in the washroom. There’s a swivel-bowl toilet and a fold-down basin with vanity unit overhead. Plus points are its acrylic wall lining and a quartet of double hooks. But there’s no space for a window and you’ll need to use a curtain for showering. 

Adjacent to the washroom, it’s only a small wardrobe. Otherwise, interior storage is excellent for what is essentially a two-person vehicle. The overcab area is ideal for stowing all your bedding, while the washroom might be used for the transporting of outdoor chairs, table, etc.

Arguably, it’s the wrong side of £40,000, but that shouldn’t put you off if you know this is the right vehicle for you. This model is Robsons’ registered demonstrator, with less than a couple of hundred miles on its clock, and was on sale at an end-of-season price – £39,995. That’s a worthwhile saving.

If you enjoyed this review, you can read the full version and more in the October 2016 issue of What Motorhome magazine. You can get a digital version of this latest issue of What Motorhome here.

Smaller than most coachbuilts, but it works well - especially for single motorhomers.