Pilote P650GJ Essentiel motorhome

Berths: 2/3 Travel seats: 4 Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato Gross weight: 3,500kg Payload: 730kg

Pilote is unusual in offering its motorhomes in three trim and equipment levels – Essentiel, Sensation and Emotion. However, for 2019, there have been some adjustments, so the top-dog Emotion spec is now only available on Al-Ko-chassis A-classes.

Meanwhile, the most affordable Essentiel trim is enhanced, so it’s now close to 2018’s Sensation level. All 2019 Essentiel models get new LED ceiling lights, a new kitchen partition, upgraded upholstery and the new Xperience touchscreen system – a fixed tablet-style control panel that conveniently allows you to operate all the on-board systems from one place.

Vehicles measuring under 7m in length – such as this P650 – are now only available in Essentiel spec, but, with the improvements for the new season, that should be little hardship. What we have here, then, is the latest version of an old What Motorhome favourite. As a P650 model it is nice and compact at just six-and-a-half metres long – not much more than an extra-long Fiat/Peugeot van conversion. The GJ suffix refers to twin beds, though you can also have a P650C with ‘central’ (ie island) bed.

The P650U with its designed-for-Britain U-shaped rear lounge disappears from the brochure because not enough folk in France could be tempted away from their fixed beds. It’s the bedroom that’s the key feature of this model, not only because it’s quite rare to find this type of floorplan in such a modest overall length, but also thanks to the option of the low-level beds seen here.

If you want the comfort and flexibility of a twin-bedded bedroom but have been put off by the lofty nature of over-garage beds, then take a good look here. However, if it’s a proper garage (rather than the more compact exterior locker here – 740mm interior headroom) you’re after, then Pilote can offer that in the P650GJ, too, and, unusually, the French firm doesn’t ruin the design with cupboards over the head of the beds which stop you sitting up. Hallelujah!

As shown, access to the beds is as easy as at home and the mattresses measure 1.99m long (offside) and 1.85m (nearside). There’s a large area between the beds for your morning cuppa, etc, and well-placed reading lights and headboards suggest lazy mornings browsing your newspaper or iPad. Under the central eye-level locker is a single 230V socket and two USB ports, so you’ll be able to keep your gadgets charged. At the opposite end of the bedroom, wardrobes (with 760mm hanging height) hover over your feet but, with almost 400mm between these and the mattresses, you won’t be banging your toes.

The P650’s bathroom is surprisingly good for such a compact coachbuilt and that’s all thanks to a neat swing-wall design that pivots the washbasin over the loo to create a decent shower. A tambour door provides space-saving access and the cassette loo is the superior Dometic model.

The front lounge is utterly conventional, featuring a half-dinette and swivel cab seats, but there are neat touches here, too. The individual, height-adjustable headrests for rear passengers are a plus and the flip-up jump seat in the doorway increases seating capacity to five. The door (with central locking and a low step) has a window for extra daylight and there’s an overcab sunroof as well.

Our favourite feature, though, is the TV bracket which slides up and down to optimise viewing height. If there’s a compromise at all it’s in the compact kitchen, but even here you’ll find a Duplex oven/grill and generous 134-litre fridge. A lack of worktop is the only real downside.

If you enjoyed this review, you can read loads more like it in What Motorhome magazine. You can get a digital version of this latest issue of What Motorhome magazine here.