Rapido 696F Ultimate Line low-profile

Base vehicle: Peugeot Boxer Price from: £72,400 Berths: 3/4 Travel seats: 4 Length: 7.49m Width: 2.35m Height: 2.95m Gross weight: 3,500kg Payload: 455kg

Words & photos: Peter Vaughan

The Rapido 696F Ultimate Line

There are just three layouts in Rapido’s 6F low-profile range (which sits above the compact C Series) for the new season, all now based on the Peugeot Boxer (although the Fiat chassis remains as an option if you need an automatic).

Two of those – the single bed 666F and this 696F – come only in new Ultimate Line trim, which is also offered on a selection of A-classes (8066dF, 8096dF, i66, i96 and i190) and which replaces last year’s anniversary 60 Edition models.

The Ultimate Line upgrades

Each Ultimate Line vehicle gets a dash of unique styling and extra spec to differentiate it from standard Rapido motorhomes. Rapido says that the “fittings have been meticulously selected to ensure they add to the traveller’s comfort in both summer and winter.” In practice, that means Truma Combi 6 EH gas/electric heating and a heated waste water tank.

Externally, you can recognise an Ultimate Line model by a new design for the graphics, while the cab can be ordered in Lanzarote Grey instead of the standard white. Inside, the faux leather ‘TEP’ upholstery with a quilted central band is also unique to these models. It comes in two colours, each coordinated to the furniture style selected – either Nacarat or the new Luceo.

The equipment is enhanced, too, with 16in alloy wheels, dimmable indirect lighting, scatter cushions, a redesigned washroom and a built-in vacuum cleaner.

The exterior

Turning to the specifics of the model, the 696F is a classic of modern motorhoming – a seven-and-a-half-metre low-profile with an island bed and side settee lounge. It looks smart, with its framed habitation windows, new black model logos and has the practicality of a low entrance (no external step) and a door that’s linked to the cab central locking.

As you’d expect, there’s a rear garage but here its usefulness is greatly enhanced by a bed that rises and falls electrically – increasing headroom from 860mm to 1.07m. As the bed goes up it also seals the garage space from the bedroom with neat roller shutters at each side.

The larger loading door is on the offside (the nearside one is a good size but doesn’t go right down to floor level) and the LED strip light in the ceiling provides good illumination of the area, which is up to 1.14m wide.

The interior

The interior picks up the new black detailing of the exterior on elements such as the edge of the table, kitchen handles, the fridge and bedroom reading lights. It’s a comfortable lounge, too, with pluses such as the overcab  sunroof, cab reading lights and front seats that fully rotate so you can put your feet up on the sofas.

The table folds to be less intrusive but opens out to a good size – 820mm by 850mm. There are more reading lights (incorporating USBs) over the settees and there’s a TV bracket above the fridge (to the rear of the habitation door).

The kitchen

That cooler is a huge 149-litre model with separate doors for fridge and freezer and automatic energy selection. Opposite, the L-shaped galley is shown here in the new Luceo option, with its white woven-pattern finish and light mineral laminate worktop.

There’s a two-burner hob in the French spec model photographed here but RHD models get an extra ring. There’s also a super-sized cutlery drawer and an oven is added below counter level for the UK. A slot-in worktop extension adds preparation space and there’s electric central locking to secure the various drawers for driving.

The beds

Above the lounge, the optional drop-down bed is electric and has a 200kg capacity. It measures 1.89m by 1.26m but narrows slightly at the foot (on the offside). Access through the habitation door is maintained, but you can’t then use the hob for that early brew until the bed is raised again.

This bedroom has a single light, a magazine pocket and 690mm headroom but you can’t store pillows on top of the bed.

The main sleeping quarters are in the stern, where the Bultex mattress measures 1.91m by a generous 1.58m. Even with the twin sliding doors to the bedroom closed, there’s still good space to manoeuvre yourself around the end of the bed.

A small rooflight is fitted above and there are super-sized bedside tables (thanks to overhanging wardrobes), while the reading lights (with USBs) really come into their own when you slide the bed back into its chaise longue position. Now there’s even more room in this bedroom and it’s so comfy that you might be tempted to laze around all day…

The washroom

When you do get up, you’ll find the shower and toilet areas on opposite sides and the same floor level as the bedroom (there’s then a step down into the lounge/kitchen).

The shower now comes with magnetic doors with a matt black edge, a shower column with backlit aluminium finish and a black duckboard contrasting with the white shower tray. It has headroom of 1.93m and a clothes drying rail is fitted.

The toilet door closes off the ablutions zone as an en suite and here there’s a swivel Thetford toilet and a stylish rectangular basin. The super-generous wall mirror hides plenty of storage, complete with elasticated straps to hold everything in place. New for 2023 is the boat deck-type wall covering.

The layout

In standard trim, the 696F is described as a 2+1-berth (with a lounge bed) but, if you go for the drop-down bed option, you’ll want four travel seats and, here again, the Rapido scores well. The conversion of settees to forward-facing belted travel seats is easier than in many rivals, with no extra cushions required. Cleverly, the armrest for the offside sofa becomes a headrest, too, but legroom is slightly compromised on the nearside by the intrusion of the gas compartment.

The layout of this low-profile motorhome is one of the most popular in today’s market but Rapido seems to have honed and refined this 696F Ultimate Line to be one of our favourites in its class.