Roller Team Pegaso 590 A-class motorhome

Truly compact A-classes like this are, sadly, few and far between

Words & photos: Peter Vaughan

The Roller Team Pegaso 590 

Arguably, this type of A-class – taking full advantage of the wide cab to make the drop-down bed the main sleeping quarters – is when the type makes the most sense. You can have a compact vehicle with a supersized lounge – what’s not to like? 

Well, the lack of choice might be the big downside because, whilst you might find layouts like this on the used market, the options are few and far between for buyers of new motorhomes. 

Fortunately, though, Roller Team introduced its baby Pegaso in 2019 and, perhaps because of the relationship between the Italian factory and  its importer, Auto-Trail, the 590 still exists in the British 2023 line-up. It even has a UK-handed layout with a driver’s door that’s actually by the driver and a habitation door on our nearside.

This Italian motorhome is not only one of the smallest A-classes available but also one of the most affordable, albeit not as affordable as it was. Four years ago, the £59,995 launch price looked super-appealing but, even today, at £79,845, there are few A-classes that undercut it. 

What’s included

The standard spec is good, too, including 6kW gas/electric heating, a bike rack, 16in alloy wheels, twin-lens bus-style mirrors, cruise control, Zenec radio with sat-nav, reversing camera and solar panel. 

The high-backed captain’s chairs come with integral seatbelts and tilt-adjustable squabs, while the wipers are correctly set up for right-hand drive. Fiat’s 140bhp engine is fitted, with the automatic gearbox as an option (at £3,840).

It’s not the prettiest A-class but its construction benefits from Roller Team’s Evo Technology, with Styrofoam insulation, glass-fibre upper and lower coverings on the floor, and a 10-year body integrity warranty. The Italian firm also uses spacers between the chassis rails and floor to reduce creaking.

The lounge

On site, those captain’s chairs swivel easily to take their place in a lounge that belies the size of the motorhome. There’s a true L-shape to the offside sofa, where the inward-facing section is as comfortable as the two-seater settee opposite; seven folk could gather here in comfort. 

The latest upholstery is a big improvement on the original and the striped and curved top locker doors look more premium than the original flat, plain grey design.

The kitchen

Backing onto the seating area, the galley is also designed to suit UK needs, with its standard Thetford Duplex combined oven and grill mounted below the counter. There’s also now a three-burners-in-line hob that frees up a bit of extra worktop for meal preparation. 

The tall fridge (opposite) boasts a 141-litre capacity and a useful bottle drawer in its base. And there’s a pull-out pantry unit for even more storage.

The washroom

Across the rear, the large washroom has plenty of storage, a roof vent and an opening window but, because it is mounted on a plinth, the height of the cassette toilet will be uncomfortable for some. 

Leg and shoulder room ‘on the throne’ are generous, though, and, despite a step up into the shower tray, there’s still 1.94m headroom in the separate cubicle, with a bifold door. 

The beds

At night all you have to do is tip the cab seats forward and pull the double bed down manually from the ceiling.

Both settees, and the table, remain fully accessible, but the cab bed could do with its own roof vent and, of course, you’ll have to clamber over your partner to get out if you’re the one closest to the windscreen.

Summary

There’s lots to like in this little A-class – and a payload that puts larger models to shame. Plus, Roller Team build quality seems to have come a long way from the brand’s budget roots. Few 6m motorhomes feel as spacious as this!

Where to buy

Roller Team has 22 UK stockists, including two in Northern Ireland (Abbey Caravans & Leisure and Glamper UK), and one in Scotland (Dicksons of Perth). In Wales it is represented by Spinney and Threeways Motorhomes in the north and Continental Leisure Vehicles in the south.

In England, there are dealers stretching from Alan Kerr in the southwest to JC Leisure in the southeast and Tyneside Leisure World in the northeast. Roller Team’s website even shows which models are in stock at each dealer.

Read an in-depth review of the 2019 Roller Team Pegaso 590 model, including a video, here.