Roller Team Zefiro Sport motorhome

Base vehicle: Ford Transit Price from: £50,505 Berths: 4 Travel seats: 5 Length: 7.45 Width: 2.33m Height: 3.20m Gross weight: 3,500kg Payload: 455kg

Is your family into karting, quad-biking, motor sport, rafting or anything else that requires a LOT of storage? If so, the newest addition to the Italian-built Roller Team range looks just right for you.

The aptly entitled Sport is part of the Zefiro range and based on the Ford Transit but, unlike other models in this line-up, retains a habitation door on the continental side, reflecting its niche appeal.

Let’s cut to the chase, though, because this overcab coachbuilt motorhome is all about its garage. It’s a space that’s 1.27m wide and has huge twin loading doors each measuring 1.29m by 1.34m – plus access from inside the motorhome, too. Inside, there’s a shower point to hose down whatever sports gear you’re carrying and the already vast headroom (1.44m) can be increased still further (up to 1.87m) by raising the bed above electrically.

Production models will also get drain holes in the garage floor and a removable rubber floor protector. Put simply, you won’t find a bigger garage on any normal-sized coachbuilt motorhome. Do be aware of the payload, though, which is not as generous as you might hope.

Basis is the latest (recently facelifted) Ford Transit with 130bhp Euro 6d engine. An automatic gearbox is available but no engine upgrade. The essential Drivers Pack (£1,250) adds cab air-conditioning, cruise control, radio with Bluetooth, passenger airbag and electric/heated mirrors.

The motorhome body uses Roller Team’s EXPS Evo construction with Styrofoam insulation, a wood-free structure and a floor with upper and lower glass-fibre layers. The latest models also get soft material between internal furniture and outer body connections to reduce on-road noises.

This is also a very tall motorhome, with an extra-large luton – and an even bigger bed over the rear garage. The front bed measures 2.12m by 1.59m with maximum headroom of 0.69m. There’s a window on the offside, plus a small light on the nearside, while the mattress tips up on gas struts to aid the walk-through to the cab.

At the opposite end of the motorhome, you’ll again need a ladder to reach your sleeping quarters (the bed is 1.44m off the floor) but with a mattress (on a slatted base) measuring 2.16m across by 1.86m front to rear most owners will be able to choose which way round they sleep. A roof vent and small rear window are fitted in this bedroom.

The rest of the layout consists of a front lounge, nearside L-shaped kitchen and offside washroom. The seating area includes swivel cab seats, an L-settee on the nearside and an inward-facing bench for one (or perhaps two kids) on the offside. The side settee can be converted into a rear-facing travel seat with lap belt. Net curtains give a European flavour to the seating area, while the whole interior has a bold, rather monochrome feel.

That’s continued in the kitchen, with its white worktop and black splashback. A three-burner gas hob is complemented by a Thetford Duplex oven/grill for cooking, while alongside is a capacious 141-litre AES fridge/freezer with separate bottle drawer below.

The bathroom may be all in one unit, but it’s not short of facilities. There’s a separate shower with seat and two drains, a swivel cassette loo, an opening window and a useful shelf behind the toilet.

Finally, standard spec on the Sport includes an awning and TV bracket (height-adjustable and sited by the doorway).

This review was originally published in the April 2020 edition of What Motorhome magazine. To get a digital issue, click here.