RS Envoy 33S

Berths: 6 Travel seats: 2 Base vehicle: Mercedes Atego 1024 Maximum vehicle weight: 8,600kg Payload: 1,500kg

Top-line bespoke manufacturer, RS Motorhomes, insists this ‘van is an Envoy. The badging all says Evolution, the brand RS usually uses for vehicles up to 30ft in length (this one’s 33ft).

Mercedes’ Atego 1024 is the initial base vehicle offering. Its maximum weight rating goes all the way up to 26 tonnes. Even in 8,600kg format here, you’re going to need an enhanced driving licence. You shouldn’t be short of grunt, though, with a 6.4-litre diesel engine producing 850Nm of torque.

With its 180-litre fuel tank, and RS reckoning it could achieve as much as 30 to the gallon, you could be looking at over 1,000 miles between fuel stops.

RS says it “comfortably accommodates six/seven people”, which is an understatement. But you can’t help feeling this is a behemoth two people will happily keep to themselves.

There are only two belted seats. With all the other seating in the slide-out, there’s no possibility of adding belts here. But the bespoke nature of this ‘van means you can have anything up to six travel seats and eight sleeping berths.

Overall, the Envoy is just over 10m long and 3.6m high. There is a double bed in the roomy overcab area, but the cab itself stays separate from the rest of the living quarters.

The kitchen includes some familiar fittings: a Dometic fridge/freezer, Spinflo cooker with Dometic extractor unit, a Sharp microwave and a sink with drainer and lever-operated mixer tap. There’s generous storage – four overhead lockers, plus drawers and a large cupboard, but not a lot of spare worktop.

Superb washroom facilities include a Jabsco marine toilet with its own macerator and holding tank, a huge ‘salad bowl’ basin and a generously-sized part-circular shower cubicle. You can also section off the whole washroom area for privacy.

The fully carpeted bedroom includes a second TV, neatly housed at the foot of an island bed flanked by his and hers wardrobes. The overhead lockers are flush with the back wall, so you can sit fully upright in bed.

The massive lounge features inward-facing settees and a double dinette, with all the offside seating set in the slide-out. The upholstery is cream leather, and there’s almost unlimited LED lighting.

You have to remember that folk don’t buy motorhomes like these with any great expectations as far as investment value is concerned. RS, however, does offer a Guaranteed Buy Back Scheme.

This is an abridged version of the full review appearing in the March 2016 issue of What Motorhome.

Only a select few are going to buy a motorhome like this, rather than just dream about it. But make sure you know exactly what you are getting for your money.