Over the past few years, the option of using your motorhome as your permanent home has become a reality for more and more people. But how do you go about choosing the best motorhome for full-time living?
Well, the Practical Motorhome Awards 2023 are here to help. With decades of collective experience within the industry, we’re perfectly placed to pick out the top motorhomes to live in full-time. In this guide, we reveal our winner of the best motorhome for full-time living, as well as the other models that made our shortlist, including brands such as Knaus, Hymer and Coachman.
We also take a look at the ‘vans that were shortlisted at last year’s awards, as well as some of the standout models from recent years from a variety of well-known brands, including Swift and Adria.
If you’d like to find out more about the different brands out there, be sure to read our round-up of the best motorhome manufacturers.
This year, we picked the Niesmann + Bischoff Flair 920 as the best motorhome for full-time living; its excellent build quality and the home from home vibe it offers helped it secure top spot.
How we choose the best motorhome for full-time living
When you want a motorhome for full-time living, you’ll want a ‘van that provides you with a home from home experience.
As a result, the key considerations we will look out for include how practical the layout is, how much space it provides you with, and the storage on offer, amongst other things.
The expert team at Practical Motorhome are well-placed to be assessing this, as, between us, we have decades of collective experience in the industry. As a result, we know what it that elevates a good ‘van to one of the best motorhomes for full-time living.
We’re regularly testing the latest motorhomes on the market, looking at and experiencing what we’re writing about. You can see hundreds of these tests in our motorhome reviews section, with more added all the time – each one highlights the pros and cons of each model, to help you make as informed a buying decision as possible. You can find out more about our testing process on our About Us page.
Further insight is achieved through our Owner Satisfaction Awards, where we find out how our readers get on when they’re buying a ‘van.
Combining this puts us in a good position to start compiling an initial list, which we then whittle down to create the final shortlist. Each ‘van we’ve included is a worthy contender, and we’ll explain why we’ve included them on our round-up of the best motorhomes for full-time living.
The winner of the best motorhome for full-time living is:
Niesmann + Bischoff Flair 920
- Price: £194,200
- MTPLM: 7200kg
- Payload: 1919kg
- MIRO: 5281kg
- Length: 9.27m
- Width: 2.42m
Reasons to buy:
- Great build quality, a home from home
Reasons to avoid:
- Pricey, minimalist interior may not be for everyone
If money is no object and you want something that will more or less resembles a city apartment when you are on your travels, then this model from Niesmann + Bischoff’s Flair range, totally revamped this season, should press all the right buttons. The real crowd puller is the new washroom with its walk-in shower with a concrete-effect floor complete with both a very minimalist hand-held shower and a rain shower. In the lounge N + B has brought a feature over from its iSmove models: an L-shaped dinette seat for travelling that can quickly be turned into parallel settees instead.
The bed at the back has been lowered in the new generation Flairs too. Then there are clever little details, such as the space for up to 6 lithium batteries if you want to go off-grid, or the habitation door that automatically partially closes when you open the external storage drawer next to it – allowing for easier access to a wider drawer. Many of these external drawers also contain removable boxes to make packing and unpacking even easier.
You also get drawers under the seats in the front lounge. Just in case there is something you don’t quite like, much of this van is customisable to what you want. So you might expect at such a price. But for the ultimate dream of living full-time in a motorhome, this could be the ultimate vehicle.
On the shortlist for the best motorhome for full-time living are:
Coachman Travel Master 545
- Price: £122,000
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 4500kg
- MiRO: 3650kg
- Length: 8.06m
Reasons to buy:
- Packed with kit, luxurious interior for longer tours
Reasons to avoid:
- Pricey, requires a C1 driving licence
If you’re planning to spend a lot of time in your motorhome – which you’ll certainly do if you want to live in it full time – you’ll really want everything you could need to hand, and as standard on your motorhome. After all, ticking the options box on some motorhomes can really ramp up the cost.
Not so with the Coachman Travel Master 545, which has an incredibly high level of kit as standard. It’s based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis with 170 HP engine, but it’s the inside of the ‘van that really impresses. The interior looks and feels truly luxurious, and there are small details – such as the touch-sensitive dimmable lighting – that make you feel as though you’re in a hotel room. The comfortable island bed, 130Ah battery, solar panel, garage storage space and large Skyview rooflight all go to help make this a motorhome you’re really going to want to spend time in.
Knaus Van Ti Plus 650MEG TRIBAL
- Price: From £114,000
- Berths: 2
- MTPLM: 3850kg
- MiRO: TBC
- Length: 6.99m
Reasons to buy:
- Stand-out looks, extraordinary amount of off-road kit
Reasons to avoid:
- Requires a C1 licence
We all enjoy exploring in our motorhomes, whether that’s in the UK or in the more remote areas of Europe. But what if you really want to head into the wilderness for a spot of full-time, no-holds-barred adventure travel?
That’s where vehicles such as the Tribal limited edition version of Knaus’s Van TI come in. Produced by Premium Motorhomes in Doncaster – which specialises in high-end German vehicles – it takes a regular Knaus before imbuing it with a touch of bad-boy style, giving you a kit list that will enable you to hit both the road and the rough.
The colour scheme and paint job is part of the Tribal Limited Edition pack, which costs £32,789; for that, you also get a host of other exterior kit including a Seikel lifting kit and suspension for more efficient off-road driving, under-body armour, Delta alloys and all-terrain tyres, a bull bar, and an LED light bar above the cab that allows you to see 900m ahead, and will also penetrate both snow and fog. There’s a whole lot more that we don’t have space to write about here.
The standard Knaus vehicle on which the Tribal version is based (with 4×4 option) costs £78,410, so the additional kit here costs a premium of more than £35,000. But for the extra you’ll get a motorhome that’s beautifully fitted out to take you on the adventure of a lifetime, allowing you to hit the rough road in complete comfort – and style.
Full review: Knaus Van TI Plus 650 MEG Tribal
Hymer Venture S
- Price: £197,540
- MTPLM: 4100kg
- MiRO: 3725kg
- Payload: 375kg
- Length: 6.45m
- Width: 2.16m
Reasons to buy:
- Great upper bedroom, comfy rear lounge with sun deck
Reasons to avoid:
- Pricey, it is just for two
When the Venture S was first put out as a concept vehicle, its inflatable pop-up roof and rear door that folds down to create a sun deck seemed incredibly futuristic. But a production model of the van was unveiled at Caravan Salon in August 2022, and for those who really dream about living around the clock off grid in their motorhome, it really is something rather special. The inflatable roof creates a bedroom, but noise reduction compared with a standard campervan roof is immediately noticeable. And you get up to this little haven by a real flight of stairs that cleverly doubles up as extra storage units.
The sundeck created out of the back door includes a ladder down to the ground. A spacious shower room is created by just extending the washroom wall. There‘s even a little desk that can be folded out of the sidewall, with all suitable connections if you need to do a spot of work while you are having your adventure. The vehicle is also equipped with a Sonos music system, and for the first time ever in a Hymer vehicle, a film projector is included as an option. This limited edition van already had a UK sterling price (a hefty one, as you would expect), but it’s not yet clear when right hand drive models will be available.
Full review: Hymer Venture S
- You can get more ‘van inspiration by taking a look at our best campervan guide.
Our pick of the best motorhomes for full-time living at the Practical Motorhome Awards 2022:
These are the ‘vans we shortlisted at the Practical Motorhome Awards 2022, including last year’s winner, the Dethleffs Globetrotter XLi-7850-2 DBM, a ‘van that our judging panel felt provided a truly luxurious experience.
Dethleffs Globetrotter XLi-7850-2 DBM
- Price: from £119,990
- Berths: 4/5
- MiRO: 4122.5kg
- MTPLM: 5000kg
- Length: 8.65m
Dethleffs’ A-class Globetrotter range has always been something of a statement van – an ultimate luxury you could always head of into the sunset with on your long-term trip of a lifetime.
This season the whole range has been given a makeover that on the outside brings it more into line with the rest of Dethleffs’ motorhomes, with a recognisable red curve decal.
But what’s really interesting is what’s happened inside to make it a real home from home. Where there used to be a settee to the right of the habitation door there is now a sideboard unit under a space that is designed to fit a 32-inch TV.
But that’s not the only thing this new unit does. Pull out the bottom “drawer” and you will find a padded area that can double up as seating if you have extra guests for dinner. Or it can serve as a footrest when you are reading in the cab seats. Or it can be a useful step up to the overcab bed.
It’s just the kind of flexibility you need when you’re looking for the best motorhome for full-time living, and it helped it win last year’s category.
Frankia I8400 Plus Platin
- Price: from £160,200
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 5500 kg
- Shipping length: 8.60m
Reasons to buy:
- Ideal for going off-grid
- Luxurious ‘van experience
Reasons to avoid:
- Most expensive option on the list
Frankia spearheaded designs for full-time living with its Plus layouts that feature drop-down beds at the front that more or less replace the cab on site and huge central washrooms. The I8400 is the latest iteration of this, complete with a wealth of living off grid options.
The washroom is partitioned at the front and back, with a well lit shower just one of the standout features in the luxurious ‘van that also won the best motorhome over £80,000. Aside from the garage – which still has space for a couple of bikes – there is a generous amount of storage in this motorhome too, including two wardrobes and eight lockers.
All-in-all, it’s a ‘van that provides a very luxurious touring experience, and it’s easy to see how it made it onto our best motorhome list.
Read our full review: Frankia I8400 Plus Platin
Bürstner Elegance 910G
- Price from £118,995
- Berths 4
- MTPLM 5500kg
- MiRO 4273 kg
- Length 8.91m
Reasons to buy:
- Stylish
- Comfortable beds
- Good storage
Reasons to avoid:
- Kitchen could be better
If you’re looking for a motorhome that adds some luxury to proceedings, the Bürstner Elegance 910G could be worth considering. Comfortable single beds are found at the rear of the vehicle, with a handy little chest by each headboard, providing a spot for charging your mobile.
Storage is something that will always factor highly on a list of priorities when you’re looking for a motorhome for full-time living and that is something this vehicle certainly provides. It includes three large overhead lockers in the lounge, as well as a well-sized wardrobe in the washroom. There’s another overhead locker in the kitchen, as well as two pull-out shelves, giving you plenty of space.
We were surprised by the kitchen only having a three-burner gas hob, along with a combined oven and grill though – even adding an extractor fan is an additional £190. The sink in the worktop is also an unusual shape, so it could be tricky finding a washing-up bowl for it. However, it’s still a stylish area.
Quite apart from its luxury and comfort, this fixed single beds model is part of a range that is the first in Europe to figure Thetford’s new INDUS grey waste and toilet system – a huge advance on the standard chemical toilet that will encourage you to stay in the motorhome longer.
Read our full review: Bürstner Elegance 910 G
Carthago chic c-line I 4.9 LE/L superior
- Price: £115,560
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 4500kg
- MiRO: 3515kg
- Shipping length: 7.9m
Reasons to buy:
- 70cm-deep double floor
- Quality interior
Reasons to avoid:
- Only a three-burner gas-only hob
The winner of the best A-class motorhome at the Practical Motorhome Awards 2022 is a model that truly oozes quality. It’s got a sleek cab, with a comfortable lounge. In here, you’ll find a side settee that we think is ideal for relaxing in the evenings, while an optional TV slides out behind this. There are also two travel seats that are part of the L-shaped dinette seat.
It has a bright kitchen, with an Omnivent providing ventilation. It may only have a three-burner gas-only hob, but we think it’s useful to have a split cover to allow you to get the most from the worktop. A large sink is to hand, as is a combined Duplex oven – we were also pleased to see a two-way opening fridge, complete with separate freezer.
We thought the central-washroom offers some useful flexibility, as you have a choice of three setups. This includes keeping the passageway central aisle open, closing the partition doors to give yourself a decent-sized washroom / dressing room, or lastly, you can shut off the rear of the ‘van to give yourself an ensuite.
The shower is well-lit, while touches such as a big rack for toiletries make it ideally suited to living in full-time.
There are two comfortable 1.96m fixed beds at the back of the ‘van – we like that you can raise the top ends to create a daybed. You also get a dropdown bed at the front, although it’s only a manual.
Something we really like in this A-class model is the 70cm-deep double floor; the lounge provides several access flaps, for added ease.
Read our full review: Carthago chic c-line I 4.9 LE/L superior
Swift Kon-tiki 784
Newly revamped for 2022, this fixed single beds model has a front lounge that is inspired by business jets, and a huge garage. There are foldaway Aguti travel seats too if you pick up extra passengers.
Price: £79,995
Laika Kreos L5009
The low-profile Kreos range was given a new look for 2022. You get more insulation, including a 25cm double floor that holds a 210-litre water tank. The garage under the single beds here also has a payload of 250kg – enough for a motorbike.
Price: TBC
The best of the rest – we also recommend the following motorhomes for full-time living…
Here, we round up the ‘vans from recent years that have really impressed and are well worth considering if you’re looking to live in a motorhome full-time.
Carthago Liner-for-two I 53
- Price: £122,250
- Berths: 2
- Belts: 2
- MTPLM: 4800kg
- Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato
- Length: 7.83m
Could there be a better name for a motorhome designed for full-time living? You have two comfy beds that drop down over the cab. With these in the down position the cab is completely obscured so you could almost forget you are in a movable vehicle.
Moving back from here, there is a washroom spread across the centre of the ‘van that could well be larger and more sophisticated than whatever you have at home, complete with two different kinds of showers and (as an optional extra), a SOG unit on the loo to keep smells away.
Then, beyond a well-equipped kitchen comes this motorhome’s real pièce de resistance: a C-shaped lounge that’s large enough for a party of eight or more if you want, but also adaptable enough to act as somewhere the two of you can lie back and watch the TV, which slides out from behind a cupboard. There’s even a reclining seat specifically for this purpose.
Alongside plenty of useful storage inside, the Liner-for-two comes with a huge garage at the rear.
Yes, it’s a lot of money. But it’s possibly cheaper than that villa you were thinking of buying on the Côte d’Azur. And you can take it with you.
BUY IF… You have all the money in the world
PROS: Super washroom; ultra-snazzy lounge
CONS: The price!
Read our 2019 Carthago Liner-for-two review.
Pilote 696D Essentiel
- Price: £56,075
- Berths: 2
- Belts: 4
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato
- Length: 6.99m
If you are going to be in the motorhome for a while, you probably want a decent-sized washroom.The 696D, a 2020 model from Pilote, certainly has that. It’s positioned at the rear of the vehicle, has enough space for you to wash and dress in, and comes with a huge amount of clothes storage space that sits over an equally capacious garage.
The main living area includes a large lounge with settees that face each other and are long enough to extend beyond the table if you need to stretch your legs. In any case, the table also folds down to create more room.
The kitchen between these two areas is plenty big enough to keep you sane, too.
If you are wondering about the bed: no, you don’t have to make it by bringing the settees together – although this arrangement is available as an optional extra. The standard bed, however, drops down from the ceiling, and is huge. All you need to do at the end of the day is flick the switch.
BUY IF… It really is just going to be the two of you in here, seeking ultimate comfort
PROS: Huge washroom; space-saving bed
CONS: Even the UK edition does not include a microwave in the kitchen
Read our 2020 Pilote P696D Essentiel review.
Bürstner Lyseo TD 744 Harmony Line
- Price: £68,995
- Berths: 2
- Belts: 4
- MTPLM: 4250kg
- Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato
- Length: 7.49m
Bürstner designed the 744 layout, now available in the double-floor TD range with the Harmony Line upgraded spec, specifically to make you feel as if you are in a three-room apartment. And it kind of works. There is a conventional front dinette, behind which sits a perfectly adequate kitchen and washroom. But then, behind that is something really unusual: a comfy rear lounge complete with L-shaped seating, a large window to look out of, a pull-out coffee table and a wall that is just crying out for a television. At night you simply drop the roof of this lounge area down to reveal a huge double bed.
There is also lots of storage in here – not just a large wardrobe but more overhead lockers, underseat storage areas and special cabinets than you would probably know what to do with.
BUY IF… You really like the feeling of moving from one room to another.
PROS: Really roomy rear lounge
CONS: Washroom is a bit compromised
Read our 2017 Bürstner Lyseo TD 744 review.
Adria Matrix 520 ST Axess
- Price: £56,885
- Berths: 4
- Belts: 4
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato
- Length: 5.96m
If you are going to be using your motorhome full-time, eventually you are going to want a fairly decent kitchen, with plenty of storage and workspace. Fortunately the 520 ST has that in droves in the large L-shaped kitchen that takes up the rear offside corner of the motorhome. Rather handily, this has direct access via a hatch to the garage behind, so you can haul in your bulky provisions and kitchen appliances that you might not need all the time without having to go outside or even having to disrupt everyone else in the motorhome.
A drop-down bed comes down over the front dinette so, if it is the two of you, going to bed is just a question of getting up from the sofa, twisting the key and letting the electric motor do the rest.
In all this, there is even space for a fairly large loo on the rear nearside, away from the door, and any awning you might want to put up.
BUY IF… You can’t imagine going away without a fully functioning kitchen
PROS: Huge bed and kitchen
CONS: Garage is not the largest in this selection and you only get a fold-down washbasin
Read our 2020 Adria Matrix 520 ST Axess review
Swift Edge 494
- Price: £49,805
- Berths: 4
- Belts: 4
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato
- Length: 7.32m
The 2020 Edge range is aimed very much at the budget-end of the market. Even so, we think it has everything you should need for full-time living.
Unusually for a motorhome, it has a transverse bed at the rear, with plenty of space to move around in and create a little den of your own.
There’s plenty of space in the front lounge, too, and we think even if there is just the two of you, you could still make use of the overcab bed as an extra storage space – or as a place to have guests to stay where they wouldn’t take up any of your own living space.
The central kitchen and washroom are all you could need for a long stay, too.
All this for less than £50,000.
BUY IF…. You are budget-conscious and want to invite people to stay
PROS: Wonderful end bedroom
CONS: Overcabs are not the most economical on the road
Read our 2020 Swift Edge 494 review.
Chausson 520
- Price: £49,910
- Berths: 4
- Belts: 4
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato
- Length: 5.99m
French brand Chausson led the way in designing motorhomes with luxurious end washrooms that make ideal full-time ‘vans as a result.
This year, while other manufacturers have caught up, Chausson has gone one extra in offering this motorhome layout in a model that is less than 6m long – and so should be much easier for taking on ferries or fitting into a parking space. Nor does the 520 necessarily compromise on much. You still get a rear storage area of sorts – admittedly not a full garage like other Chausson motorhomes that share this layout, but still a compartment accessible from the rear panel that has enough room for you to store your important, but not always used, household items.
Along with the huge washroom, once you raise the drop-down bed in the morning, there is a very comfortable front lounge with parallel settees either side of a fold-down table.
BUY IF… You are worried about driving anything too big
PROS: Large washing and dressing room; still some ‘garage’ space
CONS: Probably not a vehicle to go for as a full-time ‘van if you have never used a motorhome before
Read our 2020 Chausson 520 review
Dethleffs Pulse 7051 DBM
- Price: £60,990
- Berths: 4
- Belts: 4
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato
- Length: 7.41m
The Pulse range was introduced in 2019 as a companion to Dethleffs’ best-selling Trend range, but perhaps appealing to a slightly younger, more modern audience. Which, of course, is you.
Erwin Hymer Group subsidiary Dethleffs has invested some resources, including a sophisticated lighting system that makes the interior feel that much more homely.
This model includes a large and comfy rear island bed that you can lower or raise to make extra room in the garage beneath. You have to do this manually but that is possibly no bad thing if you are planning to visit remote places, as it is one less electric thing to go wrong.
The comfy front lounge includes a few nifty storage solutions, too, and the kitchen has a high spec for a continental ‘van.
BUY IF… You appreciate really modern German engineering
PROS: Flexible and comfortable bed
CONS: Shower tray is compromised by the wheel arch
Read our 2019 Dethleffs Pulse 7051 DBM GT review.
Elddis Autoquest CV60
- Price: £42,099
- Berths: 2
- Belts: 2
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- Base vehicle: Peugeot Boxer
- Length: 5.99m
A full-time ‘van that’s a van conversion? Well, why not, when the ‘van in question is as cleverly designed as this, which is also available as a Compass Avantgarde CV60 (effectively the same ‘van, with a different upholstery finish)? No wonder it was our Motorhome of the Year 2020.
The French bed that’s in the offside rear corner can be pushed back to become a comfy daybed, which also provides a perfect spot for watching television or the world go by. And yet you still effectively get a second lounge because there is a table up front beside the swivelled cab seats that is handily close to the kitchen and has its own storage areas and lighting. Okay, there’s no garage, but the area under that bed is easily large enough to hold, for example, a driveaway awning.
BUY IF... You fancy lazy days of lounging, but still want a relatively nimble mover
PROS: Clever bed that also becomes a daybed
CONS: No garage space
Read our 2020 Elddis Autoquest CV60 review.
WildAx Elara
- Price: £69,675
- Berths: 2
- Belts: 2
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- Base vehicle: Mercedes Sprinter
- Length: 5.93m
Here’s another van conversion that is worth a look at as a full-time ‘van – and not just because it is based on the Mercedes Sprinter, which regularly tops van reliability polls.
Unusually for a van conversion, the Elara includes an island bed in the rear. It’s a huge one too – bigger than you would find in most A-classes – and very comfy, with a decent amount of storage around it. The space underneath, easily accessible from the doors at the back, is probably as large as the garages you get in some coachbuilt ‘vans. You can also go for an alternative option with two single beds that are just as long.
There is a comfy L-shaped sofa up front, too, and a pedestal table that is perfectly sited for swivelled cab seats. You probably couldn’t entertain in here, but that might not be what you want to do anyway.
BUY IF… You want the luxury of a huge bed – and the three-pointed star
PROS: Huge comfy bed and comfy lounge (for a van conversion)
CONS: Not much room for anyone else
Read our 2019 WildAx Elara review.
Volkswagen Grand California 680
- Price: £71,295
- Berths: 2
- Belts: 4
- MTPLM: 3880kg
- Base vehicle: VW Crafter
- Length: 6.84m
Unless you are a Buddhist monk, the Transport-based California range would probably never work as a full-time ‘van. It is just too basic. But the Grand California 680, the larger of the two Californias, based instead on a Crafter, might just do.
It comes with two very large single beds at the rear, a decent washroom and extensive kitchen in the middle, with a peninsula fridge, and a comfy front dinette.
There is plenty of storage space under the beds in the rear. But the overhead lockers might prove more controversial: you will either love the engineering or think it takes up too much space.
Californias have been known to hold their value very well, so if you plan to sell your ‘van in the end, this is definitely one to consider.
BUY IF… You have half an eye on resale values when your stint at full-time ‘van living is over
PROS: Well-known brand with good resale values
CONS: Pricey for what it is
Read our 2020 Volkswagen Grand California 680 review.
You can find more motorhome reviews in our Motorhome Buying Guides – check out Best A-class motorhomes and Best motorhomes for families. You can also head to our motorhome reviews section to see our impartial reviews of the latest models.
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