Adria was one of the first off the block with the idea of a compact motorhome – one that is narrow enough to get around city streets and country lanes but still offer a level of comfort. Now, this 7m-long three-berth (‘compact’ refers to its 2.12m width, not necessarily its length) has become the brand’s best selling model.

Running on a 140hp Fiat Ducato, it certainly looks the part, with silver aluminium side panels. If you go for the All Inclusive Pack (which all Adria models coming into this country effectively have) you get an awning.

Go for the Fiat Luxury Pack and you also get a reversing camera, a radio, and motorhome alloy wheels and full LED headlamps on the outside, on the standard manual or optional automatic transmission. Apart from that it’s a standard Ducato cab.

The Ducato cab in the Adria motorhome
Regular Ducato cab here, but options include a reversing camera

Even the best motorhomes will have compromises, however, and with the DL, one small disadvantage of the layout is that the cassette loo access is right next to the habitation door as you come in, so it would feature in any driveaway awning you might put up – as would any electric cable, because mains hook-up is this side, too. Or you could just stick with the roll-out awning.

The lounge in the Adria Compact Supreme DL

A good lounge can be an important factor in the best motorhomes under 7m. Here, you get a comfy front lounge with parallel settees that convert to two travel seats.

This is flooded with light in the daytime thanks to a huge sunroof (which you can’t open); at night there is dimmable ambient light, a strip light under each locker (where you will also find USBs and mains sockets) and two large push on/off LEDs by the swivelled cab seats, so you get plenty of light for reading.

The lounge in the DL
There’s plenty of room for everyone to sit around the table

The large fold-up table should be big enough for four, and two vents under here from the Truma Combi 4 heating system should keep things cosy.

The kitchen in the Adria Compact Supreme DL

The combination of strip lights and ambient illumination continues in the kitchen, with extra light coming from two LED units in the ceiling. There’s also light behind the splashback next to the three-burner gas-only hob that’s in line with the stainless steel sink.

This hob comes with an extractor fan, so there should be little chance of intrusive smells in this compact ’van.

The kitchen in the DL
Compact layout puts the squeeze on food prep areas, but apart from that the kitchen is well kitted-out

There is a mains socket, but it’s immediately above the hob. You may need to carefully consider what you attach to it, because – as is usual with Adria designs – there is a bit of space in front of the hob, but that’s your lot as far as permanent workspace goes; so you possibly wouldn’t want to use some of that space up with (for example) a permanently sited kettle. This is another trade-off with a compact ’van.

The drawer beneath the oven
Handy drawer for pans or utensils under the combined oven and grill

When it comes to the motorhome cooker, a combined oven and grill down is below, and to the left is an 84-litre Thetford compressor fridge.

The washroom in the Adria Compact Supreme DL

You access the washroom via a tambour door and over a step. Inside, the area includes a roof light, two drainage holes and a rail for drying clothes.

The washroom (left) and shower cubicle (right)
The washroom is small but perfectly useable, with plenty of LED lighting around the salad bowl-style basin (left); the shower is well lit and the dividing partition is held in place with a magnet (right)

The bedroom in the Adria Compact Supreme DL

There’s more space in the rear bedroom, because both the beds here are just under 2m long. There’s no ladder up to them, but it is a relatively easy climb up the steps.

The rear bedroom
In the bedroom there are three large overhead lockers across the back

You can also make the beds into a double with a pull-out panel plus cushion. In the daytime, this area benefits from a large Heki rooflight and big windows.

The third bed in the Compact Supreme DL in the lounge
The third bed is made by lowering the table and adding infill cushions

Storage in the Adria Compact Supreme DL

When it comes to the storage options and loading your motorhome, there are small wardrobes under the foot of each bed, and a cubbyhole in the steps, as well as a drawer that’s also accessible from the garage. The underseat areas up front are mostly taken up with the travel seats, but you get a trio of overhead lockers here, plus the cubbyholes over the cab.

Lighting underneath the overhead lockers
There’s ample lighting all around the ’van, as well as charge points

The kitchen base unit includes two big drawers, a further drawer under the oven and a decent locker underneath the fridge. There’s one more overhead locker here as well. There’s one overhead locker in the washroom, handy for storing your toiletries.

Alternatives to consider

You could take a look at the Benimar Tessoro 840, a three-berth motorhome with a layout that works well and also one that comes with kit worth £9749 for only an extra £95.

Or, you could consider the Mobilvetta Kea Kompakt 55, another motorhome with a compact width, and one that provides a bright lounge and a spacious washroom.

Technical specification of the Adria Compact Supreme DL

  • Price: £78,640
  • Sleeps: 3
  • Belts: 4
  • Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato
  • Engine: 2.2-litre, 140hp turbodiesel
  • Length/width/height: 6.99m/2.12/2.75m (22’09”/6’09”/9’02”)
  • MTPLM: 3500kg
  • MiRO: 2840kg
  • Payload: At least 437kg
  • Water (fresh/waste): 140/85 litres
  • Leisure battery: 100Ah AGM
  • Gas: 1 x 11kg

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