Verdict
A test of the Adria Twin 500 S confirmed what we felt when we saw it at launch: this is a cracking compact motorhome with a functional kitchen and washroom. There are also many pleasing design touches and those twin sliding doors means you’ll always be on the ‘right’ side, even when touring in Europe.
Pros
Ingenious full washroom
Short ‘van (similar to a VW T5-based camper)
Four belted travel seats
You could use it as your sole vehicle
Cons
No oven or grill
The location of the gas cylinders may not suit all buyers
There’s no doubt that good things can come in small packages but in the case of the Adria Twin 500 S, we do wonder how they managed to fit it all in. There’s a lot: two berths, a four-seater lounge, kitchen and washroom – all on a body length of five metres (16’3″).
With its twin sliding doors, the Twin 500 S was one of several compact campers with doors on both sides that debuted at the October 2014 NEC show in Birmingham. It instantly removed one common objection to buying a Continental panel van conversion, that of having to unload passengers through the offside door. Now that process can be carried out in safety on the nearside.
Although a similar length to the SWB VW T5, the Fiat Ducato-based Twin 500 S sports rear barn doors rather than a hatchback
Living
The centrepiece – quite literally – of the Twin 500 S is its midships lounge. A pair of sturdy belted seats is mounted behind the cab seats; they’re comfortable with good support, have adjustable headrests and their own reading light. Two extra persons can join proceedings, thanks to the captain’s chairs in the cab. These swivel easily and have stitched-in Adria logos – a mark of quality. For mealtimes, just retrieve the table and its leg from under the lounge floor.
Further refinement is apparent in the quality of the cabinetwork. With a silver finish as part of the ‘Titan’ colour scheme, the overhead lockers and work surfaces match well the black and grey upholstery. Radiused edges and a textured finish on the cabinetwork’s leading edges add further sophistication.
Kitchen
The Twin 500 S’s galley is located on the nearside. Equipment comprises three gas burners arranged in a ‘V’ shape, next to a small round sink, and a compressor fridge with freezer compartment. A window in the side of the ’van, and task lights above, provide illumination.
Washroom
Squeezing a washroom into a space as small as the Twin 500 S is no mean feat, especially when it includes a shower, toilet and hand basin. The shower arrangement demonstrates more clever thinking: when not in use, and to maintain a level floor, the shower tray has a wooden cover. To use the shower, remove this cover, swivel the toilet out of the way, pull up the shower head from the tip-up sink (where it doubles as the mixer tap) and hook it on the wall. A shower curtain on a U-shaped track will keep spray at bay, while for privacy the bi-fold wooden washroom door can be unfolded to block the rear of the ’van from the front.
Beds
At night, the two rear travel seats convert easily into a pair of flat beds, by pulling the hinged seat squab forwards and dropping the backrest into the resulting space. The gap between the two single berths offers handy access to the washroom, but an optional wooden infill and cushion can be placed between the two seats. The twin beds each measure 1.95m x 0.70m/0.55m (just over 6’4″ x 2’3″/1’9″).
Storage
Storage space is surprisingly generous in the Twin 500 S. In addition to a small compartment over the cab, there are overhead lockers on both sides of the ’van, as well as a narrow half-length wardrobe. Underneath the wardrobe is a gas locker that houses one 11kg bottle and one 5kg bottle. This location necessitates lifting the gas bottles well into the ’van, which may not be ideal for all users. The kitchen unit has two drawers and two cubbies, and two compartments are located in the floor – ideal for valuables. Space is also available under the offside rear travel seat; the nearside one houses the Truma Combi 4 boiler. The washroom offers a mirrored vanity unit at chest height.
Technical Specifications
Payload | 545 kg |
MTPLM | 3300 kg |
Shipping Length | 4.96 m |
Width | 2.05 m |
Engine Size | 2300 cc |