The Auto-Sleeper Nuevo EK, a two-berth on a Peugeot base vehicle with an end kitchen and parallel-settee lounge, is one of the Cotswolds-based firm’s most popular models, along with its four-berth sibling, the Nuevo ES. You wouldn’t think there’d be much to improve.
Still, in 2021, Auto-Sleepers marks its 60th anniversary, while the Nuevos have notched up their 20th year; so why not celebrate by bringing both models out in special editions?
You can tell the EK is an Anniversary Edition straight away – Auto-Sleepers has changed the Peugeot badge on the grille to a special new one.
You’ll notice the difference when you turn on the ignition, too, because this motorhome sits on a 165bhp engine. The Peugeot is manual only. If you want automatic, you’ll have to switch to a Fiat Ducato base with a 160bhp engine and Fiat’s nine-speed automatic gearbox, which is a £3000 option.
Our test model included a reversing camera, part of a £2500 Premium Pack that also gets you cruise control, alloys and a canopy awning.
There’s exclusive velour upholstery, ‘Pebble’, on the single-armrest cab seats, the settees and the edge of the shelf above the cab. That, together with the harlequin curtains, ‘AS’ branding on the cab seats, large scatter cushions, bulky armrests and big kneeholes, give the interior a smart feel.
The lounge is well lit, thanks to a big sunroof over the cab, a large Heki and two sizeable side windows. At night, you have four spotlights, plus a large LED in the ceiling.
You have a choice of tables – the small pedestal (fine for a basic meal for two), or a larger folding one, both stored in the wardrobe. There’s a choice of TV locations, with sockets on the front nearside corner and the rear nearside.
Another thing that makes the lounge exceptionally comfortable is the new combined heating and air-con system. This works off the Truma iNet, as long as you run the system on electricity. It might limit options for going off-grid, although these anniversary models have an 84Ah lithium leisure battery.
The end kitchen has a four-burner dual-fuel hob above a separate oven and grill with a domestic-style trivet and a huge splash back (exclusive to this model) next to a large sink with removable drainers. It’s well lit, with two LEDs and a big window and you get an extractor fan and a roof vent.
You might think there isn’t enough workspace here. But turn around and you will find a large shelf extends out from the sideboard.
An end kitchen such as this can result in a cramped corner washroom. This one does have quite a step to get inside, but manages to include a separate shower cubicle, revealed behind a partition. You connect this with an opaque shower door to seal off the cubicle.
There’s great headroom here, plus two LEDs and three drain holes in the special silver-coloured shower tray.
The settees are too short to serve as single beds, but the double is easily made with platforms and the backrests. The spotlights are easy to reach and, with scatter cushions this size, you might not even need pillows.
General storage is also pretty good. There’s enough space for two people’s gear in the wardrobe, even with the tables in storage. The underseat areas have no internal access flaps, but can easily be reached via slats that stay up. The nearside area has external access.
There are three overhead lockers on the nearside and two on the offside, and cubbyholes above the cab.
In the kitchen, there are two lockers and an open shelf by the door, but the pan locker is a little awkward to access. There are two medium-sized lockers under the sink and a column of three drawers next to a shelved cupboard.
PRACTICAL MOTORHOME SAYS…
The Nuevo EK was already a popular model, and the enhancements on this special Anniversary edition, in particular the sophisticated climate control system, should make it even more attractive to buyers for many years to come. If you don’t mind having to put the bed together each night, this 5.75m-long ‘van is a real contender for those couples looking for a compact-yet-spacious, well-equipped motorhome, which led to our judges naming it the best motorhome for couples at the Practical Motorhome Awards 2022.
The motorhome also made it onto our best motorhome for 2022 round-up,
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Another thing that makes the lounge exceptionally comfortable is the new combined heating and air-con system
Technical Specifications
| Berth | 2 |
| MiRO | 2874 kg |
| Payload | 626 kg |
| MTPLM | 3500 kg |
| Shipping Length | 5.75 m |
| Width | 2.32 m |
| Engine Size | 2300 cc |
