Auto-Sleeper Nuevo ES - Practical Motorhome

Verdict

A sumptuously equipped ’van, perfect for a couple on tour and able to cope with four if the extra people are kids … and it carries the prestige of the Auto-Sleepers brand.

Pros

Ample kitchen worksurface; clever, versatile and user-friendly lounge; superb washroom.

Cons

Overcab bed not comfortable for anyone but the smallest children; interior floorspace fills up very quickly; some weak fixings.

Living

The lounge area is rather small, but versatile. The seating plan allows plenty of options: the two forward-facing passenger seats convert quickly and easily into parallel sofas by the releasing the central catch in the seat box; they glide smoothly into position. The sofa’s back-rest cushions have two, hinged wedge-shaped flaps which fold out to rake the cushions at a comfortable angle. Swivel the cab seats, which are by far the most comfortable to lounge in, and you can either stretch out your legs on the sofas or accommodate up to six people at a squeeze.

There are two table legs and two small table tops stashed in the wardrobe, and four recessed holes in the floor in which to mount them. Four can easily dine, in a variety of layouts, whether it’s facing sofas or the rear passenger seats facing the cab seats. The hardwood-edged tables stand 78cm high, with surface areas of 45 x 55cm. If you’re not carrying passengers, we’d advise you to travel with the sofas in position as their seat bases are hinged and will raise to allow you to stash bulky items there.

Four directional downlighters on the underside of the lounge overhead lockers and three fluorescent strips, plus integral strip lights over the lockers, provide more than enough lighting for the living area. Our ’van had Waeco living-area air-con installed: great on site but not much use for those in the cab while on the road.

Kitchen

End-kitchen layouts are always a big seller for keen ’van cooks, and the Nuevo’s is a fine example. There is plenty of preparation space, including a 47 x 51cm slide-out extension above the 86-litre Dometic three-way fridge. The two three-pin plug sockets and a TV aerial socket are well-placed here. There’s a full-sized Caprice cooker with three gas burners, an electric hotplate, and full-sized oven with grill. The only thing missing is an extractor fan, although one is available as a cost option.

In terms of storage space, there’s a dedicated cutlery drawer and a spice rack. Also provided are four wine glasses and a set of crockery in a dedicated, moulded base. Our only problem was that the catch and magnet on the hinged, double locker door beneath the sink would not keep it closed while in transit.

Washroom

Arguably the finest feature in this ’van is the swing-wall shower. This simple, sturdy-feeling space-saving innovation maximises room on the throne, at the basin and in the shower – brilliant. Sensibly, there are fluorescent lights above both toilet and shower for when the space is separated into two cubicles. A door allows access to the wardrobe, which has ample space for two: it’s 180cm high, 42cm wide and 70cm deep, with a single drawer beneath.

Beds

The main bed should be great – runners either side of the sofa slide across and lock into the recesses in the opposite facing seat box, then the detachable side cushions fill in on top of the runners to make a very comfortable, flat double. However, somehow one of the runners began to jump free of its recess, and towards the end of the Nuevo’s time with us the centre cushions would regularly slip off the rails – extremely frustrating.

The overcab bed base, rather than raising on struts, folds and clips into place in transit. The problem with this is that it means making up the double bed here with three cushions rather than one, which makes for a less comfortable surface. Also, as mentioned earlier, the headroom is only 45cm.

Storage

Storage space is the Nuevo’s only real shortfall – it is tight for two, let alone four. The only externally accessible storage locker sits on the nearside and has a small (70 x 25cm) entry space. The interior space is 100 x 35 x 35cm (LxHxD), making it adequate for wet walking boots, a levelling ramp or two, maybe a hook-up cable and a couple of other smaller bits and pieces, but not much else.