Verdict
Strictly two-berth. A good compromise of kitchen, washroom and living space in a well put-together, good-looking package, that’s a pleasure to drive.
Pros
Lots of nice design touches; good safety features; layout will appeal to ex-caravanners
Cons
Rattling kitchen makes it noisy on the road; the cab thermal screens are a struggle to fit properly
Start with the outside of this Auto-Sleeper Nuevo (mark II, so it’s slightly bigger than the original, now badged Classic). Even the quickest walk around this compact vehicle will reveal Good Things, such as the electric step at the caravan door.
Then there’s the door itself, with its opening window and remote central locking. Rear corner steadies are standard, and there’s an extension to the spare tyre so you can inflate it without crawling underneath. There’s exterior access to the nearside underseat box, as well as a locker on the lower offside.
Auto-Sleepers are never ‘cheap’ – the price for this one kicks off at £42,495. That’s with a 100bhp engine. We’re looking at the 130bhp version which adds another £920 but seems worth it. Only one in 10 customers so far have stuck with the standard offering – although it must be said we’d find it perfectly adequate in a compact vehicle like this.
Do more Good Things lie inside? You bet. The unusual rear twin-settee floor plan will appeal to caravanners trying motorhomes for the first time. Motorcaravanners who have outgrown their ’van conversions will also approve.
There’s plenty you won’t see, too, such as 3M Thinsulate insulation. The wide-bore water piping is a boon and the underslung tanks for 91 litres of fresh-water and 60 litres of waste are ample for a ’van this size. There’s a hidden safe, too.
On the safety front, Auto-Sleepers has it absolutely right, with a smoke alarm, sensibly located fire extinguisher (by the door), and a carbon monoxide alarm (above the lounge/bed area).
Perfection is some way off, however. The cab’s thermal screens were such a tight fit it was impossible to affix all the press studs. What’s more, as good as the lighting is overall, we missed having a main light over the lounge.
The biggest issue is that the Nuevo II rattles in transit. It’s not the first time this has worried us in a recent Auto-Sleeper model. It’s not just the blinds and cooker, but the whole kitchen, and that is after putting a towel between the hob and its glass lid, and removing oven shelves, grill pan and more. It’s a real pity, because this Nuevo is otherwise an absolute pleasure to pilot.
Rivals? Bessacarr’s E460 or Auto-Trail’s Apache 700 maybe. You’re unlikely to encounter any imports with this kind of layout.
Technical Specifications
Payload | 506 kg |
MTPLM | 3300 kg |
Shipping Length | 5.63 m |
Width | 2.32 m |