Auto-Trail V-Line 635 SE - Practical Motorhome

Practical Motorhome's expert Gentleman Jack gives his verdict on the Auto-Trail V-Line 635 SE – the longest 'van in the more affordable V-Line SE range

Verdict

The Auto-Trail V-Line SE models are a welcome addition to the portfolio. Tweaking this 635 SE layout to offer the option of single beds in future would address its only Achilles heel.

This is an accomplished two-berth high-top panel van conversion (or compact leisure vehicle). Overall we’ve awarded the 2016 Auto-Trail V-Line 635 SE a four-star rating. And to see other Auto-Trail motorhomes for sale, click here.

Pros

Well equipped kitchen
Fridge still works if you’re wild camping
Rear lounge turns into a large transverse double bed
No fussy curtains, just blinds and flyscreens
Cab air-con is standard
ESC and traction-control
Back doors open
Wind-out awning and LED awning rail lights are standard

Cons

No opening rooflight or window in the washroom
Microwave is placed rather high up for safety
Twin sofas are too short to be used as single beds

Auto-Trail is adamant that its newly expanded V-Line range shouldn’t be known by the generally accepted term for this type of motorcaravan – panel van conversion or PVC. Instead it wants it referred to as a compact leisure vehicle (CLV). At first I thought it was being precious over something that was self-evidently an accurate description. However, mature reflection has led me to the conclusion that it has a valid point, especially when trying to attract first-time buyers. Having ‘van’ in the title isn’t exactly appealing and the finished conversion doesn’t feel anything like white van man’s finest.

All current Auto-Trail V-Line models taken forward into 2016, though, will henceforth be known as ‘V-Line Sport’ to differentiate them from the new V-Line SE range. You can read more about the range of 2016 Auto-Trail motorhomes here.

The rear lounge is absolutely spot-on – perfect for relaxing, entertaining or dining

Living

Entrance through the side sliding door reveals the accommodation divided into three distinct areas: forward seating, amidships kitchen and washroom, ahead of a large rear lounge. Extending the cab floor level rearwards and not having the washroom immediately behind the driver’s seat adds considerably to the feeling of spaciousness when sitting in the forward seats.

As this front dinette area works so well, we wouldn’t have any qualms about leaving the rear lounge made up as a (semi) permanent double bed when away for extended periods. Efficient and comprehensive insulation combined with the 4kW Combi boiler should allow comfortable year-round use in temperate climates.

The rear lounge is absolutely spot-on – perfect for relaxing, entertaining or dining; speaking of which there is a large rectangular table top with single leg for when dinner is served and a smaller round one for drinkies, laptop tapping, and for resting the Kindle or penny dreadful.

Less is more with the window embellishment – the functional, elegant simplicity of the curtain-less openings really appealed.

Kitchen

The well-equipped kitchen offers oodles of easily accessed storage and loads of worktop, plus a three-way (12V, 230V and gas) decent-sized fridge.

Washroom

The cleverly designed washroom has plenty of ‘elbow room’. However, I would have preferred an opening rooflight to the tiny rotating ventilator, because it would encourage better airflow and make the compartment less gloomy. The fold-away basin was just the right size and a shelved storage cupboard behind the mirror doors should hold all the toiletries required by a couple.

Beds

The lounge converted easily into a large and comfortable double bed measuring 1.83m x 1.74m (6′ x 5’8.5″) longitudinally. But we were stunned to find on this extra-long prototype that the settees were too short for many folk to use them as single beds. (We’d pinch two inches off the forward offside cupboard behind the driver’s seat and six inches from the kitchen to provide one 5ft 10.5in bed and one of 6ft 2in.) Some ‘couples’ prefer single beds and many motorcaravanning duos are not romantically involved – just friends or other relatives – and for them sharing a double bed might not be appropriate.

Storage

Behind the driver’s seat is a low cupboard, which means that the washroom wall doesn’t hem the driver in. In the washroom is a vanity unit where you can store your washbag behind mirrored doors.

There’s also a half-height wardrobe and the overhead lockers have excellent positive-locking catches to keep your items safe in transit. The rear lounge seat boxes have gas struts so that you can stash the bedding away in the mornings without the lid falling onto your fingers.