Verdict
The tried and tested – and popular – end-kitchen floorpan is a welcome addition to the Alliance line-up, which now offers a wide range of layouts. It’s well priced, too – although buyers will need to decide for themselves if it’s worth the £35000 premium over the Advance 59-2.
Pros
Electrically operated doorstep that retracts automatically when the vehicle’s engine is started
Cons
Buyers will need to decide whether the Alliance is worth the £3500 premium over the Advance 59-2
Bailey’s new Alliance range caused quite a stir when it was launched during the October 2018 show at the NEC. The Bristol-based company placed the new line-up at the centre of its motorhome offerings, with the Autograph range at the top and the Advance sitting at the entry-level end.
The Alliance was originally available in six layouts, and now a seventh has been added to that tally. Enter the Alliance 59-2, launched at the February 2019 NEC show along with its cousin, the Advance 59-2.
The lounge is a good size, and very comfortable for two or more to relax in.
Living
The lounge is a good size, and very comfortable for two or more to relax in. The sofa cushions are supportive and deep, and the upholstery colour scheme – Portland – features contrasting fabrics and wine-coloured cushions, and looks high quality.
The effect is well finished with the patterned fabric of the curtains; there are also roller blinds to the windows.
A large free-standing table stands between the sofas; when not in use, it slides into a slot under the nearside sofa. This is handy – it frees up storage space elsewhere in the ‘van – but the table is fairly weighty, so you’ll need to take care when sliding it in and out.
Kitchen
The 59-2 features the popular end-kitchen layout, and the kitchen in this motorhome is well fitted out. In addition to the Thetford Triplex oven and grill, there’s a three-burner hob set into the work surface (which, on the Alliance, is in a practical Natural Slate finish), a stainless-steel sink over which a plastic draining board can sit, a 95-litre fridge with a removable freezer compartment, and an 800W microwave.
Washroom
This may be a compact ‘van, but the washroom is reasonably sized. As you enter, the handbasin lies immediately ahead, with the swivel-bowl cassette toilet to the right. Further to the right is a good-sized separate shower cubicle, complete with two plug holes – handy if you’re not pitched level.
Beds
Bailey’s 59-2 is strictly two-berth – there are also only two belted seats in the ‘van – and the sole bed is made up from cushions in the lounge.
The resulting sleeping surface is comfortable and quite flat, as long as you place the cushions that have knee rolls to the head and foot of the bed.
Technical Specifications
| Payload | 820 kg |
| MTPLM | 3500 kg |
| Shipping Length | 5.99 m |
| Width | 2.49 m |
| Engine Size | 2000 cc |
