Laika is one of the most upmarket brands in the Erwin Hymer Group, famous for A-class motorhomes that boast its signature Italian style. To find out if the new Laika Kreos H 5109 lives up to that, I viewed it at Erwin Hymer Travelworld in Stafford.

Unusually for the most upmarket range in an upmarket brand, the motorhome is not based on a Mercedes Sprinter. Instead, you get a Fiat Ducato, albeit on a heavy chassis – with an MTPLM of 4500kg. As a result, if you’re wondering what driving licence you need for the motorhome, it will be a C1 licence.

As standard you also get the more powerful 180bhp engine, an automatic gearbox, 16-inch Fiat alloy wheels, and a whole host of safety and driver assistance features, including cruise control. The steering wheel, naturally, is leather-wrapped, as is the gearstick.

The Fiat Ducato cab
Standard Fiat Ducato cab includes eight-speed automatic gearbox

Lounge in the Laika Kreos H 5109

The superior cab seats swing round across a flat floor to join the two rear travel seats and a pair of large side sofas at an attractive circular table.

This type and size of motorhome will generally be quite good for entertaining, and here, I reckon you could probably accommodate seven people sitting. Thanks to the table sliding about, everyone should be able to get in easily, as you would expect in such a luxury motorhome.

The seats swivelled round to face the lounge
High-quality cab seating swivels to join rear travel seats and settees in the lounge

There’s plenty of ambient light in the lounge, and I think the cream and teal scatter cushions add to the exclusive air.

Behind the settee on the driver’s side is a cubbyhole that serves as a hiding place for a TV up to 32in wide, ideal for owners of the best motorhome TV.

Kitchen in the Laika Kreos H 5109

With all that luxury in the cab, it is perhaps a bit surprising to find that you only get a three-burner gas hob in the kitchen, with a combined oven and grill. A more sophisticated oven, with three gas burners and a separate grill, is an £820 option.

The kitchen area
Plenty of worktop, but you only get a three-burner gas hob fitted as standard

The flatbed microwave costs £870 and for £1410, you can have a dishwasher. A further £300 will get you a coffee machine.

There’s plenty of workspace, and the sink has a swan-neck tap that detaches to form a spray. There are holes at the back of the sink cover, so you can still have drainage with it in place.

The washroom in the Kreos H 5109

To step up into the nearside shower in the transverse central washroom, you open a single transparent door.

As standard, you get a choice of an adjustable spray shower and a rain shower, and there are two drains, but I didn’t think the cubicle was particularly roomy.

The main washroom is on the same side as the habitation door, so when it’s time to think about emptying the motorhome cassette toilet, access to the cassette would come under the awning. But the room is well lit, with plenty of mirrors, and the big basin is furnished with a stylish black tap.

Sleeping in the Kreos H 5109

The rear bedroom consists of two large single beds accessed via steps; for £450 you have the option to make this a double reached by a ladder.

The rear fixed single beds
The two large single beds at the rear are reached via steps

Each bed has its own switched and angled spotlight with a USB, while switches for all of the lighting are accessible when you are in here.

The drop-down bed over the cab is controlled by a switch above the door. It has spotlights and two cubbyholes that are hidden from view when the bed is up – a good place to hide things you want kept out of sight.

The drop-down bed
Drop-down bed is controlled by a switch above the door

Storage options in the Kreos H 5109

This ’van’s luxury status comes to the fore when you consider storage. The huge rear garage is fitted with light switches next to both doors, heating, holds and a wine rack. A shower here is £250 extra. It also has a maximum payload of 250kg, so there should be ample room for your ebikes.

The double floor that runs along the vehicle can be accessed via skirting lockers on the outside and from at least two places inside the ’van.

Skirting lockers
Skirting lockers give you external access to the double floor

There’s a boot locker and overhead lockers in the lounge, and more lockers above the rear beds, while underneath each bed is a wardrobe, with a hanging rail on the left and shelves on the right.

Underfloor storage
Discreet trapdoors also provide access to underfloor storage area

Aside from the large drawer in the kitchen unit, there is a selection of drawers, two overhead lockers and more. The huge pull-out shelf in the washroom is metal, as are many of the drawer bases and all of the catches on what otherwise look like handle-free locker doors. All in all, there’s a real quality finish.

Alternatives to consider

The Niesmann+Bischoff Arto 78 was our pick for the most luxurious ‘vans on the market for the 2025 season at the Practical Motorhome Awards 2025, impressing our reviewer enough to be called the “ultimate motorhome”.

Also making the shortlist was the Carthago C2 Tourer I 145 RB LE Lightweight 3.5t, another luxurious offering which has the added benefit of not requiring a C1 licence to drive it.

Technical specification

  • Price: £164,400
  • Sleeps: 4
  • Belts: 4
  • Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato
  • Engine: 2.2-litre, 180bhp with standard 8-speed automatic gearbox
  • Length/width/height: 7.89/2.32/3.03m (25’9”/7’6”/9’9”)
  • MTPLM: 4500kg
  • MiRO: 3828kg
  • Payload: 379-672kg
  • Water (fresh/waste): 200/146 litres
  • Leisure battery: 95Ah
  • Gas: 2 x 11kg
  • Contact: laika.it

Interested in a campervan from the manufacturer instead? Then take a look at our review of the 2024 Laike Ecovip 540, a two-berth that is cleverly designed and packs a lot in.

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