Marquis Leisure is the UK’s largest motorhome and caravan dealer, with 13 branches. Among its offerings is the Majestic line-up, built exclusively for Marquis by British firm Elddis (part of Erwin Hymer Group UK). Majestic models are based on the Elddis Autoquest (entry-level), Accordo (compact) and Encore (luxury) line-ups. So when Elddis launched an island-bed ‘van in its Autoquest range for 2021, the Marquis Majestic 150, a 7.34m-long four-berth, also came along, tested here.
Marquis Majestics feel quite different to their Elddis cousins; they’re slightly more expensive – the Autoquest 150 starts at £48,369 – but get an injection of extra kit as standard, and bespoke looks and fabrics. Does that justify the extra cost? We take a close look to find out.
Exterior and cab
Majestics have bespoke graphics and badges to reflect their exclusivity, and very smart they look, too – the silver cab blends well with the graphics across the tinted accommodation windows.
A BBQ point and roll-out awning are just two of the many extras you get.
The single-point-locking habitation door has a window with a blind, a bin, a sturdy grab handle and a fly screen.
There’s no electric step, but you won’t need one: the door is set low to the ground. Opposite as you enter is a large mirror, bound to prove useful.
The smart cab seats bear the Majestic logo, and both have a pair of armrests and swivel to meet the rest of the lounge.
The Majestic’s cab is packed with kit – a rear-view camera, sat-nav, passenger airbag, heated seats, air-con and more all come as standard. There’s a six-speed manual gearbox – there’s no automatic option – and beneath the bonnet sits a 165ps engine. This is a good upgrade over the 140ps in the Autoquest 150.
Don’t be fooled by the settees into thinking there are no rear seatbelts here, either: both of those facing sofa bases lift to provide access to a pair of Aguti belted travelling seats, allowing you to transport four occupants in this vehicle safely and easily.
Lounging and dining
The special Majestic features in this ‘van include bespoke ActiveCare upholstery – smart cream-and-grey cushions with red piping that look very stylish, while matching curtains and bolster cushions complete the look.
Blinds on the lounge windows are of the roller, rather than the concertina variety, but there are flyscreens.
This is a very bright and pleasant place to sit, thanks in part to the large rooflight overhead, and the light streaming in from the additional rooflight above the cab. Both of these can also be opened to allow for good ventilation.
The freestanding table can be erected between the two sofas: this is fairly light in weight, and large enough for four occupants to dine in comfort.
Reading in the evening will be easy, thanks to the four spotlights located above the lounge, although there are no USB points for charging devices here. There is, however, a useful mains plug, a 12V socket and an aerial socket.
The seat bases are vey comfortable, but fairly wide – so if you’re short in the leg, you might find that you end up with your feet dangling above the floor.
Taller people might also need to mind their head on the overhead lockers when leaning back to relax here.
Storage capacity in the lounge area is excellent, with four good-sized lockers up above, all fitted with positive-locking catches. Pleasingly, two are shelved and two are not, giving you a good choice of possibilities for stowing your gear.
Everyone should stay warm, thanks to the blown-air vent for the Whale Complete Heat 4kW heating system situated just behind the lounge, across from the habitation door.
You can easily isolate the cab; there are cab blinds, which is good at this price point, and the addition of a pull-around curtain makes this area extra-insulated at night during colder weather.
Removable carpets in the lounge are practical, helping to keep the ‘van clean, and they are a sensible grey/light brown colour, so should be hardwearing and hide the dirt. The accommodation area floor isn’t totally flat: there’s a step up into the lounge from the entrance.
Kitchen
The kitchen is located to the right of the accommodation door as you step in, and is smartly designed and equipped, with attractive cream work surfaces.
Although the black sink might not be to everyone’s taste, it will be easy to keep looking clean and should wear well. There’s a full-size Thetford oven and grill in the kitchen, a dual-fuel hob, and plenty of workspace thanks to the handy inclusion of a fold-up flap to the right of the main unit.
Ventilation should never be a problem here: there’s a long window that opens, and a Heki rooflight with extractor fan above.
Pleasingly, there’s also a microwave – just one of a number of kitchen upgrades over the Autoquest; it’s at head height, so you’ll need to take care removing food if you’re on the shorter side.
Across the way is the Thetford 95-litre fridge in gloss black, which includes a freezer compartment. The table for the lounge is neatly stored vertically in a locker to the right of the oven.
Sleeping
The star of the sleeping show is the island bed at the back of the ‘van; the frame for this can be pushed back to allow for access to the wardrobes that stand either side of the bed.
The head of the Hypnos mattress – which is hugely comfortable – lifts up, too, creating a day bed for additional lounging space whenever you might require it.
As well as the two wardrobes, there are two large lockers up above, and a further vanity-style locker at the foot of the bed, on the offside, Another mirrored locker/cupboard is located above this.
At the side of the vanity locker below is a mains plug, 12V socket and aerial point, so this would be the obvious spot for a small TV if you wanted to watch from bed. Spotlights and overlocker illumination keep the area bright, and there’s a small rooflight here. A smart headboard completes the look.
The bed lifts easily on gas struts, and despite the fact that it is set quite low – making it comfortable to get in and out of – there’s a good storage area underneath, also accessible via a locker door on the exterior of the ‘van.
The front bed is easy to make up using slide-out base units, then dropping the sofa cushions into the gaps. It’s wider on one side than the other, but still offers comfortable sleeping for guests.
Washroom
The washroom – located opposite the kitchen – is on the compact side, and the wheel arch eats into the floorspace a little, but it’s still big enough to mean that you shouldn’t feel obliged to use the campsite’s facilities instead. The shower tray is deep, with one large plughole. There’s a smart white ’boutique’ handbasin in white, and a toothbrush mug on one side.
There’s no separate shower cubicle: a curtain pulls around to prevent the toilet and cupboard getting wet. You’ll also need to take care when opening the door if someone is cooking in the kitchen, opposite the washroom.
There is a blown-air heating vent in here, though, to help keep things warm, and a small rooflight above for ventilation. Illumination is also good, thanks to the pair of spotlights.
Storage
When it comes to storage space, the Majestic 150 is right up there with the best of them. There’s an excellent payload figure, too, of 535kg, allowing you to make the most of it.
For starters, there’s the area below the island bed, ideal for storing lighter items such as bedding, clothing, hoses and so on. What’s more, the bed lifts easily on gas struts, and the space beneath can be accessed from outside via a door on the rear wall, too.
Storage in the kitchen is also good; the large, double-doored cupboard up above, with positive catches, has plate and mug racks, and you get three drawers below the sink. The two pan lockers will be ideal for holding any heavier items.
Storage space in the washroom is a little more restricted. Here, you’re limited to one shallow double-doored cupboard. There is, however, a handy pull-out towel rail, and well-placed hooks just to the left of the door.
In the bedroom, there’s load of space for clothes and books in the lockers and cupboards around the island bed.
Equipment
The Autoquest 150 on which this Majestic is based is reasonably well-specified in terms of kit, but the extras it has received to become a Marquis exclusive make it that much more tempting.
The full list of additional kit is too long to include here – suffice to say, you get a cab Lux pack, featuring air-con, cruise control, passenger airbag and more; the Winter pack, providing tank heaters, fridge vents and heated cab seats; a solar panel; a Tracker; that roll-out awning; external shower and BBQ points; a USB socket near the kitchen; a rear-view camera system; a microwave and the dual-fuel hob, to name just a few of the excellent extras.
As standard for Autoquest, 100-litre fresh-water and 70-litre waste-water tanks should prove plenty big enough for two occupants for at least a couple of days; the same goes for the 95-litre Thetford fridge. The shower has an Eco Camel Orbit water-saving Halo head.
There are rails on the back of the ‘van, should you wish to mount a bike rack. A Teleco Teleplus X2/39U directional aerial is also fitted.
Verdict
Practical Motorhome’s Peter Baber tested the Elddis Autoquest 150 on which this vehicle is based a few months ago; he liked it, but felt that: “The list of extras that come as standard here isn’t quite as extensive as elsewhere.” That’s certainly been addressed in this ‘van – it offers a kit list longer than many motorhomes we’ve tested at a much higher price point. It’s not perfect – the washroom is small, in part because of the space taken up by the island bed. But if you’re happy with that, you’ll find this a comfortable, spacious motorhome that represents true value for money.
Highs
Lows
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Buy if…
You want a well-specified British coachbuilt, but don’t want to spend a huge amount of cash. You’re also likely to appreciate the Majestic 150 most if you’re a couple touring alone, perhaps with the occasional visitor, and are happy to trade in a large washroom for the comfort of an island bed and the convenience of storage space.
TECHNICAL DATA
BASE VEHICLE
- Chassis Peugeot Boxer
- Engine 165 PS 2.2-litre Euro 6.2
- Power 165PS @ 3750rpm
- Torque 370Nm @ 1750rpm
- Transmission Six-speed manual
- Features Include ABS brakes, tyre pressure monitoring system, automatic cab air-conditioning, cruise control, touchscreen DAB radio/MP3/sat-nav, passenger airbag, automatic lights and wipers, rear-view camera, heated seats, alloy wheels
CONVERSION
Elddis SoLiD construction – ‘Strong-Lite’ high-strength aluminium one-piece sides, GRP underskin to floor providing a water-resistant barrier. Exterior door with window, fly screen, integrated waste-bin, burst proof locking and rain deflector. Exterior-access battery box with mains electric inlet. Low-level entrance step. Rails for rear-mounted Fiamma Pro cycle rack. Exterior BBQ and shower points. Roll-out awning. Sky-view opening cab sunroof with blind. Grade III Winter pack. Bespoke exterior graphics.
LOUNGING AND DINING
Stow-away dining table with storage. Exclusive soft furnishings and bespoke Majestic upholstery
KITCHEN
Black gloss enamelled oven, grill and three0burner dual-fuel gas/electric hob, 95-litre fridge-freezer. Extractor fan rooflight. Microwave.
SLEEPING
- Rear island bed: 1.92×1.38m
- Front double bed: 1.18×2.08m
EQUIPMENT
100-litre fresh-water tank, 70-litre waste-water tank, Whale Expasnse dual-fuel underslung eight-litre water heater, Hypnos mattress, cab blinds, Thatcham alarm/Tracker, Teleco Teleplus X2/39U directional aerial, Easy Glide bed technology, Aguti travel seats, 20A switch mode charger/transformer, one-year free insurance (T&Cs apply), Peugeot three-year unlimited mileage warranty, 10-year body integrity warranty, three-year manufacturer’s warranty, full-size spare wheel
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The head of the Hypnos mattress - which is hugely comfortable - lifts up, too, creating a day bed for additional lounging space whenever you might require it
Technical Specifications
| Berth | 4 |
| Payload | 535 kg |
| MTPLM | 3500 kg |
| Shipping Length | 7.34 m |
| Width | 2.69 m |
| Engine Size | 2200 cc |
