Verdict
A flexible ’van as suited to the campsite as it is to the school run. It has plenty of storage but is still small enough to fit down most narrow lanes.
Pros
Comes equipped with crockery, cutlery and safety equipment for a stress-free weekend away
Cons
The fixed carpet might get dirty quite quickly
Living
The Murvi is best suited as a weekend ‘vans. It has a rock-and-roll bed (pulling the base of a seat causes its back to roll down flat), and hand-crafted interior. It’s well designed and offers some surprises – for example, ten internal lights illuminate the Murvi nicely at night.
The Murvi’s rear seats are comfortable; upholstered in a rich blue cloth, they ooz decadence. The ability to move the rear seat the full length of the ‘van mean that you can have as much leg room as you want. Four can be accommodated around the table, but it clips onto the edge of the cooker cabinet, making cooking and dining mutually exclusive.
Kitchen
The Mallard has its hobs and grills on the offside. The hob has four burners and there’s an Electrolux fridge, too. Sadly however, you have to clear away your pots and pans from the cooker before you sit down to eat, as the table hooks onto the kitchen work surface. The sink and drainer are large enough to cope with the dishes from a meal for two. Storage is reasonable, and quite close to the kitchen – ideal for pots, pans and cutlery. We particularly liked the cutlery drawer.
Washroom
There’s no washroom in the Mallard, but there is a Porta-Potti, housed in a dedicated locker.
Beds
The rock-and-roll bed is simple to make up in a single action at night, and sleeps two transversely. It’s easy to switch the lights on and off, with its twin spots and fluorescent light directly above your head. To keep the light out, there’s a blind at the rear and silver screens at the front. You can also specify optional hammock beds, suitable for two children.
Storage
There is oodles of space and as it stands for ‘multi-use recreational vehicle’ this makes sense. Its unique rear seat, which slides back and forth, means that one can utilise much of the rear space. The ‘van also has a covered area above the cab, and myriad cupboards and storage to the rear. There is a clever pull-out drawer under the bench seat large enough for bedding, as well as a lockable storage box under the passenger’s swivelling seat.
Technical Specifications
| Payload | 600 kg |
| MTPLM | 2900 kg |
| Shipping Length | 4.75 m |
| Width | 2.00 m |
