Verdict
This motorhome would likely frustrate any budding cook, with its two-burner hob and lack of kitchen workspace. However, this is a comfortable ’van for a couple wanting to go on a real adventure, and it’s good to see plenty of external storage solutions.
Pros
- A comfortable base for adventurous couples
- Good-sized garage
Cons
- The kitchen is a bit of a compromise
Pilote’s Atlas range was launched earlier this decade with selling points that included being compact, have auto transmission as standard, and getting a Ford Transit as its base vehicle – but also having Ford’s more off-road-orientated Trail chassis.
The new range has taken a couple of years to settle in, but this season the French manufacturer was confident enough to say that it will in effect be replacing many of the models in the older Pacific low-profile range. The company also brought out two new Atlas models, and this 6.99m-long motorhome with fixed single beds is one of them.
I went to view it at Signature Motorhomes in Preston, to see how this motorhome under 7m shaped up.
Cab and lounge in the Pilote Atlas A690GJ
The Pilote Atlas A690GJ comes with four travel seats that, in addition to the two captain’s chairs in the cab, include two travel seats that fold out of the parallel settees in the front lounge.
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These are both relatively easy to put together and do not involve any infill cushions; although the one on the driver’s side has a large back cushion and not a huge amount of legroom, especially if you have a long-legged driver.
Fortunately, as settees both these seats work very well in a front lounge that has plenty of daylight even if the sunroof is not the largest we have seen.
The Heki in the roof compensates for that. LED lights are contained in the housing for it, and there is also strip lighting under the lockers, ambient light behind them and two lights
way up above the cab seats.
The kitchen in the Pilote A690GJ
The kitchen, separated from the lounge by a nicely illuminated partition, is in keeping with the compact feel of this ’van.
There is only a two-burner hob above a combined oven and grill, a small sink, and a small amount of workspace.
The washroom in the Pilote Atlas A690GJ
You might initially wonder where the washroom is, because the door to it is flush with the wooden panelling outside. But when you open this door out it doesn’t form any partition across the centre of the ’van, as it initially looks like it’s going to.
Pilote has also included a concertina panel that you pull across to stop the door getting wet.
Beds in the Pilote A690GJ
The two beds are a good size – both almost at 2m with one slightly longer than the other. If you don’t want the table space in the middle there are extra cushions and a pull-out panel to make these beds almost into a double.
Our test model came with another double bed made up from the table and the settees with infill cushions – easy to make, but probably only suitable for children.
You can go for an optional drop-down bed, although this would obscure the useful Heki in the roof.
Storage in the Pilote Atlas A690GJ
Storage looks particularly good from the outside, especially if you’ve been looking for a motorhome with a garage. There’s a spacious garage and also a large skirting locker.
Inside it’s a more mixed picture. Because of the travel seats there isn’t much room under the settees, although there is a larger than average shelf above the cab.
Otherwise, there are just the overhead lockers: one on the offside, and three down the nearside, stretching over the kitchen.
The beds at the rear both have wardrobes at the foot of them which are also accessible by lifting up the slats. However, the mattresses here don’t fold back, so you have to hold them out of the way when you need to access the space.
There are no fewer than 11 overhead lockers and shelves back here, many with retainers, but some are rather shallow.
Kitchen storage feels a bit meagre too, which will be something to bear in mind when kitting out your motorhome. In addition to the overhead locker there are two drawers in the base unit, but one of them is taken up with a bin that we would be inclined to remove.
There is also a shallow drawer under the combined oven and grill, and a shallow locker – if you can reach it – above the fridge. But that is it. We weren’t sure where big pans might go.
The washroom is better, with a tall cupboard, and some retainer shelving underneath the basin.
Alternatives to consider
The Adria Compact Supreme DL is an easy-to-drive motorhome which comes with a comfy lounge, large rear beds and a good spec.
Then there’s the 2026 Benimar Tessoro 840, which is well-suited to adventurous couples, has a layout that works well, and provides a large garage.
Interested in a pre-owned Pilote ‘van instead? Then see what we make of a used Pilote Galaxy (2015-2021), a range which is available in many different layouts.
Technical specification
- Price: £73,700
- Sleeps: 4
- Belts: 4
- Base vehicle: Ford Transit (Trail)
- Engine: 2.0-litre, 165hp engine with automatic transmission
- Length/width/height: 6.99/2.20/2.88m (22’ 11”/7’ 2”/9’ 4”)
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- MiRO: 2925kg
- Payload: 550kg
- Water (fresh/waste): 100/90 litres
- Leisure battery: 95Ah
- Gas: 2x13kg
Before you set off on tour, make sure you know the appropriate motorhome speed limits to ensure you stay safe and legal on the road.
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Technical Specifications
| Berth | 4 |
| MiRO | 2925 kg |
| Payload | 550 kg |
| MTPLM | 3500 kg |
| Shipping Length | 6.99 m |
| Width | 2.20 m |
| Engine Size | 2000 cc |
