Verdict
The Practical Motorhome Roller Team Zefiro 690G review reveals that buyers of this ‘van get a proven layout and Italian design, but they’ll pay a slight premium over UK-produced vehicles, which have the habitation door on the nearside. Still, the Zefiro is well built, with a quality feel.
Pros
Storage is great
It doesn’t feel like an entry-level ‘van
The midships area has lots of room for a large family
Cons
There’s not a separate oven, nor is there a microwave
It has a small washroom
Once known for being an entry-level range, Roller Team’s Auto-Roller has been creeping steadily upmarket in recent years, sporting kit levels and refinement that wouldn’t be out of place in a mid-market offering. So in for the 2014 season comes Zefiro, a two-model-strong (in the UK) entry-level range.
Priced at just under £40,000, the 690G is a six-berth overcab coachbuilt based on the Fiat Ducato 130bhp, available with right-hand drive for the UK – ‘G’ denotes a rear garage. Up front, the midships lounge has four travel seats and converts into a double bed. A further two berths are available in the overcab.
Storage-wise, the Roller Team Zefiro 690G performs well
Living
The interior of the Roller Team Zefiro 690G has a pleasing ambience and feels spacious, thanks to off-white walls and ceilings, light-coloured cabinetwork and biscuit and chocolate-coloured upholstery. ‘Entry-level’ certainly isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.
The front lounge has four belted travel seats. Upholstered in a biscuit tone with chocolate-coloured edging, they’re comfortable, and legroom is adequate. For mealtimes, the seat benches extend using slide-outs. Add the four cushions and the table extension stowed in the wardrobe, and a family of six can sit around to eat.
Kitchen
The offside midships kitchen in the Zefiro 690G carries all the basics, including a cooker with three gas burners as well as a tall fridge with separate freezer. However, it lacks a couple of essentials prized by UK buyers: a separate oven and a microwave.
Under the rectangular sink lie two wide drawers, which will accommodate a wide array of pots, pans and foodstuffs.
Washroom
A smart-looking washroom is located opposite the kitchen. To the left is a full-size shower unit and to the right a toilet, with a sink and vanity unit in between. Access is via a door with a domestic-style handle.
Beds
To accommodate the large garage underneath, the bed sits quite high. It measures 2.16m x 1.34m (7’1” x 4’5”) and offers plenty of support. As well as curtains for privacy, safety netting is provided to prevent the occupants of the rear bed from falling out.
The lounge double bed makes up using the seat extensions and extra brown cushions, and only takes a couple of minutes to do. It’s the smallest double bed in the ’van, but will be fine for youngsters.
The Zefiro’s largest double bed is in the overcab, accessed via a ladder that clips to the wooden edge of the cab roof section. There are small windows at each end of the bed, plus a light and privacy curtain.
Storage
Storage-wise, the Roller Team Zefiro 690G performs well. The large rear garage is accessed from either side of the ’van and via an under-bed hatch from the interior. Several overhead lockers are available in the bedroom, kitchen, lounge and washroom. A three-quarter-length wardrobe opposite the front lounge has a shelf near the bottom, while underneath it and accessed via a separate door are two shelves with rails to prevent items from falling out. There’s also a cubby adjacent to the rear double bed, plus a vanity unit in the washroom.
Technical Specifications
Payload | 540 kg |
MTPLM | 3650 kg |
Shipping Length | 6.99 m |
Width | 2.31 m |