The Practical Motorhome Sunlight Cliff 601 review - Watch to find out why the Sunlight Cliff 601 was the Best Budget Motorhome winner at our 2018 awards - Copyright: Practical Motorhome TV
The Sunlight Cliff 601 is priced from £41,690 (£46,020 as tested)
The dinette can seat four in comfort and the table moves forwards and backwards – an additional (fifth) berth here is a £260 cost option
Cooks get a two-burner Dometic gas hob with a glass cover, a square sink and a 90-litre fridge/freezer, but there’s no oven
This lift-up flap is welcome, as food preparation space is in short supply in this kitchen
The side kitchen isn’t massive, but storage provision is good – there’s an overhead cupboard, too
The upper of these three drawers in the Sunlight’s kitchen has a cutlery tray
The washroom is quite tight in the Sunlight Cliff 601, but the tambour door is a neat, space-saving feature and the duckboard should help keep feet dry
The handbasin is a decent size and the tap doubles as a showerhead
There’s this stylish place to hang a towel, plus a heating vent in the washroom
The rooflight is very welcome, as is this drop-down drying rail (part of the £1230 Basic Pack)
The spacious upper bunk is accessed via a ladder, which sits beside the washroom’s tambour door
You could just use this upper double bed and fold the lower one away, if you choose
Even with both double bunks in place, there’s a decent amount of storage at the rear of the Sunlight Cliff 601
Lift the bottom bunk to allow plenty of through storage space, too
Access to your two 5kg gas bottles is easy in the Sunlight Cliff 601
Keep your gear well hidden but easy-to-get-to in the centre at the rear – you might have to mind that 435kg payload!
Plus, the Sunlight Cliff 601 has tie-down points to secure bulkier items when in transit
These neat storage pockets and handy lighting are also in the rear compartment of this van conversion
Talking of storage, the deep half-height wardrobe is located behind the dinette and has a positive-locking door
There’s also this shelved cupboard beneath the wardrobe
This drop-down flap opens to reveal more storage under the dinette seating
The spotlights in the lounge can be unclipped and repositioned, to ensure you get the light where you need it
Mind the step up into the dinette and cab! But we welcome the fact that there’s a heating vent here
This is where you control the Truma Combi 4 heating – and it is iNet ready
The central control panel in the 2018 Sunlight Cliff 601 is basic, but easy to use
This cab features the £1970 Chassis Pack – a 2.0-litre 115bhp engine is standard, but our test ’van had the £870 2.3-litre 130bhp upgrade
This good-sized storage space over the cab area is great for keeping maps, guidebooks and other items handy when on the road
The sliding door is on the UK offside, however it does let light into the dinette – add the £1230 Basic Pack and a flyscreen will keep bugs out
Lift this floor hatch to gain access to essential systems
The rear barn doors of this 5.99m-long ’van make loading and unloading your gear very easy
Innovation excites and so it is with the clever new Sunlight Cliff 601 that starred at our Motorhome of the Year Awards 2018 – let's take a closer look!
Verdict
There’s a lot to love about this van conversion, which packs a tremendous amount into its sub-6m dimensions – the double-bunk-bed arrangement is particularly innovative and practical.
Just make sure that you’re happy with the payload, and upgrade to the heavier chassis if not.
You get a lot in a small package
We like the flexible sleeping arrangements
Having lights in the lounge that can be moved is a neat touch
Cons
The all-in-one washroom is pretty compact
German brand Sunlight has come into its own over the past couple of years.
Formerly a subsidiary of fellow Erwin Hymer Group brand Dethleffs, it’s now a name in its own right.
Where previously it focused on coachbuilts, for the 2018 season, it’s offering van conversions and A-class models, too.
The brand was always known for value for money, so we were looking forward to seeing its new products.
It packs a tremendous amount into its sub-6m dimensions
Living
Up front, there’s standard van conversion fare.
The cab seats swivel to create a dinette for four, plus a single-leg table can be clipped on the wall to form the dining area.
There is a step up to negotiate, but a Truma Combi 4 heating vent within it is a welcome addition.
The Sunlight Cliff 601’s lounge is also well lit, thanks in part to spotlights that can be unclipped and repositioned.
You can also leave the sliding door open and use the huge flyscreen (part of the £1230 Basic Pack fitted to our test ’van).
Kitchen
Opposite the dinette is the kitchen. There’s not much worktop available, but a lift-up flap helps.
No oven is fitted, but there is a two-burner Domestic hob and a deep, square sink.
And alongside, you will find a 90-litre Thetford fridge with a removable freezer compartment.
Washroom
The weakest point here is the small washroom, which has no separate shower cubicle.
However, a tambour entrance door saves space, as does the tap which doubles as a showerhead, there is some storage, and a drop-down drying rail (part of the Basic Pack) below the rooflight is a neat touch.
Beds
What’s clever about this model, though, is what you’ll find at the rear.
We’re used to seeing fixed transverse double beds in van conversions, but the Sunlight Cliff 601 has double-bed bunks.
Flexibility is key here: if you’re a couple touring alone, you can choose to use one double bed, with the other for storage; or one double bed each; or you could both sleep in the top bunk (accessed by a ladder) and fold away the bottom example.
Storage
Clothes storage in the Sunlight Cliff 601 is taken care of by the wardrobe behind the dinette, just in front of the washroom, with a shelved cupboard beneath.
Even with the bottom bunk in place, there’s room below for storage, and plenty of cupboards and cubbies.
Opt for the 3300kg chassis and you get a 435kg payload.
If you want more, go for the 3500kg Fiat light chassis for an additional £530.
