2014 Sun Living A49 DP motorhome review: One for the whole family

Yes, that is the price. Yours on the road for a fiver less than £37,000. Which is absolutely stunning, especially considering you’ll be keeping up to six members of the family happy.

But first, let’s let you into a secret – coachbuilt Sun Livings are more or less rebadged versions of Adria Corals. Whereas Corals don’t feature in the Adria UK portfolio for this year, the gap is well and truly plugged with Sun Livings from the same factory in Slovenia – a modern production plant that really does put many UK manufacturers to shame.

In fact, they cost even less than their stablemates. Adria has used the Sun Living name for a while now throughout the rest of the continent, but this is the first time they’ve reached the UK. And that’s thanks to Webbs Motor Caravans. For the next two years, at least, Sun Livings are exclusive to Webbs, which operates two retail outlets, at Warminster, Wiltshire and Reading, Berkshire. On offer is a six-model range that even includes a high-top van conversion (a budget version of the popular Adria Twin).

The A49 DP here tops the range, although it would be remiss not to mention the slightly smaller but also six-berth A43 DK rear bunks model.

It’s the A49 DP, though, that is the biggest. On a standard Fiat Ducato chassis, it’s a big body to cater for an interior that’s home to everything from a large overcab double bed to a permanent double bed over a garage storage area at the back. In between, you get a four-seater dinette with three-point belts for the forward-facing travellers and lap restraints for the other two – all this makes up into a third double bed to complete the sleeping complement.

There’s a central washroom that’s a bit compromised on space but nevertheless offers a separate shower cubicle, fixed handbasin and swivel-bowl toilet. The kitchen, too, just about copes with the demands of family motorcaravanning, certainly offering lots of storage space. Needless to say, equipment levels are pared back.

You get a three-ring hob (no spark ignition) but no grill or oven, while the fridge is a decent sized 145-litre (including separate freezer) Thetford model. Heating and hot water are via Truma’s Combi 4 unit, operating from gas only. But, what do you expect at the price? These are hardly deal-breakers at this level.

More important, surely, is a coachbuilt body that’s GRP clad, with aluminium side skirting, access from both sides to the huge external storage at the back (there’s a 150kg limit here), plus plenty of interior storage and furniture that’s just that bit more sturdy thanks to a better initial construction (the use of dowels rather than staples, for example).

It adds up to one of the best screwed-together vehicles of its type. Keeping the specification minimal of course helps with payload, too. It’s not over-generous for a vehicle this size, but key is, at 3500kg maximum, you can drive it on a normal full licence (and that’s just as well –chassis upgrades are not available).

You just might want to consider the main optional extra – the £1,499 Comfort Pack gives you cab air conditioning, passenger airbag and cruise control. And the chances are, by now you’ll have missed out on the introductory offer of a free electric awning.

Even so, you just won’t find a better starting price for a brand new, full six-berth motorhome.

Verdict: A lot of motorhome for an incredibly low price

Plus: Great price, well made, good use of space

Minus: No chassis upgrade option

In-a-nutshell: Family-sized pound-stretcher

Cost to insure: £257.50*

In summary

• Sun Living A49 DP
• Fiat Ducato, 2.3-litre, 130bhp Euro V
• Key options: Comfort Pack – cab air conditioning, passenger airbag and cruise control (£1,499)
• Security and Safety Electronic immobiliser, remote central locking to cab doors, ABS, driver airbag
• MPG estimate 20-24

Recommended retail price from £36,995**

Alternatives: Roller Team Zefiro 690G, Carado A464

*Motorhome insurance cost based on Sun Living A49 DP motorhome retailing at £36,995. Motorhome must have an immobiliser. UK travel only. Kept in secure storage at TD9 8ED. Motorhome owners – professionals over 50 years old with no claims, convictions or health conditions in last 3 years. 4 years no claims bonus mirrored from car policy and 2 years motorhome driving experience. Members of motorhome club doing less than 5000 miles annually. £300 excess applies. Premiums include insurance premium tax at 6% and are correct at 6/01/2014

**On-the-road, including VAT at 20%