2018 Auto-Sleeper Bourton motorhome review

Making the most of Mercedes

Unlike any of its mainstream UK rivals, Auto-Sleepers offers a range of Mercedes-based coachbuilt – six models in total, of which the Bourton has been up there amongst the favourites since launch, back in 2011. Needless to say, it’s had a number of subtle tweaks since.

Auto-Sleepers’ work sees a reworking of a classic two-berth floorplan – the end kitchen and corner washroom means there’s more than healthy dollop of lounge towards the front.

It’s the sheer living space that’s key, here, with the extra width that the Mercedes allows really enhancing things – aided by large side windows, a Heki Midi rooflight overhead and an opening sunroof to the cab.

The lounge becomes the bedroom at night, where you can have almost-instant single beds or, with a bit of cushion shuffling and pulling together of the settee frames, a massive double.

There are updates for the 2018 version, of course – a subtle change to the exterior graphics and a whole new back end. It’s a sculpted one-piece GRP panel with LED lighting, plus fixings for a bike rack at a low enough level to make sense when it comes to loading.

Other enhancements are inside, where there’s smart new upholstery (in a choice of five colours; there’s also a floral alternative). Also, interior walls are now GRP – smarter and easy to wipe clean.

That on-the-road price opposite includes the Premium Pack – an option that adds a very smooth seven-speed automatic transmission, alloy wheels, cab air conditioning, cruise control, Thule awning, reversing camera and an 80W solar panel.

Similarly, habitation air conditioning is included as a “default option” – i.e. you have to opt out of having it, if you want to save yourself £1,000. Using Truma’s iNet, it’s fully programmable and will work in conjunction with the heating so you get a form of climate control, any time you want.

The kitchen delivers more than it initially promises. There’s a Thetford Caprice cooker, with dual-fuel hob (three gas rings, one electric hotplate) and separate oven and grill. The stainless steel sink has space to its right to put the drainer. Other kitchen kit ranges from an extractor unit over the hob, to kitchen roll holder.

Move across the habitation doorway and there’s a Dometic fridge with removable freezer box, a total 96-litre capacity. Plus, set over a recess housing four sherry glasses, is a Daewoo microwave oven. A locker above this has crockery racking and two bottle holders.

Squeezed into the offside back corner, the washroom has a space-enhancing hinged plastic bulkhead – swing it out and you get a shower cubicle, fold it back flat and there’s extra space for toileting. It means there’s nowhere to put a window, but you do get a variety of holders and hooks, locker storage and a retractable clothes dryer.

Compromises? The fresh and waste water tanks aren’t the biggest. And it’s a bit of a shame, considering all the space elsewhere, that the lounge tables (choose between a free-stander for mealtimes and a smaller unit for coffee) only stow in the wardrobe.

Offset that against features like the permanent gas tank (it saves money as well as space), lots of interior LED lighting (including spotlights and flush-mounted ceiling units), exterior skirt locker, external sockets (TV, barbecue, 230V electricity), Trackstar Leisure tracking system with one year free subscription, plus all the aforementioned luxuries.

It all adds up to a driving licence-friendly maximum weight of 3,500kg, which still allows for plenty of payload, even if the price is far from light. But with the tracking device and reversing camera you should be able to claim some healthy discounts on your motorhome insurance!

Verdict: Mercedes and Auto-Sleepers is a match made for luxury

Plus: Mercedes credentials, roomy lounge, high specification

Minus: Bedmaking

In-a-nutshell: Top-drawer touring for two

There’s more information on the Bourton on the Auto-Sleepers website www.auto-sleepers.com. Find out more about insuring this or your current motorhome on our motorhome insurance discounts page.

Alternatives: Auto-Trail Tracker EKS, Swift Bessacarr 512 (both Fiat-based)