2016 Auto-Sleepers Stanway motorhome review

Forward with the floorplanning

First thing to note about the Auto-Sleepers Stanway – the latest model to join the Auto-Sleepers van conversion collection – is that it’s only six metres long.

Now draw back the sliding door and, before you step inside, there’s one aspect that hits you – space!

That means a lot in what these days counts as a pretty compact vehicle. It will instantly appeal to those who don’t like the claustrophobic feel of most such van conversions, for example. Also, owners who like to take their pets with them on tour.

Briefly, that floorplan offers something different, with its front lounge – comprising a forward-facing travel seat for two and a bench the other side of a sturdy table – plus rear nearside washroom, and a kitchen that wraps around the rest of the back end and along the offside to the wardrobe and fridge.

There’s quite a bit of choice, too: six soft furnishings (three each of the Moonstone, here, and the recently introduced Catalan); and four exterior finishes (one white, the other metallic).

Auto-Sleepers also specifies its Peugeot Boxer bases in window van format – hence the sleeker look of those pre-fitted, tinted glass areas. Round at the back, the two doors open to reveal the rear of the kitchen unit and access to the toilet cassette, Truma Combi boiler, water pump and gas isolator taps. It’s just a shame the designers hadn’t considered this area for storage space too.

As is now the norm at Auto-Sleepers, all Stanways will be built with the Premium Pack and, as we’ve come to expect from them all, the overall specification is very high.

The slightly more refined 150bhp engine is standard. Peugeot’s Boxer rides differently in Stanway guise, too. The extra rear suspension leaf and Al-Ko Air Top assistance means there’s less of the hard-sprung feel that you typically get with any Boxer. If you want automatic transmission, speak to your Auto-Sleeper dealer (and there are lots of them) about ordering the switch to Fiat’s Ducato with its Comfort-Matic option.

The cab comes with a DAB stereo, steering wheel controls, dashboard trim and more. Padding to the back of the driver’s seat means it has a dual purpose as a backrest to the lounge seat.

The kitchen isn’t quite perfect. The Thetford Triplex cooker is a promising start, but the triangular sink (with limited draining facility) takes up too much corner space. And the worktop next to it is just a tad too narrow. The coffee maker is a nice gesture (although, again, it does take up valuable space). The microwave oven is set high in a location where you might just catch your head if you’re not careful.

There’s a handy slide-out worktop between the wardrobe and the fridge – the latter an SES (Smart Energy Selection) model.

Making the bed is the Achilles heel of this kind of conversion. There are so many extra cushions involved in setting up the double they warrant a cupboard of their very own. Auto-Sleepers quotes the final bed size as a generous 1.94m x 1.34m, and it still leaves some floor space. The company has long been an advocate of Reflex foam – it tends towards being firm but, like so much else here, it’s designed to stand up to the rigours of motorcaravanning days and nights.

The washroom has a space-saving tambour door. It’s all a bit narrow, with the toilet set farthest away, which means you shower in the middle area, although the showerhead and its riser bar are actually set beyond the toilet.

There’s little stinting elsewhere, with a generous level of LED lighting and plenty of electrical sockets (six mains, one each 12V and USB).

There’s a permanent gas tank (it saves money on refills as well as locker space) and there are external mains, gas and TV sockets, plus lots more.

It might start off pricey, but bear in mind Auto-Sleepers are much sought after on the secondhand market.

Verdict: Clever use of space in a floorplan like no other

Plus: High specification, lots of floor space, choice of exterior and interior finishes

Minus: Bedmaking, some kitchen details to sort, limited exterior-access storage

In-a-nutshell: Latest addition takes Auto-Sleepers’ van conversions to seventh heaven

There’s more information on the Stanway 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: IH Murvi Morello, Vantage Ora, Wellhouse Terrier Lux-XL