Come the van
Even if you go for the Lux Pack. Even if you insist on the 130bhp engine upgrade. Even if you want alloy wheels… this is some bargain.
The first two options are likely to be considered essential, it’s only the third that pushes this motorhome over the £40K barrier.
Yes, this is quite some bargain. Two Autoquest models – the two-berth CV20 here and three-person CV40 – mark Elddis’ entrance into the van conversion sector, although do look out also for the near-identical Compass-branded equivalents, as well as a whole host of dealers’ own special edition derivatives.
At the same time, Elddis – a long-term user of Peugeot’s Boxer – has opted for Fiat’s Ducato as the base vehicle.
It’s the price of the CV20, though, that puts down a real marker. True, it means it only gets the two-litre 115bhp engine. And it’s only with the Lux Pack that you get cab air conditioning, passenger airbag and cruise control.
As for the conversion, it’s a popular end lounge floor plan with settees just inside the back doors.
At 1.88m, these are possibly long enough to be used as single beds, or it’s not too tricky an operation to extend the slatted settee bases and make a double. For dining indoors, there’s a free-standing table. It has its own dedicated storage behind the driver’s seat.
The mid-‘van section is taken up by the kitchen and the washroom.
The former stretches across the sliding door and includes a Thetford Triplex cooker with three-ring gas hob and combined oven and grill (a microwave oven is an option to consider, but remember it will deprive you of storage space). Also here is a circular sink with loose cover. There’s also a worktop extension, but it’s to the left rather than impeding access via the sliding door.
Kitchen storage includes a quartet of drawers at the end of the unit, where they can be accessed from indoors as well as out. There’s a further drawer under the oven, plus a floor locker, a cupboard with shelving and a mug holder directly below the sink.
Across the corridor, there’s a narrow-bodied, 90-litre Thetford compressor fridge with freezer set over the wardrobe.
The washroom isn’t quite so convincing. There’s the usual swivel-bowl toilet, plus fixed basin.
You can shower in here by extending the tap’s outlet, but the curtain set-up doesn’t leave lots of space, there’s just the one plughole and ventilation is catered for by a rooflight.
Ideally, the small upper-level locker would have some way of retaining anything stowed in it.
This Autoquest has some items of equipment you may not expect in a budget vehicle. There’s an underfloor gas tank, for example. And a flyscreen for the sliding door. But, cab blinds stay on the options list. Standard equipment also includes positive catches for the overhead lockers, LED reading lamps and strip lighting, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, DAB radio, concertina blinds and flyscreens to all windows aft of the cab, TV aerial, flatscreen TV holder, swivel cab seats, Aquaclean finish to the upholstery and more. The standard fit Tyre Pressure Monitoring system will also grab you a campervan insurance discount.
Storage is better than some rivals, too. As well as the space saved by the aforementioned gas tank, the Whale heating and hot water units are also under-slung, again freeing up valuable interior space.
Verdict: A budget two-berth van conversion that doesn’t want for much.
Plus: Keenly priced - even with “essential” extras - favoured end lounge layout.
Minus: Occasional flimsy build quality.
In-a-nutshell: ‘Quest for value in a van conversion
There’s more information on the Autoquest campervan range on the Elddis website. Find out more about insuring this or your current motorhome on our motorhome insurance discounts page.
Alternatives: Benimar Benivan 120, Chausson Twist 594, Roller Team Toleno L, Swift Select 122
Elddis Autoquest CV20 factfile
Model | Elddis Autoquest CV20 |
Base vehicle | Fiat Ducato |
Dimensions | 5.99m L x 2.05m W x 2.67m H |
Berths | 3 |
Travel seats | 2 |
Maximum weight | 3,500kg |
Payload | 665kg |
MPG estimate | 30-34 |
RRP | From £37,827 on the road |
Safety & security | Electronic immobiliser, remote central locking, ABS and EBA (emergency brake assist), smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, CRiS VIN Chip, day-running headlights, TPMS tyre pressure monitoring system |
Key options | Lux Pack (£1,218), alarm system (£322), tracker (£280), Witter towbar (£500), cab blinds (£450), microwave oven (£195), Winter Pack (£320), bike rack (£350), rear view system (£450), alloy wheels (£650), 130bhp engine (£900), 130bhp engine plus automatic transmission (£1,750) |
I bought at 42500 2.3 auto including electric awning and alloys awesome vehicle. I’ve owned Trigano Tribute, Elddis Autoquest 100, Timberland and others but this is my favourite. Lovely vehicle to drive, very practical lots of space and the quality and service from dealer and Eldiss is really high. I’d recommend the vehicle.
Brought this van, 45000 with all the equipment 2.3 ltr engine auto, used it twice and has been great so far, the price at 37000 is unrealistic, by the time you add all the extras not included. but even at 45000k its a great van and has every thing you could desire.
No good for wheelchair users