2023 Hymer T-Class S685 motorhome

Price warning. If you think you’re going to get away with the £83,610 starting price you can see here, think again. In fact, go and check your bank balance extends over £100,000 if you want to be realistic. In typical German style, this Hymer T-Class S685 motorhome offers an attractive enough initial window price before inviting you to pile on the extras. Which you will!

The best place to start is with the various options packages – that’s where you’ll get better value – before perusing the long list of individual factory-fitted options. The big plus is, of course, you will end up getting a motorhome that’s practically unique to you, specification-wise – as long as you’re happy to pay the price. Treat the options listed in our factfile for this motorhome as just the start – it really is that extensive. But do note it’s only a 3,500kg chassis as standard – upgrading the base vehicle for power, automatic transmission and a higher gross vehicle weight (although replating to 3,880kg should suffice, at no further cost) could be the first of your financial challenges.

So, the Mercedes MBUX 10.25in touchscreen infotainment system, coloured cab, alloy wheels, drop-down double bed that you can see here… yes, they’re all from the options list.

The standard exterior look of the Hymer T-Class S685 motorhome is smart enough – guess what? You can upgrade it with additional trimwork etc – but it’s that basic combination of Mercedes chassis-cab and Hymer’s coachbuilding expertise that holds the trump cards here.

It’s actually quite a small, one-piece habitation door, on the UK offside, with a retractable double step needed for access. Inside, it’s a popular continental motorhome layout, with permanent single beds at the back, set over a larger garage area (which only gets a single door as standard, although it does go all the way down to floor level).

The kitchen and washroom occupy the mid-‘van area, leaving space for a lounge at the front, comprising short, inward-facing settees and the cab seats swivelled around a fixed pedestal leg table that has a hinged top so you can fold it out the way when you want access around it.

Those settees convert into individual forward-facing seats for travel (curiously, Hymer offers the second of these as a no-cost option).

The T-Class S685’s kitchen has a three-ring gas hob, which does leave room for a trio of drawers as well as lockers.  It’s the furniture – its build as well as its styling – that’s exemplary, with lots of detail extras throughout, as you’d expect from Hymer.

There’s a recycling bin, spice jar rack, splash panel etc in the kitchen. Also, some particularly neat reading lights with USB portals over the cab seats, four coat hooks near the main door, and more.

A Thetford slimline 142-litre compressor fridge completes the kitchen facilities, You’ll note the oven (another option) sits on top of it, in what for most will be a too-high location.

There’s a little step up to the shower room, accessed via bi-folding doors, with proper plastic lining for its walls.

Across the corridor, it’s all very neat and functional in the toilet room, with a Thetford toilet and a fixed basin set at an angle to make the most of the available space. Storage includes a locker under the basin with a slot for toilet roll dispensing – another typical Hymer feature.

Cold foam mattresses are the star features of the beds in the Hymer T-Class S685. Both are 83cm wide, with the nearside, at 2.02m, some 7cm longer than the offside. Steps up provide the access, and both offer some storage in their bases (including a wardrobe).

A large wind-open sunroof overhead will provide lots of ventilation as well as sky-watching opportunities, while a Truma Combi D (for diesel) heating system should provide all the warmth you need… and you can upgrade this, too, should you wish.

To find out more about insuring a Hymer T-Class S  or your current motorhome visit our motorhome insurance discounts page.

Verdict: Hymer and Mercedes combine for a top act

Plus: Superior build quality – inside and out

Minus: The cost of all those extras!

In-a-nutshell: Your money for a lot

Alternatives: Adria Matrix Supreme MB 670 SL, Carthago Chic C-line T 4.9 LE, Knaus Van Ti Plus 650 MEG