Moto-Trek X-Cite G Elite: Success with a slide-out

An emergent British manufacturer, Moto-Trek only broke cover with its motorhomes some three years ago, but it has a long history of bespoke building of horseboxes, trailers and motorsport vehicles.

It currently operates from an impressive complex of factories in Holmfirth, Yorkshire, but plans are already in place for a motorhome dealer network too.

Meanwhile, selling mainly direct, it’s steadily grown its portfolio, which already covers a series of high-top van conversions, standard low-profile coachbuilts and – arguably the stars – two coachbuilts with slide-out sections under the X-Cite name. Here, we have the G (for garage) variant, with Elite specification. All models have full European Type Approval, too.

Already a big converter of Peugeot Boxer base vehicles, it’s the cab with Al-KO extension that provides the base here. If you want automatic transmission, it involves switching over to a Fiat Ducato.

Inside, there’s a choice of standard or gloss-finish furniture, but there’s a bit of mix and match available as Moto-Trek happily admits it’s still at the “bespoke” stage as far as catering for customers’ demands are concerned.

That furniture, however, is built local to Moto-Trek’s Yorkshire base and is exclusive to the company.

The X-Cite G floorplan sees a transverse double bed across the back. Such a configuration is very popular on mainland Europe, but its space-saving qualities – it also allows for the large garage storage area below – haven’t been quite so appreciated here in the UK. One challenge, for some folk, is accessing that bed. Once up here, you benefit from the extra support of Froli-type springs under the mattress, plus a padded headboard on the nearside.

Another option is the facility to make a double bed in the slide-out zone.

That lounge area is, of course, made all the roomier when you’re parked up on site and can really benefit from the slide-out. Both cab seats also swivel, so there’s plenty of seating as well as floor space.

The kitchen occupies the nearside directly opposite the lounge settee. A Daewoo microwave is among many upmarket stand fittings, complementing a Dometic cooker with three gas rings and a conventional grill/oven combination, with space for two handy drawers beneath.

A part-circular sink sits far enough away from the hob to insert a drainer, as needed. If you want more worktop, there’s an extension to the left of the cooker.

Again, Moto-Trek says it’s happy at the moment to “customise” the available storage space, depending on any preference you may have for shelving, or drawers rather than cupboards.

On the offside, the washroom includes a step-in shower area with wooden duckboarding and curtaining to three sides, a Dometic ceramic-bowl toilet and a fixed basin set over a cupboard.

There’s definitely a sturdy feel to all of the construction here. Those lockers have proper hinges and catches. There’s also a flat floor through from the cab to the rear bedroom. A wind-up sunroof over the cab helps light and ventilation to the lounge area, with LED spotlights also to hand at night time.

Despite the extra engineering work that goes into a slide-out and its mechanism, Moto-Trek have kept the maximum weight down to the all-important 3,500kg maximum, also endowing the X-Cite G Elite with a decent 481kg starting payload. The chassis can be upgraded to 3,850kg, but that’s an extra £480.

If that Elite starting price of £55,999 is too much, do note there’s the down-specc’d Classic, starting from £49,999. Also featuring in the example here is the Deluxe Pack Plus option. It includes a reversing camera, 16in TV/DVD player, colour-matched awning, 80Watt solar panel and tracking system – coming in at a £2,880 package that works out a whole lot cheaper than if each item were ordered individually.

As for rivals, well Moto-Trek pretty much has the British-made slide-out field to itself at the moment, unless you’re considering much larger and heavier vehicles costing tens of thousands of pounds more.

Verdict: Interesting and well-executed, from a company that’s one to watch in 2016

Plus: Space-creating slide-out, solid build qualities

Minus: Getting pricey in Elite format

In-a-nutshell: A British-built slide-out exclusive

There’s more information on the Moto-Trek ranges on the Moto-Trek website . To find out more about our low-cost premiums visit the motorhome insurance discounts page.

Alternatives: Thor Gemini 23TR