The Busy Outdoors Team get to play with the new, sleek Ace Airstream motorhome...

Being a family caravan owner, testing a motorhome designed for couples was something quite different but I feel this was an advantage being able to look at the Ace Airstream through fresh eyes.  I must admit that in the past I have not been a great fan of motorhomes as they were generally slow and lacked the facilities of a caravan considering how much these vans could cost.

We were given the Ace Airstream 630EK to try.  The EK just means "end kitchen" as is just one of four deratives in the 630 range.  Other styles include the EW - end washroom, the FB - fixed bed and the PR - rear dinette.  My initial impression when entering the motorhome for the first time was how very bright and airy the inside of the van felt.  This is very similar to Swift Sprite caravan range and is due to the light colouring of the Locarno Apple woodgrain furniture and also the very large-double glazed sunroof.  This light does make the motorhome feel much larger than it actually is but you do have to remember that this low-line chassis style is very much for couples only.

Driving the Ace Airstream is easy and the electrically adjustable wing mirrors give a good view of what is behind you.  This is handy as there will be vehicles behind you as the Fiat '100 Multijet' diesel is just adequate at 100bhp - anyway, we weren't in a rush!  There is an option for the '130 multijet' which gives you an extra 30bhp.  Although not a big motorhome, if you are at all worried about reversing, the extra 'Diamond' pack has a colour reversing camera with infra-red night vision amongst its extra fitments.

The end kitchen fitted to our test vehicle proved to be more than adequate and would be very familiar to anyone with experience of the Swift range of caravans.  There is plenty of storage considering the lack of physical space but we did find the lack of work surface a bit tedious when you have been accustomed to the space of a large caravan.  There is the usual Stoves dual power hob with one electric ring and three gas burners and oven with separate grill.  The electric ring is handy once on site power if you don't want to use up your gas supply.  Talking of gas, there is an exterior compartment capable of holding two 7kg gas bottles, more than sufficient for a couples' touring needs.  Our motorhome was fitted with a 107L Thetford fridge with dual energy capability; again more than enough space for a touring couple.

Water supply is from a 90L external tank and the waste discharges into the motorhome's 68L waste tank.  This was a new experience for us and reminds you that you need to access sites with motorhome servicing points if you want an easy life!

Now, a subject close to my partner's heart is bathrooms!  A priority, I think in motorhomes designed for independent couples is a decent washroom.  Bearing in mind that the kind of use that this van will be put to, it is essential that the creature comforts are looked after.  Quite often, this motorhome won't be parked on sites with washing facilities and having a separate shower is quite an advantage given that this isn't a big motorhome.  The end kitchen gives you this luxury along with the fixed bed model.

Heating is supplied from a gas and electric combi-boiler which also provides the hot water supply.  We didn't test this as the motorhome on test was brand new but I have no doubt that with the vans excellent insulation this would more than sufficient for a compact motorhome.  There is also a 110 amp leisure battery in an underfloor compartment to give 12v supplies when out in the wilds.  The control panel over the doorway gives control of whether the leisure or vehicle battery is utilised along with information for internal tank levels, heating controls and internal van temperature. 

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our brief try of this motorhome.  My initial thoughts regarding the speed of the vehicle were justified although it soon would become more natural travelling at this leisurely pace.  The design and fitments are a giant leap forward in motorhome design and the sleek exterior should help with fuel consumption.  Would I buy an Ace Airstream?  If there were just the two of us it would definately be a consideration and I can see the attraction of being self contained when out touring.