Top of the pops?

Nick Harding takes a look at a new entry in the motorhome charts – a coachbuilt with a pop-top roof…

In standard format, Auto-Trail’s Excel 620G is an attractive slimline coachbuilt for two (potentially three if you are prepared to convert the front seating) – but what if you want to tour as four? Enter the 620G Pop-Top, which boasts a second double bed in its rising roof (and costs an extra £5,450). Our test model mirrors nearly every Excel sold to date in having the ‘Lux’ and ‘Drivers’ packs – options at £1,578 and £1,975, respectively – which improve both luxury and safety. Although cab blinds (£680), black alloy wheels (£995) and Avtex Smart TV system (£420) also feature on our test model, you could have an Excel 620G Pop-Top on the road for £70,824.

Build quality – 80%

At 7ft 4in (2.24m) wide, the Excel’s tough, all-GRP bodywork is narrower than the norm, making it easier to manoeuvre and take down country lanes than others of its ilk. The roomy rear garage, accessible from both sides, houses a switched striplight, mains socket and blown-air outlet, plus some handy shelving. Lashing points are an obvious omission, although if you want to transport bikes there are fixing points for a rack on the rear exterior wall. Five-year bodywork and habitation warranties give peace of mind.

Driving – 80%

Having now driven two Excels, covering over 300 miles in each, I can say there’s very little to choose between the standard 130bhp Ford Transit engine and the 165bhp version here – aside from a £1,200 premium for the more powerful lump. There is plenty of oomph and cruising speeds are achieved with minimal effort. I would pay the extra £1,860 to upgrade to auto transmission, though. According to Ford’s on-board computer, the Excel returned 29mpg for the duration of the test. I fully expect owners to better this. 

The cab is a particularly modern environment. Seats offer plenty of support and adjustment, there is lots of handy storage, the handbrake is electronic and steering wheel controls are super convenient. You can ignore the Xzent infotainment system fitted to our test model – latest Excels get Ford’s own, rather superior, fitting.

Daytime – 74%

The 620G sports a layout popular on the Continent – front lounge followed by kitchen and washroom amidships, with a fixed transverse double bed over a garage at the rear.

It’s not the most spacious of lounges – especially if you’re considering this as a four-berth. A further criticism here is the small table; it would really benefit from an extension. Also, the pop-top means the lounge lacks the type of rooflight that lets in a lot of daylight, though the cab’s opening sunroof and a fixed window in the habitation door help counter this to some degree. Heating and hot water systems are from Whale.

Night-time – 77%

An elevating roof in a coachbuilt is an intriguing idea. An advantage in this Excel is that you can still utilise the lounge even when all the beds are in use, although the folding ladder that gives access to the pop-top bed does impinge movement through the living quarters.  The main bed is the 6ft 4in x 4ft 3in (1.94m x 1.30m) transverse fixed double. A little annoyingly, the clip-on metal ladder used to step up to this bed obstructs the fridge, washroom, and even the wardrobe, when in situ. The mattress is on a solid base and there’s a headboard on the offside, along with short-stalked reading lights with USB portals and a couple of useful netted storage pockets. All but the very tallest will be able to sit up in bed, and there’s a TV holder here if you don’t fancy reading.

Other bedroom storage extends to three lockers along the back wall and some open shelving over the window. Under the bed is a large, double-doored wardrobe, with shelves on the left. A slim locker between the bed and the washroom houses the table while travelling.

If anything, the 6ft 3in x 3ft 11in (1.90m x 1.20m) roof bed is even more comfortable, thanks to its sprung slatted base and one-piece mattress. The zipped mesh panels give good ventilation while twin individually-switched reading lights and recesses at the front on both sides for the likes of spectacles, glasses of water, etc, are very handy.

Kitchen – 69%

Set along the nearside wall, chef’s facilities include a Thetford Triplex cooker (three gas burners plus a combined oven and grill) with an inset stainless steel sink and loose cover adjacent. Overhead is an 800W microwave oven. Storage includes a drawer under the sink with slide-out cutlery tray, a side-hinged locker under the oven, plus a metal shelf/spice rack with a single hook to the left of the hob. A flip-up worktop extension aids in meal preparation.

The Thetford slimline fridge-freezer has a 142 litre capacity, its night time-setting keeping it that bit quieter when you don’t want to be disturbed.

Washroom – 71%

A solid door opens onto a plastic-lined area with curtaining for showering. The tap that serves the tiny-but-deep handbasin is extendable so doubles as your showerhead. Its trigger operation means you can save on the amount of water you use.

With space at something of a premium, it’s no surprise to find a swivel-bowl toilet, but you do still get a window,  high-level locker, large mirror beyond the basin and a couple of metal shelves.

Details – 67%

Like all Excels, there’s a choice of cab colours – this ‘Chrome Blue’ is the current favourite. There are concertina blinds and flyscreens to all windows, while you get a waste bin in the habitation door, plus an umbrella holder and a small pocket. Upper lockers have concealed catches, while the single overhead locker in the lounge is divided and shelved.

There is a slight lack of lighting in the lounge – it does get a single reading lamp, plus direct and ambient lighting, but reading lights over the swivelled cab seats would have helped, as would a mains socket anywhere in the lounge area.

The gas locker is over the rear offside axle with space for two 6kg cylinders. And you’ll like the slide-open dump valve for grey water disposal.

Verdict – 74%

Although the Excel 620G potentially works better as a two-berth, this innovative variant could prove a hit.