Best used motorhomes - Practical Motorhome (2024)

Buying a pre-owned ‘van can present you with a great way of entering the world of motorhomes or upgrading your current vehicle at a more reasonable price. Yet the sheer quantity of models on the market over the years can make it a daunting prospect to know how to go about choosing the best used motorhome.

That’s where we come in. We’ve been testing and reviewing motorhomes for over 20 years and have taken a look through our archives to find the vehicles from recent years that have really impressed us. If you’re after a camper instead, don’t miss our best used campervan guide either to see our favourite pre-owned options out there.

How do I choose the best used motorhome for me?

Buying a pre-owned motorhome is a great way of getting a high-end touring experience at a more affordable price.

When you’re thinking about the type of model to choose, it’s important to consider how you’ll be using it – where will you be going and how many of you will be touring in it? Is it going to be for family adventures, or will it be used as a base for couples?

Once you’ve had a think about this, take a look at the numerous motorhome layouts that are available, to help you find the layout that works best for you.

You can also take a look at the models that made it onto our best motorhome round-up, to see our top picks on the market this year.

What are the best used motorhomes?

Swift Edge 486

• Year: 2020
• Berths: 6
• MTPLM: 3500kg
• Payload:509kg
• Shipping length: 7.32m
• Width: 2.39m

Reasons to buy:

• Plenty of kitchen workspace
• Nicely zoned

Reasons to avoid:

• No separate shower cubicle

When you’re looking for the best used motorhome, one of our previous Motorhome of the Year winners is always going to be a good place to start. The 2020 recipient of the best family motorhomeis a case in point.

The Edge 486 really impressed us when we saw it – we particularly appreciated its practical floorplan, which should ensure everyone has plenty of space while you’re on the road.

When we put the ‘van to the test, we thought the rear lounge was great – it’s a good size, with windows allowing plenty of natural light to flood in. The seats are also a comfortable place to sit back in.

Motorhome cooking will also be a simple and pleasant affair – there’s plenty of work surface, while a foldaway flap is on hand to provide more. You’ll also find a Dometic 8 series manual energy fridge, combination thermostatic oven, three-burner gas hob and a grill.

We also think the washroom is more than adequate – while there’s no separate shower cubicle, you still get a towel shelf, along with a handbasin with storage beneath.

Three double beds are on offer – one is in the rear lounge, another in the double dinette, and the final in the overcab area.

Review: Swift Edge 486

Bailey Advance 66-2

• Year: 2018
• Berths: 2
• MTPLM: 3500kg
• Payload: 800kg
• Shipping length: 6.59m
• Width: 2.28m

Reasons to buy:

• Spacious lounge
• Good spec
• Great payload and storage

Reasons to avoid:

• Compact kitchen

When we saw this Bailey model, we were very impressed.

A low step up and into the accommodation area means you are unlikely to need a portable step, and once inside, we found plenty of room to relax, in what is a well-lit space, thanks to the rooflight.

The offside kitchen may not be the biggest, but the work surface can be extended with a pull-up flap. As well as this, there’s a 95-litre fridge, Thetford combined oven and grill, three-burner hob and a microwave – more than adequate for rustling up an on-tour feast.

The washroom can be found at the rear of the ‘van. There’s plenty of room to dress in, along with a half-height wardrobe, while there’s also a separate shower cubicle, which we found well-lit, courtesy of a skylight.

The two-berth has a comfortable double bed in the lounge – it’s 6’1″ when it’s made up.

We were impressed with the payload – 800kg should ensure the two of you have more than enough room to take your favourite touring accessories with you, even if you’re planning a longer tour. As a result, you will not be surprised to hear there is plenty of storage throughout the ‘van.

Review: Bailey Advance 66-2

Hymer B-Class M CT 600

• Year: 2020
• Berths:2
• MTPLM:3500kg
• Shipping length:7.19m
• Width:2,19m

Reasons to buy:

• Excellent build quality
• Bench toilet

Reasons to avoid:

• Lounge could be a bit limited
• Headroom could be better for the single beds

A look at this Hymer makes it easy to see how the brand was voted the best manufacturer: pre-owned motorhome at our Owner Satisfaction Awards. The ‘van has an excellent build quality and comes with a typically Continental lounge, combining a settee, inward-facing single seat and swivel cab seats. These all sit around a fixed pedestal-leg table, fully adjustable for further convenience.

We found the kitchen a very impressive space – it really makes the most of the space, including a full-Spinflo cooker (an option), along with storage, hooks and lower-level drawers. We like how the sink cover can be used as a splashback and chopping board, while we also think the 142-litre Thetford fridge (complete with freezer compartment) is a welcome addition to touring life.

The washroom is similar to the kitchen in our opinion, in that it cleverly uses the space available. Having a bench toilet is useful; it’s easy to clean. The shower cubicle faces it; we thought it an odd shape, but like that it helps it to make the most of the available room.

The single beds come with superior cold-foam mattresses – we felt they provided good support and ventilation. A plastic tray is between the beds, but you’ll struggle to sit upright in it.

When it comes to storage, we liked the presence of a wardrobe on the nearside and a cupboard on the offside.

Review: Hymer B-Class M CT 600

Marquis Majestic 196

• Year: 2018
• Berths: 6
• MTPLM: 3500kg
• Payload: 508kg
• Shipping length: 7.34m
• Width: 2.69m

Reasons to buy:

• Great rear lounge

Reasons to avoid:

• Cramped washroom with no separate shower

When we saw the Marquis Majestic 196, we were impressed by the levels of comfort and performance on offer in this ‘van – we considered it “above-basic”. The lounge area is decent, although taller people, take note to watch out for the drop-down bed which is found above the front dinette. As a result, there’s only head room of 1.78m in this part of the ‘van.

A sunroof makes up for the lack of rooflight, while night-time lighting is also decent, thanks to three LED lights beneath the dropdown bed, four spots and also ambient lighting.

Throughout the ‘van, there are six mains sockets, one of which is discreetly hidden high up. We found the side sofa to be a good size, although we should point out that we thought the clip-on table was fairly small.

The rear lounge – where headroom increases to 1.97m – is impressive, and comes with a foldaway table. It’s another nicely lit part of the motorhome – large windows are found on three sides, while a bright rooflight is also provided. If you’re planning to take a television on tour with you – and be sure to take a look at our guide to the best motorhome TVs if you’re after one – it’s worth bearing mind that we found you could only watch it comfortably if you were on the opposite side to the TV sockets.

The kitchen (where headroom increases to 2.06m) is found at the centre of the ‘van. A dual-fuel four-burner hob is provided, as is a work surface that is ideal for flexing your culinary skills. There’s also an 85-litre three-way fridge, along with an oven, separate grill and pan locker.

There’s a step into the entrance of the washroom – something we found irritating. No separate shower cubicle is provided either, with a curtain used instead to shut off the area.

Something we really liked in this ‘van are the sleeping arrangements. A comfortable double bed is made in the rear lounge by pulling the two sofas together, and then using a thin infill cushion – this area can then be closed off by using two plastic concertina partitions. We also liked that no cushions needed to be taken out of the lounge before you lower the drop-down bed – although we found we needed to use the supplied ladder to climb into it, due to the bed being a bit higher than it is in other motorhomes.

A third double bed is in the front lounge, made by lowering the dining table and adding one large and one thin infill cushion.

Review: Marquis Majestic 196

Roller Team Pegaso 590

• Year: 2019
• Berths: 4
• MTPLM: 3500kg
• Shipping length: 5.99m
• Width: 2.35m

Reasons to buy:

• Roomy lounge

Reasons to avoid:

• Second double bed is an effort to make up

Coming in at only 5.99m, this A-class from Roller Team proved to be an attractive ‘van when Peter Baber reviewed it. We liked the clever design on display throughout the vehicle.

Stepping up into the front lounge presents you with a huge lounge, which we found incredibly roomy. We liked the presence of the large pedestal table – flexibility is provided as it can be moved around.

We think you’d be able to seat eight in here comfortably, when taking into account the L-shaped sofa, side sofa and swivelled cab seats – although a note of caution; the sideways-facing part of the L-shaped sofa is probably not ideal for taller people, due to the housing of the blinds that means sitting back can be uncomfortable.

A mains socket and USB socket can be found in here, while a TV bracket slides out, offering a good viewing experience for all but those sitting in the travel seats.

There are no spotlights here, but you do get a light under the drop-down bed, while there’s also another situated by the rooflight.

There’s some good workspace provided in the L-shaped kitchen, which also incorporates three gas burners and a Thetford Duplex oven

A 142-litre fridge, complete with removable freezer, is another welcome addition.

Two overhead lockers on the offside are ideally situated for kitchen use and in our opinion, would be perfect for storing food. However, finding somewhere for large pans could be trickier. While a pull-out basket shelf beneath the sink could hold medium-sized pots, it’s likely you’d have to stack frying pans in the space next to this.

We liked that the washroom provides privacy, thanks to the separate lock. It’s a roomy interior, well-lit and with an opaque window.

A large mirror is behind the handbasin, while the offside shower cubicle is large and includes two drainage holes, so water can easily flow out.

We thought the drop-down bed was incredibly comfortable – it can be accessed via a small ladder, and the inclusion of a light means you can read.

The other two berths come from lowering the pedestal table and then “aligning it with the L-shaped sofa” – this was something our reviewer found to be complicated, and the fact that you need to retrieve an extension from the washroom’s wardrobe to make it a double adds to that.

Making this double up would actually make it harder to reach the ladder to access the drop-down bed too.

We really liked the clever design of this A-class though – it looks great, and is sure to provide a comfortable base for two, with the option of having the occasional guest stay.

Review: Roller Team Pegaso 590

Auto-Trail Frontier Scout Hi-Line

• Year: 2017
• Berths: 6
• MTPLM: 4500kg
• MiRO:
• Payload:
• Shipping length: 8.04m
• Width: 2.77m

Reasons to buy:

• Excellent rear lounge
• Well-equipped

Reasons to avoid:

• Limited kitchen worktop space
• Rear locker not big enough for bikes

We thought this Auto-Trail model combined stylish design with comfort to offer a good base for touring and make it a worthy addition to our best used motorhome round-up.

Lighting is always important in your ‘van, and it isn’t going to be an issue in the front lounge of this model, thanks to the rooflight, Omnivent, two spotlights and a striplight. The rear lounge is similarly bright, with another rooflight and four spotlights on offer – we did think one would be obscured if you decided to use the TV bracket in the nearside front corner though.

The kitchen has a large sink with drainer and a four-burner dual-fuel hob – something we always like to see – although you’ll find the area between these two is the only workspace provided. A 175-litre Dometic fridge is a great addition, while there’s a microwave, oven and grill, along with a sensibly sized condiment shelf.

There’s a step leading into the washroom. In here, you’ll find a large shower, a small washbasin and a nicely racked cupboard – the lit mirror in front of it is similarly welcome. A screened rooflight provides the lighting here.

This Auto-Trail has a generous rear double bed (6’8″ x 6’4″) which can alternatively be used as two singles (6’4″ x 2’3″). As well as this, there’s the front double which is 6’3″ x 3’4″, and the overcab which is 6’2″ x 4’0″. The latter doesn’t have a side window, but despite this, we didn’t find it claustrophobic.

If you want to cycle on tour, the rear locker probably isn’t big enough to take bikes.

Review: Auto-Trail Frontier Scout Hi-Line

Adria Sonic Supreme I 710 SL

• Year: 2016
• Berths: 4
• MTPLM: 3500kg
• Payload: 340kg
• Shipping length: 7.4m
• Width:2.32m

Reasons to buy:

• Long beds
• Heated garage

Reasons to avoid:

• Only 340kg payload

We thought the lounge of this Adria model was made for socialising – you could easily fit five adults in, six if you use the false seat behind the passenger.

A lounge table – rectangular in size – is found on a sturdy leg, and is easy to move. It’s a well-lit area, thanks to the nearside window and skylight – you also have the option of turning to ambient lighting too.

On the nearside, you’ll find the L-shaped kitchen. While we found it to be small in size, it provides a good spec. This includes a 150-litre fridge, a combination oven and grill, a trio of gas burners and an extractor fan.

We really liked the washroom in this Adria model – it’s full specified. On the nearside, you’ll find a shower compartment, while the offside houses a toilet and vanity unit. By securing the toilet door to the door frame by the kitchen, you can also close off the bedroom area for some privacy.

This four-berth has a drop-down double (6’3″ x 4’11”), along with two rear singles, both (6’6″ / 6’2″ x 2’9″).

We found storage to be very good in the motorhome – the large heated rear garage is accessible from either side, and offers headroom for taller items, such as bicycles. Internally, nine overhead lockers can be found, along with a wardrobe and cupboards located beneath the single beds. A neat touch is the lined compartment on the nearside, which is ideal for placing wet items.

Review: Adria Sonic Supreme I 710 SL

Adria Coral Axess 600 SL

• Year: 2020
• Berth: 3
• MiRO: 2923kg
• Payload: 577kg
• MTPLM: 3500kg
• Shipping length: 6.99m
• Width: 2.30m

Reasons to buy:

• Good payload
• Huge garage
• Incredibly comfortable beds

Reasons to avoid:

• No separate shower cubicle
• Kitchen could be too small for some

We found this motorhome “very easy to like” when we reviewed it.

Seating includes belted dinette seats, along with a side-facing sofa and cab seats. It’s worth noting that due to safety constraints with the belts, the front-facing seats are stationary.

If you’re planning to watch TV on tour, we found the cab seats will provide the best viewing experience. Something we like is that regardless of where you sit, you can still easily reach a plug socket to charge a device – there’s one behind every passenger seat, while a double USB point sits below the lockers.

All-in-all, it’s a bright area, with panoramic windows accompanied by a side window.

We’d be inclined to say this is a motorhome that is ideal for couples – the third berth is a narrow bed, only really suited to a smaller child. It’s situated between the two singles, which are both a generous 2.03m in length.

We admit that the kitchen isn’t the biggest, but we still found it more than adequate for cooking. There’s a three-gas-burner hob, a smart dark grey work surface, and a Thetford oven and grill, while a sizeable locker is perfect for storing heavier items. There’s also a 142-litre fridge, along with a small spice rack.

The washroom is similar to the kitchen – it’s not the largest, but, considering its size, we think it does a great job. Found in the centre of the ‘van, it comes with a swivelling Thetford cassette toilet has an electric flush, along with a white basin. The shower is cleverly arranged too; the wall swings towards the toilet, essentially giving you a separate cubicle. However, the floor is shared, so watch out for wet feet while the water drains away.

It’s the garage that is one of our favourite parts of the ‘van – the double doors provide easy access, and it can hold up to 150kg.

Review: Adria Coral Axess 600 SL

Swift Escape 604

• Year: 2018
• Berths: 4
• MTPLM: 3500kg
• MiRO: 2854kg
• Payload: 646kg
• Shipping length: 5.97m
• Width: 2.31m

Reasons to buy:

• Good storage for a compact ‘van
• Comfortable front lounge
• Separate shower

Reasons to avoid:

• Kitchen could be too compact for some

We always love to see a spacious lounge in a motorhome, and it’s something that we were impressed to see in this stylish coachbuilt. The swivel cab seats could comfortably seat up to six, with everyone able to reach the single-leg table in the centre.

This table has a heavy top, but it’s in two sections to make it more practical for use.

If you’re touring as a couple, you may decide you prefer sitting in the cab seats – we found this a great location for watching TV, which can go in a bracket above the seats.

Staying warm will not be an issue either, thanks to the Trim Combi 4 boiler, found on the nearside.

The lounge windows have concertina blinds that pull upwards – a welcome touch, we thought, as it allowed the blinds to be opened in the morning, without running the risk of losing privacy.

We also thought the headroom was good, despite the bed being in the roof.

The kitchen sees a bit of compromise – there’s always going to be one somewhere in a compact ‘van. Despite this, we thought the area works well. An extension flap compensates for the lack of work surface, while you have the additional flexibility of placing the drainer/chopping board over the 36cm, cream-coloured sink – ideal for getting more room. A combined Thetford oven and grill, along with a three-burner gas hob, is welcome, as is a 138-litre Dometic slimline fridge, complete with removable freezer compartment.

The rear washroom has an angled door, ensuring space is maximised and providing good room, considering the size of the motorhome. We thought the ‘spec was decent too – a Thetford swivelling cassette toilet with electric flush, along with a deep basin. A separate shower cubicle is also provided. It’s nice to have, as you don’t often see them in a compact motorhome – we feel it’s a reasonable size too.

We will point out there’s no shelf for toiletries, and only a single plughole, but overall, it’s a good space.

This model is typically going to be for couples touring alone – although we like the flexibility provided by having the option of an additional two berths. The lounge bed actually isn’t bad – you get 80cm of headroom, even when the drop-down bed is being used. The latter is impressive – we found it easy to operate, despite not being electrically operated. You’ll likely need to use the supplied ladder to reach it though, as it’s 133cm above the floor.

Internal storage is excellent throughout this motorhome, with 646kg of payload on hand. However, we thought the exterior storage could be improved, with only a single locker – it’s not the biggest, but we’d say it’s suitable for holding any boots and your hook-up cable.

Review: Swift Escape 604

How did we choose the best used motorhomes?

The team at Practical Motorhome are constantly testing ‘vans, and have been since we launched in 2001. You can find hundreds of our motorhome reviews on our website – and we’re adding more all the time. Each of these provides an unbiased opinion of the vehicles we’re looking at, making sure you know the pros and the cons of each one.

You can find out more about our testing process on our About Us page.

When we compiled our list of the best used motorhomes, we looked through our reviews section to highlight the ‘vans that had really stood out to us when we saw them and combined it with the above. The list includes models from some of biggest brands out there, including Adria, Bailey and Carthago – you can find out more about these brands by taking a look at our guide to the best motorhome manufacturers.

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