Etrusco CV 600 DB Type X

Classic continental layout with a competitive price

NOT long ago, a £60,000 campervan wouldn’t have been considered a budget model. But that’s the reality now. So, when a good deal comes along, you need to be quick off the mark. That was the case with this new Etrusco, which had been reserved by a customer less than 24 hours after arriving at the dealer, Choose Leisure. Some of that buyer’s enthusiasm will have been down to cost. The CV 600 DB starts at £52,600, with this spec’d-up version coming in at £62,450, including the Complete Package. Outside, it’s Campovolo Grey with a colourcoded front bumper and black grille. Like many European ’vans, the sliding side door is on the offside, while the Complete Package adds an electric step, as well as alloy wheels and a Thule awning. At the back, the barn doors give access to a generous under-bed garage, measuring 135cm by 90cm, and 67cm high. It features four eyelets to keep items lashed down and you can remove the dividing panel between the garage and the living area to store longer gear, like kayaks or surfboards. Inside, the Etrusco is typical of the tried-andtested transverse fixed bed design, popular both on the Continent and in the UK. Swivel cab seats, a half-dinette and an extendable table make up the lounge, and, as befits this campervan’s Italian origins, the upholstery is a stylish light-coloured fabric/leather combination with the addition of Type X embroidery on the cab head restraints. The pale décor helps create a bright ambience, with assistance from the rooflight above, but there’s no overcab sunroof or full-height walkthrough into the cab. Instead, the Etrusco retains the older style of open overcab shelf. This is a two-berth but with additional belted travel seats. If you want extra berths, too, a poptop roof incorporating a double bed costs £4,600. Downstairs, the transverse bed has a high

quality mattress and slatted frame. The bed lifts to give access to the garage and the 100-litre fresh water tank. There’s a large window stretching the full length of one side of the bedroom and both rear doors have opening windows. There are overhead lockers on each side of the sleeping area, so you won’t be able to sit up in bed. Below the overhead lockers, however, there are small spotlights that can be easily moved to positions that suit you best. Forward of the bedroom, you’ll find the washroom and kitchen on either side of a narrow aisle. And, when we say narrow, we do mean narrow – if you’re of, ahem, ample proportions, you will find it a bit of a squeeze.

On the other hand, the washroom s a lot more spacious than you might expect. This is a goodsized space, even for someone of my size. There’s plenty of room around the cassette toilet, loads of cupboard space and a good-sized worktop alongside the corner basin. There are recessed LED spotlights and a frosted opening window, too. The showerhead extends out from the washbasin tap and fits in a holder, and there’s a wooden duckboard. The only downside is the rather clingy shower curtain. Opposite the washroom is the galley, with a simple two-burner hob but no oven or grill. Alongside the hob is a generous worktop, considerably bigger than you’d expect in a ’van like this. Below the counter are a couple of mains sockets and under those are a large drawer and two cupboards. Directly above the kitchen is a utilities rail and above that a large overhead locker. Overall, storage is pretty decent throughout. The 84-litre Theford fridge is a compressor model and it faces forward at the end of the kitchen unit, so it’s easily accessible from outside as well as inside.