CHAUSSON X550 The French firm introduces a coachbuilt to rival campervans
Campervan or motorhome? This new model from Chausson aims to combine the best of both
It’s been a long time since I was this excited about testing a new ’van, but then the Chausson X550 isn’t just another new model. Like the original Hymer Exsis of 2003, Pilote Group’s CityVan in 2007 and the Bürstner Brevio in 2012, this is a leisure vehicle that aims to create a whole new category. Manufacturers have long dreamed of the holy grail – a campervan-sized vehicle with full motorhome facilities that could appeal to both camps – and, with campervan sales booming across Europe, now could be the perfect time to launch such a crossbreed, the Labradoodle of leisure vehicles.
Chausson certainly thinks it has combined the best of both types in its X550 – and added some funky design flourishes to boot. Technically, this is a low-profile motorhome with the usual sandwich construction of GRP skinned walls and Styrofoam insulation. It’s just a few issues of MMM (or 5cm) wider than a Fiat panel van and exactly the same length as the long-wheelbase Ducato, but you’ll never mistake this for a van conversion – or any other motorhome.
The cab is instantly recognisable as the ubiquitous Sevel light commercial but the bold black and white colour scheme with dark alloys and matching wheelarches has a hint of off-roader about it. The rear end’s styling is particularly brave and there’s definitely a sense that the X550 is chasing a younger audience than more traditional motorhomes.
It’s not just the looks that are new – the Chausson’s roof is a one-piece cap made from polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD), which is more usually seen in the construction of tractors, buses and trucks. The French firm believes that this is the material’s first use in a motorhome and points to advantages in terms of high impact resistance and stability in extreme temperatures.
Of course, it still features typical, err, features such as the offside toilet servicing hatch and the nearside gas locker ( for just one cylinder – you’ll use less propane because the heating is a diesel-fired blown-air system from Webasto). There’s no garage but a tall exterior locker (330mm by 760mm by 1.15m tall) on the left-hand side, above the back wheel, will serve for outdoor chairs and the like – or at least it will if you leave the bulky infill cushions for the lower bed at home. Oddly, though, considering the X550’s sporty looks and high-spec, there’s no external shower or barbecue point.
IT’S A CAMPERVAN!
Get behind the wheel (leatherwrapped as standard) and you’ll find a full complement of kit to match the
“It looks like no other motorhome, drives like a campervan and winner” costs under £60k Chausson has created a surefire
X550’s ‘Exclusive Line’ title. Cab air-conditioning, cruise control, driver and passenger airbags, electric folding mirrors, Hill Holder and Traction+ are all included in the £58k list price. There’s an Xzent DAB radio with 8in touchscreen, too, and its display doubles up for the reversing camera.
That makes going backwards easy, while going forwards is equally painless. The door mirrors are on the shorter arms of a panel van, so don’t increase the vehicle’s width like running with your arms spread wide. In fact, in almost every way, this feels much more like a campervan to drive than a motorhome and I was oh-sograteful for that when I ventured onto the single-track roads around the Bolton Abbey Caravan and Motorhome Club site.
Before that, I was equally pleased that someone at Chausson had specified this pre-production model with the Automatic Pack – that’s stop/ start, a smart alternator, an upgrade from 140 to 160bhp and the ninespeed torque converter transmission. At almost £4,500, it’s an eye-wateringly expensive option but one that I’d have with no more than a millisecond’s mulling over. The combination of the excellent automatic gearbox and the extra torque (400Nm plays 350Nm) make for a relaxing drive, whether you’re heading up the A1 or bumbling around the Dales.
I’d be far less bothered by the only other listed option for the X550 – the Safety Pack. This costs £1,341 and adds automatic lights and wipers, traffic sign recognition and a lane keeping alert. There are no other factory options, although you might want your dealer to add an awning or bike rack when you get your X550 – which probably won’t be until late this year, at the earliest.
IT’S A MOTORHOME!
Open the habitation door (on the offside, like most imported ’vans, and with a low step and central locking, as well as a bin and flyscreen) and you’ll soon change your mind about this being a campervan. The flat side walls, the sense of space and the facilities on offer all point to this being a proper motorhome. The loss of 20 to 25cm or so of width compared with conventional coachbuilts, which seemed so important on the road, now seems barely noticeable.
You can thank Chausson’s proven Smart Lounge for that. Its long side settees, combined with a table that folds to a slither and white walls to reflect the light, make you wonder if you misread the spec. Can this really be a 5.99m ’van?
Yes, not only is it ferry-friendly, but it has some unique touches, too. I love the circular ceiling light and the ➤