Review of the amazing new motorhome that thinks it is a campervan - the Chausson X550 (2021)
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- čas přidán 14. 06. 2021
- In this video we review in detail the amazing new motorhome that thinks it is a campervan from French manufacturer, Chausson. This is the X550, which aims to give buyers the best of the campervan world combined with the best of the motorhome world in one compact model.
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◼️ REVIEWED BY: Peter Vaughan, Group Motorhome Road Test Editor for MMM magazine and What Motorhome magazine Editor. Peter has been writing about motorhomes since the age of 14, has a love of touring France and is mad about old Italian sports cars.
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◼️ WHAT MOTORHOME MAGAZINE motorhome.ma/whipocketmags Our team of experts also produce What Motorhome magazine, which is packed every month with detailed information on new motorhomes and campervans, as well as expert buying advice and tips to help you find the right motorhome for you.
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I love how they decided against putting in windows on the right side so they can put up a small circular pinboard. Very clever. Honestly - who would want a window when he can have a pinboard...!!!
:D
The reason the constructor gives is that the bed is too long for the tickness of a window on that side. Personally I would rather have a shorter bed and a window.
I'm sure u could retro fit a window there with it honestly it's got everything you'd want, this is the van I'm buying there's only me and my pup .
Don't forget the mirror 😀
sarcasm at its finest ... well done sir!
Yep it looks like a senior citizen's van. Lovely.
LMAO ;D))) hey its def NOT cool enough for a senior citizen
I'm American. But, I will always repeat over and over until I die that the European products including RVs impress me much more than our boring products. Europeans have taste. They don't just copy what Americans do. Their RVs are stunning inside and out and even before I clicked on this video, I knew that I would love this RV. I was not disappointed. Good on you Europe and good on you England !!
I like the way he told it as it is. Love it.
Stunning van! Only problem I see is you could be a target for bank robbers, am I the only one who thinks this looks like a security van 😂
It does!
When I get mine 2 years they'll have windows both sides and be wrapped in a welsh flag perfect 2 person van
@@philipevans1027 lol 😂 🏴❤️
converted ambulance!😂
I wish the us manufacturers would build something like this at that price
I agree, and the price point iscreasonable...
I missed the pricing-how much are they asking?
I agree, awesome for the US market...
I think he said 15000
@@EvanWharton 3:12 58 grand, 58,000.
❤️ best I have seen so far. Why can't American companies do this?
Me too! I would love to have one. It's probably on a Mercedes chassis.
+ The drop down bed in a B+ is great!
+ I'd feel very comfortable driving it myself.
- kitchen is very small
Any solar? He mentioned the engine and eco drive/ power drive function, but I'd like to see a rack for bikes and some storage, maybe a roof rack.
They do. See Leisure Travel Vans.
@@robertd9850 Those are very expensive. This one isn't.
@@pattyolson3842 Very expensive is relative. I can afford both.
Americans wouldn’t fit through the door 🍔🍟
Thank you for a very helpful video, watched several of yours. Having a mid life crisis and deciding to retire soon after a dreadful set of events in my wife’s family and try and enjoy ourselves. Haven’t got a clue what to get so your reviews and knowledge have been superb! Brilliant
Thank you. Hope you find the right 'van soon and can get out on the road to enjoy yourselves
stay strong my friend, to all of us at some point in life things really go down the hill but life is full of ups and down the difference is how you manage to take it.
It's the most intelligent and beautiful motorhome I've ever seen. I wish I lived in one of these.
That bed dropping right down is brilliant.
I often think that some of those fancy horse boxes are more attractive that typical the typical white coach built, so here is one that looks like a horse box. Great looking inside and out and the washroom is great too. A real practical alternative to a PVC.
Motorhome with this size and width, it's the best layout ever... Love from India
Love the honesty in your reviews 😁👍🏼
An excellent review, thank you. One thing nobody seems to be mentioning here is your taking the time and trouble to respond to so many comments. IMO that's a rather rare but very laudable thing to see so, again, many thanks for that!
Wow! What a nice van. Here in the USA we have so many single nomads and couple with no kids doing the RV thing. As a single traveler I'd like to see something that makes better use of the space this dedicates to seating, like having a larger door. The size of this is perfect. I don't see an awning, which is something we Americans have grown to expect. In any case, what a nice RV! Thanks for bringing this to us!
Recent subscriber, really enjoying this channel. Thank you Peter.
Glad you like it. Don't forget to subscribe!
best washroom for a camper van of this size I have seen so far
Seen the review , found a dealer with 1 to look at, made my mind up , it's the best 6 metre van I have looked at by a mile. Ordered and collect early 2022. Thanks for a great review..
You're a lucky man. Great that you found a dealer with one for sale - I believe they're selling fast. Enjoy!
glad to see a design where the bathroom is actually practical
A great piece of kit, will consider it for an upgrade.
Brilliant little van, hats off to those Frenchies for their ongoing innovation, it’s on my list, great video review as usual Peter
you can count on Chausson to come up with something different and clever!
Totally agreed. I have a van but this has the space of a 7 meter motorhome and almost the same practicality of a van conversion.
One of the best I,ve seen
That is the most optimistic review I've ever seen of a micro camper. The ceiling bed is great, the fridge and the bath is awesome. everything else is just tons of bad compromizes
I have to disagree. The beds are fine if your 5ft 4 inches tall but not near long enough if your 6 ft or above.
The guy doing the review never laid down and there was a pillow on the bed which takes up a foot of the length.
That shower wasn't big enough to turn around in. That camper might have been ok for a weekend but would not be
good enough for a two week or longer trip. Not near enough water. 100 liters is only 26 gallons for toilet, cooking, and shower.
My credentials: 12 years of boondocking. 44 years of tent camping.
@@stevewainwright3344 Agree. There didn't seem to be any serious amount of storage either ... for clothes, & equipment ... Just a short trip van really.
We own a WildAx Pulsar. All singing and dancing in 5 metres! We love it!!!
@@stevewainwright3344 beds are 1.93cm that’s more than 6ft. Shower definitely has enough space to turn around.
Can you expand on the compromises?
that wardrobe door and area is some magic trick.
I love the knowledge and honesty shared. Hate the sloppy shade, moves too much. Art on side wall looks cheap
Very comprehensive videos! Love em!
Glad you enjoy them
Needs that other window instead of the "blank" wall. It really does!
It would be a deal breaker for me if this model would be available in Canada. It must be because of strenght and stability issues.
Just feels unbalanced with only one window , its awful
Great review Peter your videos have helped tremendously with our shortlisting. We went to see this one, agree with all the comments on the missing window but was more bothered by my head almost scraping the bottom of the drop down bed, I am 6 foot. ended up reserving a pilote 626d again thanks to your video, a bit bigger around but felt far more spacious
Enjoy your Pilote! That's another great compact 'van.
Great review and great camperhome ! Typically Chausson innovation that puts them way ahead of the completion and it feels like a 2022 van
Interesting compromise between a coach build and a PVC... and the length compromise also. I think the lounge and bathroom accommodation look amazing. Although the compromise of loosing storage with 4 belted passengers is a bit annoying. Kitchen looked fine apart from the work surface being quite limited. My biggest gripe would be transverse sleeping arrangements... and the tight squeeze to get out the door if the bed is down. If they did a 6.36m version of this with forwards to rear sleeping and better door access I'd be interested.
Much better exterior design than we have in the States where we have swooshes and stripes. I have no idea where those designers get their ideas.
If this was a US rig you'd b lucky to get this rig
Buy something else then 🙄
Correct....it seems RVs in the US are basically geared, marketed to retired Boomers with very inflated prices.
What a brilliant motorhome ,!
Just seen this in the flesh.
Highbridge caravans centre,
Somerset
TA9 4EX
love the inside and still think outside OK, not so keen now I've seen it. The bed is fantastic and large wash room, nice and modern but for me no where for my bike. As only me.
Wow cool ❤️❤️ I want this camper❤️❤️❤️thanks for uploading 👍👍❤️
Thanks for watching!
The changing room idea is very nice
One of the best reviews ever
Thank you!
Very nice, I love the dropdown bed. I would opt for a window rather than artwork, but I do love something a little bit different than the norm, could do with a little more worktop in the kitchen. Fridge and bathroom excellent.😀
nah get rid of that shite pinboard and slap a 50" tele there
I think the windows will Interfere the bed
The gold standard in motorhome and campervan reviews, thanks Peter.
As you said yourself, the lack of window for the offside passenger is a major no, and needs sorting in production. Overall a nice van, but I will stick to my lovely California Coast for now !
New Subscriber. In Love with this Camper van
Thanks for subscribing. Hope you enjoy the videos
Going to view one at Lowdhams this week. Very interesting concept but I definitely think the dartboard and mirror should be replaced with a window!
I know Lowdhams have sold some already. It seems to be going down well with customers
Even if they didn’t change it, it would be massively tempting to get the jigsaw out 😀
Horse box
@@andrewjohnston9115 I am certain you could fix a window in there. The wall is only aluminium/foam/plywood. I expect there will be converters in sheds on industrial estates who will be doing it.
@@gasgas2689 how much would something like that cost? Seems risky
I really like the size of the fringe. And the bathroom shower
Nice looking van wish I could afford one
Super cool. Really like how versatile that table is. And DAMN that's a nice bathroom in such a tiny "motorhome". They should take this to the states and throw it on a Ford Transit chassis. Unfortunately at 2m, it ain't big enough for me (saying "ain't" and using metric is confusing I know...~6'6"). Actually, I'd figure out how to sleep folded up for that bathroom.
BEAUTIFUL rig!! Have to say, as an American with a plethora of very good Class B units (Winnebago, Airstream, Pleasure Way, etc.) from North American manufacturers, I find the interior of this rig to be especially utilitarian AND stylish like no other. I almost wouldn't change a thing, though I would convert the windowless wall to host a 32" computer TV screen w/ an extension arm, so one can simultaneously use the big table as a workplace (for laptops, tablets) during the day, while at night use that same 32" screen to allow 2-3 people to watch a movie on Netflix from the far seating, including driver's seat.
Aside from that, I wouldn't change a thing! Oh, and I LOVE the black-white styling effect. I want to buy one of these beauties, but hopeful I can get one for the US market. Glad I came upon your video. Thanks!
I reckon a dealer could probably fit a TV there, as long as it was super-slim to clear the bed mechanism
I like the see through shades. A little privacy but you can see out. 👍👍👍👍
In my van (touring caravan actually) I achieve this just by pulling the flyscreen, so I must admit this didn't strike me as particularly 'innovative'.
Corkboard on walls instead of windows [side and back].....hmm, not convinced that is a good exchange
its awful
I loved it
An excellent review with a lot of thoughtful and sensible commentary. Thank you. I think it deserves the title of a small motorhome, rather than a camper, because of the excellent bathroom and bed. The market in brick and mortar, and in motorhomes seems to demand towards relatively massive kitchens, at the expense of other things, such as toilets and shower spaces. I don't understand the logic, but there it is. The lack of window on one side of the van might be a mistake, I agree. Sometimes the weather can be bad, and so plenty of windows prevents the impression of being trapped in a tin can. The fold-up passenger seats does give the van versatility, and I suppose they are aiming at a market of a family of four, which is reasonable enough. But there being only two of us, I would remove them permanently to free up more storage space.
With the large fridge, electrical hotplate, and the power-assisted bed adjuster and other electrical gadgets, I would like to have some solar power on the roof, but given that you didn't mention it, I am guessing it may not be an option. One annoying thing about camping with other vehicles can be generator noise, and at least when there is plenty of sun, solar power or available shore power can be a boon.
Things like a revering camera are really a must these days, and I am glad to see that this vehicle has one. The option of automatic transmission is also good. Automatics are good when buying new vehicles, but when buying second-hand, it is often wiser to go for a manual vehicle, because in general, manual transmissions can tend to have a longer service life.
Solar panel is a dealer-fit option
En faisant le pas d'investir dans un Challenger X150 Open Édition, je savais que je prenais un gros risque dans la qualité du produit.
Entre "Camping-cariste" la mise en garde sur la qualité médiocre du matériel Challenger, m'avait souvent été répétée.
Et j'ai quand même osé ! Quelle erreur de ma part ..
J'ai quand même pu parcourir 180 kilomètres avant que l'on m'avertisse que le lit pouvait me tomber dessus.
Depuis, je vous ai fait 3 Mails qui sont restés lettre morte ,aucune réponse.
Je vois que la qualité du personnel et votre souci de satisfaire sa clientèle et digne de la qualité du produit que vous distribuez, c'est à dire très proche du zéro.
Vous devez avoir une force de caractère hors du commun pour rentrer chez vous, sans honte bue, après une journée de présence à lire les doléances de vos clients.
J'ai plus de succès avec CZcams ou mon aventure tourne en boucle, si ça peut détourner "quelques" clients si infime que ce soit, j'aurai le sentiment de les avoir mis en garde.
Another great review .
Thanks. Glad you enjoy them! Please subscribe to the channel so you don't miss out on future reviews
US manufacturers head this. Awesome, with exception of no passenger side window, perhaps a televating wall. Could use a slide too.
Great van! Great price! And a greater video!!
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. I certainly enjoyed making this video
Great little motorhome
Wow! Thank you
SO SHWEEEETTT...much love Tee with LIONS NAMED LEO.[the music worldwide}
...GREAT VIDEO...
Great Design
The interior decor (round lights and mirrors and corkboard) is really naff. 😂
;D))) yep
This is a very fresh, interesting concept. No problem with the 'missing' window. Put a nice 55 inch TV on there. Sorted. Thanks for the review, Peter.
Be in the way of the bed coming down
@@jonnywayner it is a very fair point
Use projector
@@ohspikymiky you are quite correct ,my friend
So good!
I. Liked. The..... Van. But his.... Timing. Of. His speech..... Drove. Me .... ..... Crazy!
Wish our swift escape 604 had the same option with the drop down bed - did wonder if it’d be possible to modify it to drop down all the way like this one.... great design!
Honestly would never break down the couches/settee. The bed would just stay a bit higher and its FAR less work in the morning.
Thanks for this great review Peter. As a result of watching this (several times!) and seeing an X-550 in the flesh we have ordered one.
It seems to me that most of the criticism (apart from the lack of a side window) relates to size and lack of a garage.
These people have totally missed the point. We are moving from a 5.5m PVC and to us it represents the height of luxury and space. We have no room on our drive for anything longer than 6m. We have learnt in the 12 years of owning a small PVC that we need to be very careful with what we take with us. I believe that large MH owners view their vehicle as a replacement for home. We see it as a posh form of camping and love it.
I do share the views about the lack of a side window but it isn't a deal breaker for us.
I think you'll love the X550. What they've packed into 6m is pretty incredible. I test all sizes of motorhomes but would never want to own anything TOO big. Right now our VW T6 is perfect - and we camp with two kids in that!
Much prefer a rear fixed bed with a decent sized garage. And no driver’s side passenger window is just silly.
Yeah, the hiding bed is cool but who wants to be disassembling their living area every night? Plus, it would suck if your partner wants to stay up later or get up earlier than you. Not only does it limit what they can do inside the van in those situations but would require them to climb over the top of you every time they go in or out of the van. You might be able to avoid some of this by leaving the bed up high... but it would still be a bit of a hassle.
What a brilliant (other than the missing side window) design.
Totally agree!
It's amazing
Agree this van is amazing but only a 2 birth nice to see you can leave the bed made up when lifted up
I am sure I saw 2 beds, which is a 4 berth.
Yes there are 2 beds but a van this size only caters for two why I said it's a 2 birth .
Like the washroom.
Wow! That is a nice looking van! Much better than the EKKO.
I really like it
I need one!
Collect mine in November had solar , outside shower , tracker , gas lo added cant wait live in it 👍😎
Enjoy - and let us know how you get on
Will do Peter i bought it after watching ur great review 👍😁🍺
Beautiful van! If made for US, we would definitely would like a window over art decor.
I'll see the 2024 version in a few months. Fingers crossed for an extra window!
Great review and I agree with the conclusion. I hope they will produce a layout for family of 4.
There is over 1 year waiting list in Europe. They guaranteed the price despite it'll be delivered with the new Ducato in 2022.
I think there will soon be a long waiting list here, too. And with the new Ducato cab it will be even better
The internals a very much like the Chausson 640 at 6.99m or 650 at 6.4m - those are coachbuilts with a 2.35m width and have large end garages and wardrobe in the extra space.
Great.. i love double bed system and toilet space at the end.. I'm from Malaysia ..how i can buy it and shipping to Malaysia..
Looks like a great van for two couples if one of the couples wants to camp in a tent next to the van.
That way it can be used as a 2 berth for one couple with the bed right down, with the option that if the weather turns (quite likely if you're camping in the UK) the second couple could pack up the tent and use the table/sofa bed to get out of the bad weather.
Great idea!
LOVE IT 😍 👽💗
Loving this
Needs S.W.A.T. On the side Peter 👍🏻
QUALITY COMMENT.🤣🤣🤣
I like the van.
Very nice and well explained review. Is it available in Dubai? How I can book one?
Looks like something that should have "HORSES" on the front and the back.
Hahahaha! Or donkeys..
Amish community maybe ? ;D
this is superb! imagining it all done in a matt black, think that would look rather slick but this van really really works. the only quibble is its a pity there are not windows on both sides of the lounge area.
See our look at the 2024 range - czcams.com/video/6SBWOgD0x38/video.html
@@MotorhomeCampervan yes! fantastic. the logo is a bit in your face ... but this makes all the difference. the 650 looks interesting too ... looking forward to your full review ... any idea of the price of it?
Impressive motor home, I wonder if they sold it here in the States how much U.S. dollars it would be, with the drivers wheel on the left side of course.
Any chance it will come to USA? Can it be exported?
Very nice
First impressions ' horse box'
Nay!
My thoughts to lol
Yes it is a horse 🐴 box
Excellent and thorough review, as always. I like the van but missing side window is a deal breaker for me. Incidentally, I worked on your sister mag. 'Caravan Magazine' about 30 years ago.
It will be interesting to see if Chausson adds another window. I've been in this game for well over 30 years, so guess we've met?
Great lay-out. Love these seat positions. Not that upright train seats.
Looking stunning too.
Hope next year they use the EV platform!
EV motorhomes with a realistic range still seem some way off but I agree, it's a fantastic layout
@@peterv3642 the eJumpy is there as small camper van. It runs 250km highway.
And over 300 secondary road.
Pretty decent for a fast charge stop.
The eDucato won't make that. Maybe the eTransit next year.
Who on Earth thought that a cork notice board was preferable to a window??
Just trying to be different, I think. Everyone is saying add the second lounge window...
I really wish van manufacturers would stop tapering the sides of their high top vans. A boxy shape may be somewhat less aerodynamic, but it's so much more practical. This is basically just a van but with straight sides, and as a consequence it has much more room especially at head height. Straight-sided vans would be far easier for upfitters to build campers out of, and it would also leave much more space on top for serious solar panels - and of course, more space. That said this is a great little RV. The drop-down bed enables that very nice bathroom space and a decent kitchen in such a short unit, very impressive. And, to circle back to the tapered walls thing - the elevating bed in this would not be possible to do in this fashion on a tapering van, because the walls aren't straight.
Good review, hired one recently, lack of storage ment kept things in the shower area, which is amazing but such a waste of space. The newer models now don’t have to move all the cushions at night, that was a right pain! And we didn’t have 4 people, agree sitting at the table with no window opposite is not really pleasant. We had manual but now we would only go for automatic. Heating was good on diesel. gpl gas we didn’t like! van must be very level to get it to work properly and it’s sluggish in very hot weather.
Would personally prefer bit longer and twin beds. And more storage, smaller shower.
Have you seen the X650? czcams.com/video/6SBWOgD0x38/video.html
love this - could an offside window be added??
Difficult, I reckon. Wonder if it'll be added in future, though
Great review of a brilliant van. Bet next year’s will have window instead of stupid cork board. Peter didn’t show us the Webasto heating but if I understand right the fridge, off grid, the hob and most importantly the water heater, all work on gas. In which case 6kg is a joke. Needs a refillable especially for continental touring
The fridge and water heater can work off 230V when hooked up but will use gas when off grid. The heater is diesel, so that's a big saving in gas consumption. If you're serious about wild camping, I'd suggest you need to add a solar panel or two, a second leisure battery (or maybe upgrade to lithium) and, of course, a refillable gas cylinder or underslung tank. You'd be fine for a couple of nights or so off grid in standard form, which will work for many buyers.
"Somewhere to stick your momentos or postcards"! more like the Monty Python Whicker Island sketch.
One of the best I have seen
The big blank wall, if an option cannot be had for a window, would be good for some overhead storage and/or a television. Maybe I’m too Americanized in my expectations though.
Nice review, but needs that window!
Is that tip-up wash basin one of those where as soon as you turn on the tap, the water runs into the basin and straight down the drain, or does it hold water?
No, I'm afraid it's one of the backless type that manufacturers seem to like at the moment. Just don't run too much water...
Use a bowl?
There's a trend - at all price levels - to delete the rear window, and in this case, bizarrely to remove a side window. The whole point of camping is to see the scenery: to drive hundreds of miles to stare at a cork board is not my idea of fun.
The panel van conversions have, in general, rear windows and they do get used: I can't imagine being in a van and not being able to see back. But like I said, even the posh motorhomes often have no view out the back: I'd never buy one with this limitation.
driving hundreds of miles to sit in a van?
I have to say, you are past-it and have not kept up with changes in the market. A large portion of young customers use these vehicles to live in within major cities in stealth mode. The windows increase the likelihood of break-in and undercut the stealthiness of the vehicle.
Thank god we have choice and not Designer G-ra-ha-m
@@chrispnw2547 You think that's a stealth van ?!
@@G-ra-ha-m looks more van-like than motorhome. It looks like a high roof van with a loud paint scheme. In many HOA communities I could park this in my driveway but a traditional motorhome - not. This particular model is not stealthy but many others are.
Can you use the upper bed when the sofas below are not lowered? That would be my preferred setup with two persons. Too much hassle to always take the cushions out.
Yes, you can use the bed in a higher position and not move the seats or table
Window and blank wall is an issue. Blank wall = perfect headboard with window for view. But then you have blindspot with RHD - needs that extra window big time!