A sensibly priced Fiat that's perfect for campers with an eye for adventure – not to mention Italian style
Words & pictures ❚ Iain Duff
REVIEWED
There was a time – and it really wasn’t all that long ago – when a £60,000-plus campervan wouldn’t have been considered anywhere near a budget model.
But that’s the reality of where we are now, and there’s no sign of it changing any time soon.
So, what that means is that whenever a “bargain” comes along, you need to be quick off the mark, because it is going to be in big demand. That was certainly the case with this new Etrusco ’van.
Etrusco is an entry-level brand from the Erwin Hymer Group, but, if I’m honest, I have a slight issue with that description. Entry-level can have negative connotations, implying that it’s somewhat lacking in quality or features, and that is far from the case here. Etrusco vehicles are built at the Laika factory in Tuscany, Italy, and when it debuted in 2016, were initially destined for sale in southern European markets alone. The brand arrived on these shores in 2018, with campervans being added to the range two years later. Choose Leisure in Kent is one of five Etrusco dealers around the UK, alongside The Motorhome Depot (Midlands) and SMC Motorhomes (Nottinghamshire) in England, 3 A’s Leisure in Wales and, in Scotland, Struan Motors.
We were eagerly awaiting the CV 600 DB’s arrival at Choose Leisure’s premises, so we could take it out on the road for a full review. And when the call came that it was on its way, we immediately arranged a visit to the Garden of England.
But less than 24 hours after it arrived at the showroom near Canterbury, a customer saw it, liked it and reserved it. Two days later they had bought it.
Understandably, the new owner did not fancy the idea of us whizzing around the Kent countryside, racking up the miles in their new pride and joy. Which is why the closest we got to driving it was sitting behind the steering wheel in the grounds of the hotel across the road from Choose Leisure’s headquarters.
Luckily, the CV 600 DB is built on the Fiat Ducato, one of the most popular campervan base vehicles around, so we have plenty of past experience of driving it. This is a six-metre Fiat with the 140hp engine and manual gearbox – the nine-speed automatic is available for an additional £3,400.
The manual gearbox is easy to use and the Fiat generally delivers a smooth and steady drive with firm handling. At 6m lo
