INthe October issue we said the Rapido 606F “looks like winner.” I hope we didn’t give the game away too early but this new 2024-season model seemed like a shoo-in for the Drop-down Bed award from the get-go.
This type of motorhome – sub 7m in length with a large front lounge, an equally generous rear washroom and, importantly, a full-sized garage but without a fixed bed – has been growing steadily in popularity since Chausson first brought us the concept with its 640. It’s not hard to see the appeal of models like this, which offer lots of living space for a couple, plenty of storage and a near-instant double bed, just by pressing a button or turning a key.
The new Rapido starts off with an instant advantage in its sector, not only benefiting from the aesthetic makeover of the whole 6F range this year but with an overall length of just 6.69m – 30cm less than many of its key rivals.
Inside, you don’t feel any loss of space – in fact, quite the opposite. The longer of the two sofas measures 1.58m and headroom under the stowed drop-down bed is 1.91m. There are further pluses, too, such as the reading lights over the swivel cab chairs, the fold-in-half table and an offside armrest, which becomes a headrest when the settees are converted into travel seats.With this French firm, you can take as read the well-proportioned sofas and restful décor, while the familiar choice of Nacarat or Luceo furniture gives you a choice of ambience. Meanwhile, new black fittings and terracotta drapes keep things up to date cosmetically.
As this is the Drop-down Bed category, of course, the bed itself is a key part of the model’s success. Not only is it a good size (1.91m by 1.46m), but it comes down to just 79cm off the floor, which is almost certainly a best-in-class figure. And the mattress is
