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If I were to ask you what normally drivesMurvi's Morello, I would expect most wouldnominate the ubiquitous Fiat Ducato. Delvedeeper, though, and you will find there is agreater choice of base vehicles, vehicleoptions, and interior fitments than you mightimagine. Apart from the Ducato, Murvi willutilise vans from Volkswagen and Mercedes,and it was the latter that I managed to get myhands on to sample the delights of Dartmoor.

Once you've chosen your base vehiclemaker, you are then faced with a choice ofengine size. The Mercedes range starts withthe 82bhp 308CDI Sprinter, goes through the109bhp 311CDI and 129bhp 313CDI, right upto the 156bhp 316CDI. My test vehicle wasthe 2.2-litre 313 with Sprintshift automaticgearbox and a host of extras - includingdifferential lock, cruise control, and driver andpassenger comfort seats. In fact, includingVAT, a total of £10 878 in optional extras. Ididn't know what button to press first.

If size matters, then choosing theMercedes over the Fiat will involve a littleadjustment on your part, but only a little.Compared with the Fiat, you will lose 7.6cm(3in) in width and gain 10.2cm (4in) in height

and an extra 15.2cm (6in) in length - so nottoo much to write home about there. (Butremember that the extra height is not gainedinternally as the Merc is rear-wheel drive.)

From the outside I prefer the sloping linesof the Mercedes to the boxier appearance ofthe Fiat, but on either there is little added byMurvi to mar the exterior. On the offside of theMercedes are a cassette toilet door, gaslocker vent and the 230V mains electricconnector. On the nearside there is even less- only the fresh water filler and, if you havethe optional awning, brackets into which to fixit. At the rear, only the fridge and extractor fanvents show, unless you include the fournames that appear on the doors - two eachfrom Murvi and Mercedes.

The colour of my test vehicle was a one-off, the sort of pale mud green tones youwould find in a National Trust House. Anacquired taste? Perhaps, but I thought itenhanced an already classy lookingmotorcaravan.

Cabs aren't what they used to beIndeed not. The dash in the Mercedes hasimproved so much that there is now no need

to hide it with imitation walnut. A dark grainedquality plastic covers most of the surface,interspersed with a smooth, lighter grey forthe glovebox and instrument cowl. Thelockable glovebox, with its interior light, is abit pokey but there is an open shelf above it,plus generous pockets in the driver andpassenger doors.

A green mottled carpet extends from theliving section through to the cab; only the cab

MERCEDES MEETS MORELLOMurvi Morello on 2.2CDI Mercedes SprinterRoger Mechan tries out a Devonshire cherry with Teutonic motivation

Adjustments for rake, squab length and squab height (aswell as pneumatic lumber support) rendered both seatsexceptionally comfortable.

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section was removable, though. Lightcoloured carpet extends the full length of theceiling and covers all the walls. The optionalMercedes comfort seats, with height, seatback and squab adjustment, as well aspneumatic lumbar support, were superb - wellworth the extra £192. It felt a little like sittingon an air cushion, but a very supportive one.Back support was particularly comfortable.Both front seats swivel (but the driver's seatonly through 90 degrees) and there areindependently switched downlighters forpassenger and driver. With the seats coveredin the same attractive green material as thelounge, the cab area will transform seamlesslyinto part of the living area when on site.

A Mercedes tool kit lives under the floor onthe passenger's side and, under thepassenger seat, is a lockable secure storagearea.

All dash switches come easily to hand,without the need to stretch across, and theanalogue tachometer, speedometer, fuel andtemperature gauges were clear enough for meto see without having to dive for my glasses.

Speaking of glasses, turn on the ignitionand you might feel like putting onsunglasses. I counted 16 warning lights ofvarious shades of red, orange and yellow,though there may have been more as somewent out so quickly I didn't have time toverify my count. I had the feeling theseconveyed information on a need to knowbasis only, and the Mercedes had decided Ididn't need to know. I could list them all foryou but, as that would be like watchinggrass grow, I'll give it a miss. Mind you, I didsit for several minutes awaiting permission to

take off - before realising I was still in amotorhome and not Concorde.

The experience made me wonder if I wasin charge of the vehicle, or if it was the otherway around. I have this terribly bad habit ofturning off the engine and then applying thehandbrake. The Mercedes doesn't like this,and lets you know it with six seconds of loud

beeping. After the umpteenth time, I foundmyself apologising to the vehicle. Turn theignition key further and the reassuring distantrumble of 129 horses, clomping merrily awayunder the bonnet, means it's time to engage'warp drive' and get going.

The £904-extra, six-speed sequentialgearbox fitted to 'my' Mercedes, gave me the

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All switches and information are readily available on this uncluttered dash layout.

The longitudinal section of the lounge can be swung through 90 degrees, where it issecured to the floor to provide belted seats for travelling.

The carpeting of cupboard interiors considerably reduces noise when motoring.Looking towards the cab - front seats swivel to effortlessly integrate driving quartersinto the living area.

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choice of an automatic, or manual-but-clutchless gearchange. I have experienced theSprintshift system before – sometimes I havebeen very impressed, others less so. On oneexample, I found the gears a little harsh,particularly in automatic mode when the boxwas selecting a lower gear, or 'kick down'was applied. I had the same experience in theMurvi. There was a degree of hesitancy as thegearbox and engine had a conference todecide on the best gear to use. Often theywould disagree. On hills, the gearbox woulddrop two gears and the engine would gatherup its petticoats and race away in theopposite direction. This resulted in mebucking behind the wheel and shouting 'whoaTrigger' as I rapidly lifted my right foot toregain control of the reins (which meant theengine would move up a gear). I soon learntto switch to manual shifting when negotiatingsteep hills.

Now don't get me wrong, I do quite likethe Sprintshift system, but I suspect itrequires a change in driving technique, andmore right foot finesse than my hammer toesare so far able to provide.

Once on the motorway, with the cruisecontrol engaged (another £346, which Iconsider is well worth spending) and thecomfort seat adjusted to my lumps, bumps,and saggy bits, the ride was sublime. Iexpected both the Mercedes and the Morelloto be screwed and glued to a very highstandard. I was not disappointed. No rattles,not even from the cooker, no unnecessarychatter from the engine, and once you've gotyour right foot under control, very littledrama.

Evolution not revolutionI have always believed Murvi’s approach tobuilding a motorcaravan to be the correctone. They install a well-proven layout, butintroduce improvements based upon theexperiences, comments, and desires of theircustomers. They are not prone to knee-jerkreactions to criticism, and do not subject their

design to the vagaries of transient fashionmodes. As a result, very few Murvi products,and in particular Morellos, come onto thesecondhand market - owners tend to hang onto them.

Step into a Morello (on any of the basevehicles used) and you would be hardpushed to notice any difference in the basicdesign. At the rear is a Smev four-burner hobwith a hinged cover and extractor fan above.Below is usually a gas oven and grill, and allgas units come with electronic ignition andflame failure safety control. Under the ovenis a 60-litre fridge. (There is a - no cost -option to replace the oven with a largerfridge - as on this test vehicle.) To thenearside is a brushed stainless steel drainerand sink with mixer tap. Storage cupboardsabove and below the cooker give adequateroom for food. Crockery comes with Murvi’scompliments.

At the end of the kitchen you can haveeither the normal folding work surface or twoslim but useful storage cupboards as analternative.

A 230V switched socket sits under thekitchen wall cupboards, as does the freshwater gauge. In estate agents’ speak thekitchen is ‘compact and bijou’. There is54.5cm (21.5in) of width and 89cm (35in) oflength in which to work, but utilise thepivoting table and you’ll have sufficient roomto prepare all but the most adventurous ofmeals. The carpet, sensibly, does not extendinto the kitchen, which has a wipe-clean floorsurface. To get rid of smells and steam, anOmnivent and opening side window provideventilation, and if you really want to tease the

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General view rearwards - there is no doubt the Morello has left behind the days whenMurvis were all things to all people. It is a motorcaravan, pure and simple.

A larger fridge replaces the oven here. Storage includes a pull-out cutlery tray in thelow-level cupboard. Overhead lockers are useful for food, or for Murvi’s suppliedcrockery.

Lounge can be rearranged to provide comfortable seatingfor four at the table. Here, the optional free-standing tablehas been chosen over the normal pedestal swivel table.

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neighbours with your culinary skills you canopen the rear door. (Make sure you get rid ofthe packaging from the takeaway first,though!)

‘My’ Morello had a free-standing table as acost-free option - worth considering in placeof the normal pivoting table if you like to eatoutside. The side-facing lounge seat can beturned through 90 degrees to face the rear,providing comfortable mealtimes for four.

A wash and brush upThe washroom is located at the rear offside,and leaving the rear door open is somethingyou don’t want to contemplate (unless yourwish is to upset the local wildlife). Thisbathroom is also compact, measuring106.5cm (42in) long by 81.5cm (32in) wide. Ifyou are over 6ft tall, you may find yourselfcrouching slightly. Yet the room crams in adecent-sized washbasin, separate

showerhead, Thetford swivel cassette toilet,and two overhead storage cupboards.

In a panel van conversion with the facilitiesof a coachbuilt there has to be compromisesomewhere. This comes in the bathroom,where the locker under the washbasin housestwo 6kg propane cylinders.

Talking of storage space, there is a smallwardrobe next to the toilet, which can befitted with removable shelves if you wish.

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From left: fresh water tank with red inspection cap, easy access to rear of fridge,compact bathroom.

Removable shelves are an option for the wardrobe. Electrical information and heating controls neatly groupedabove the transverse section of the lounge. The top dialshows the charging rate for the optional solar panel. Tothe right is a reading lamp.

The bed is completed in seconds and the squabs are wide enough to make the gapbetween them of no significance.

Vented compartment under washbasin holds two 6/7kggas cylinders.

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Below is a smaller cupboard, useful forstoring shoes. Bearing in mind that this van is7.6cm (3in) narrower than the Fiat, thereseems to be little lost in the way the workingend of the ‘van functions. Once you havemastered your own routine, cooking andwashing become a doddle.

A layabout in the loungeI admit to being a bit of a sprawler. I sitsomewhere and my arms and legs assume alife of their own, taking over large tracts ofsofa. If ever a lounge was made for me, it wasthe Morello’s L-shaped comfort zone. The

cushions are thick, the seat squab tilts upslightly, the backrests are inclined to theperfect angle, and the corner hugs me like along-lost friend. The main seat and backsquabs measure 56cm (22in) each and willseat four adults in comfort. Add in the twoswivel cab seats and could start your ownjazz sextet.

Beneath the sofa, the total floor area isgiven over to storage (room for bedding). Iliked the removable carpet and wipe-cleanfloor under the L-shape, which provided anarea for storing larger, hard-edged or dirtyitems. Three carpet lined lockers above the

sofa, and an open area above the cab,provide sufficient clothes storage for a longstay away. To the nearside of the overcabstorage is a space capable of taking a smalltelevision. Finally, two lined recesses behindthe sofa back will hold items of laptop size.

Daylight pours in through the Heki 2rooflight and sliding windows, as would themidges if it were not for flyscreens in all therelevant places.

The side sliding door is slightly narrowerthan the Fiat’s, but unless you’re trying tosmuggle an elephant through customs the

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Bedding in the carpeted locker under the main seat of the sofa. A small free-standing table can also be stored here. With the bed extended you notice that the Merc isnarrower than the Fiat. You need to be careful not to putyour food down the step well.

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difference is not worth mentioning. So I won’t.On the wall above the sofa are the Zig unit

and central heating controls. Our test vehiclealso had a charge indicator for the optional60W solar panel that had been fitted on theroof.

Dream timeWhen I’ve fed and watered well, the lastthing I want to do is faff around trying tosolve a jigsaw puzzle of bits of cushion. TheMorello has a ‘click-clack’ bed. Pull ittowards the sliding door, hold the backrest,lift the squab, lay it flat and it’s ‘good nightIrene’. In the time it has taken me to typethis, I would have been asleep and my wifewould have punched me twice in the ribs forsnoring.

Sleeping is best undertaken with one’shead facing the cab and feet towards the rear,unless you’re a contortionist, of course. Thereis a slight gap between the two mattresscushions when they are laid flat, but that doesnot detract from getting a good night’s sleep.If you wriggle around a lot, you could loseyour pillows off the end of the bed, but that’sa problem we’ve encountered in manymotorcaravans without a headboard.

In conclusionThe lack of ostentation in the Morello, with itsmuted grey and white cabinetwork andattractive unfussy upholstery, combines wellwith the curves of the Sprinter. It certainlyattracted many admiring glances on test.

The narrower Sprinter, compared with theFiat, poses little problem. On the latter, thefloor extends to the sliding door, but theMercedes has a step before the lounge isreached, reducing the floor area by some20cm (8in). In effect, it means there is no floorat the side when the bed is extended - butother than that, I found the loss of width didnot make much difference. And there is theoption to have the step boarded over toextend the floor, with an external retractablestep giving access to the ‘van.

Murvi have come a long way from their

roots, and the Morello is much more upmarketthan the earliest creations of this Devonmarque. Yes, the Morello retains its versatilityin respect of load and passenger carrying, butmake no mistake, this is, first and last, a high-quality motorcaravan. So, does the addition ofthe three-pointed star make it a dreampackage?

There is a difference in the basic price ofthe Fiat and Mercedes, with the latter being

£2666 dearer. That is some premium.However, there is no denying the quality ofthe Sprinter van, and the engine (at least inthe 313 and 316) that powers it. If you intendkeeping your Morello long-term, then I thinkthe premium is one worth paying. If properlylooked after, it will reward you with a goodresidual value when you eventually do sell ortrade-in and, in the meantime, you can waveregally at all who stop and stare.

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In briefBase vehicle: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 313CDIMWB with ABS and ASREngine type: 2151cc four-cylinder common-raildirect-injection turbo-dieselOutput: 129bhp (95 kW) @ 3800 rpmGearbox and drive: Six-speed Sprintshiftsequential automatic, rear-wheel drive

Make and model: Murvi MorelloBody type and construction: Mercedes all-steel high roof van Electrical equipment: Mains hook-up with 25mcable, RCD, three switched 13amp socketoutlets, automatic built-in battery charger, Zigcontrol panel with voltmeter, twin 68 amp hrauxiliary 12V deep-cycle batteries with split-charge relay and changeover switchLighting: Nine interior lights including bed-headreading lightCooking facilities: Smev four-burner hob withhinged glass cover, gas oven and grill (all withautomatic ignition and flame failure devices),extractor fanRefrigerator: Electrolux RM4213 three-way, tilt-tolerant, 60-litre fridge with freezercompartment, automatic gas ignitionWater and space heating: EberspächerHydronic 5kW combined space and waterdiesel-fired heating system with additionalmains element for water heatingFresh water tank: 60 litres (16 gallons) inboard,with filterWaste water tank: 30 litres (8 gallons) Gas locker capacity: Vented gas locker for two6/7kg cylinders, changeover tapRear restraints: Three Additional features: Reclining and swivellingfront seats with head restraints and arms, stereo

RDS cassette/radio with additional rear speakersand bedside switch, four scatter cushions,locking strongbox beneath passenger seat,Thatcham Category 1 remote-operated alarm withpanic button and ultrasonic detector, Heki 2rooflight, insulated cab screens, carbon monoxidedetector, smoke detector, fire extinguisher, fireblanket, first aid kit, warning triangle, vehiclespare bulb kit

DimensionsOverall length: 5.70m (18ft 7in)Overall width: 1.93m (6ft 4in)Overall width (including mirrors): 2.34m (7ft 8in)Overall height: 2.65m (8ft 8.5in)Bed dimensions: Double bed 1.93m x 1.37mmax (6ft 4in x 4ft 6in)Max authorised weight: 3500kgLoad capacity: 950kg (standard model)

PriceStandard model: £39 136 on the roadPrice as tested: £50 014 on the road

Base vehicle options(starred items fitted to test vehicle) Sprinter 311CDI (£1057), Sprinter 313CDI withABS and ASR (£2820)*, Sprinter 316CDI with ABSand ASR (£4582), Sprinter 314 petrol (£1645),Sprintshift automatic (only with ABS and ASR, notpetrol) (£905)*, cruise control (only with ABS andASR) (£347)*, four-wheel drive including lockingrear differential (not with Sprintshift) (£9141),differential lock (£683)*, electric windows (£317)*,electrically heated and adjustable mirrors (£202)*,central locking (£254)*, dash air-conditioning andoutside temperature gauge (£1397)*, tintedwindows (£154)*, alloy wheels (£528)*, full-widthrear step (not with towbar) (£119), comfort seats

for driver and passenger (£193)*, mud flaps(£73)*

Conversion options(starred items fitted to test vehicle)Front transverse removable bunk (£217), stereo cassette/radio/CD multi-player with fourspeakers (£617)*, stereo single CD with RDSradio (£294), security deadlocks to all exteriordoors (£382)*, 230V air-conditioning - roof-mounted (£1292), Trav-L-Cool 12V evaporativeair-conditioning (£881), 65W solar panel - roof-mounted (£587)*, 50mm towbar with cover andfull electrics (£382), Airide suspension (£388)*,Omnistor 5000 3m retractable side awning(£540)*, colour-keyed awning box (£94), sidesand groundsheet for side awning (£582), reardoor-mounted bike rack for two bikes (£291),Glomex TV aerial with dual 12V coaxial socketoutlets (£217)*, Panasonic TV with teletext andremote control (£274)*, 230V microwave ovenwith grill (£258), 12V microwave oven - includingvoltage controller (£581), rear ladder (£176), roofbars (£200), roof-mounted luggage box (£323),reversing aid (£294), Nature-Pure waterpurification system (£294)

Vehicle kindly supplied for evaluation by: Murvi Motorcaravans Ltd, 4 East Way, Lee Mill Industrial Estate,Ivybridge, Devon PL21 9GE (tel: 01752 892200; web site: www.murvi.co.uk)

Despite the optional bike carrier taking over a fair amount of the rear door it is still possible to open the doors withbikes on the rack.

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