If you’re in the market for a well-equipped motorhome that balances practicality with comfort, the 2017 Elddis Evolution 185 deserves your attention. This dealer special from Brownhills takes the popular Autoquest platform and enhances it with premium features that add both style and functionality.
You’ll appreciate how this 4-berth motorhome caters to couples who occasionally travel with guests, offering fixed single beds at the rear and a convertible lounge up front. At 7.33 metres long but weighing in at 3.5 tonnes, it provides generous living space while remaining accessible to drivers with standard Category B licences.
The Evolution 185 stands out with its distinctive black cab styling, comprehensive specification, and thoughtful British design. Whether you’re planning weekend getaways or extended European tours, this motorhome offers a compelling balance of comfort, practicality and value.
Evolution 185 Dimensions and Weight
You’ll find the Evolution 185’s dimensions create a spacious interior without making the vehicle unwieldy on the road. At 7.33 metres long and 2.8 metres high, it offers generous living space while remaining manageable for most drivers. The 3.5-tonne MTPLM is a significant advantage, allowing you to drive it on a standard car licence without needing additional qualifications.
When loading up for trips, you’ll have approximately 537kg of payload capacity to work with. This gives you reasonable flexibility for packing essentials, though you’ll want to be mindful of weight distribution, especially if you’re carrying bikes on the rear-mounted rack or adding aftermarket accessories.
The exterior features practical additions that enhance your touring experience. The solar panel on the roof helps maintain battery charge when you’re away from hook-up, while the reversing camera makes manoeuvring this 7.33-metre vehicle considerably easier in tight spaces.
Behind The Wheel Of The Peugeot Boxer
When you take the wheel of the Evolution 185, you’ll be commanding a Peugeot Boxer chassis with a responsive 2.0-litre HDI engine delivering 130bhp. This power plant provides sufficient performance for confident motorway cruising and tackling hills, even when fully loaded.
The 6-speed manual gearbox offers good flexibility across different driving conditions, helping you maximise fuel efficiency on longer journeys. In the cab, you’ll benefit from creature comforts including cruise control for relaxed motorway driving, electric windows and mirrors for convenience, and both driver and passenger airbags for safety.
Bluetooth connectivity allows you to integrate your smartphone for hands-free calls and entertainment, while the cab blinds provide privacy when parked up. The commanding driving position gives good visibility, though you’ll appreciate the reversing camera when backing into pitches or navigating tight spaces.
Life Inside This 4-Berth Motorhome
You’ll immediately notice how the Evolution 185’s interior feels open and welcoming. The front lounge features facing bench seats that can accommodate four people comfortably for dining or socialising. Above this area, there’s additional storage for those items you want to keep within easy reach.
A clever feature of this motorhome is the pop-up travel seats integrated into the lounge benches. These Aguti-designed seats provide two additional belted positions, ensuring you can safely transport four passengers. When not in use, they fold away neatly to maximise living space.
The large sunroof above the cab floods the lounge with natural light, creating an airy atmosphere. When it’s time to relax in the evening, the lounge area converts into a double bed, giving you flexibility when hosting guests or family members.
Fixed Singles vs Convertible Double
When it comes to sleeping arrangements, you’ll find the Evolution 185 particularly well-suited to couples who occasionally travel with guests. The rear of the motorhome features two comfortable single beds arranged lengthways, providing dedicated sleeping spaces that don’t need to be converted daily.
These single beds offer the convenience of being able to get up without disturbing your partner, with storage both above and below the sleeping area. The fixed bed arrangement means you can leave bedding in place during the day, saving you the daily chore of making up beds.
For additional guests, the front lounge converts into a double bed, giving you a total sleeping capacity of four people. This versatility makes the Evolution 185 ideal for couples who occasionally travel with friends or family but don’t need permanent sleeping space for four.
What Can You Cook In The Evolution 185?
You’ll find the kitchen area well-equipped for preparing meals on the road. The cooking facilities include a 4-burner hob, separate oven and grill, allowing you to create everything from simple breakfasts to more elaborate dinners. The addition of a microwave expands your cooking options further, particularly useful for quick reheating or defrosting.
The 95-litre fridge provides ample capacity for storing fresh food and drinks for several days, reducing the need for frequent shopping trips. Adjacent to the cooking area, you’ll find the sink with drainer for washing up duties.
Storage in the kitchen includes overhead lockers and under-counter spaces for stowing cookware, utensils and provisions. The kitchen’s central position in the motorhome creates a natural division between the living and sleeping areas while remaining accessible from both zones.
Full-Width Bathroom Facilities
At the rear of the Evolution 185, you’ll discover a surprisingly spacious bathroom spanning the full width of the vehicle. This well-designed space includes a separate shower cubicle, a practical feature that keeps the rest of the bathroom dry when showering.
The bathroom also houses a cassette toilet, sink with storage, and additional cabinet space for toiletries and personal items. Having this facility on board gives you independence from campsite facilities and makes overnight stops in remote locations more comfortable.
The bathroom’s position at the rear of the motorhome, adjacent to the bedroom area, creates a practical night-time zone. This thoughtful layout means late-night bathroom visits won’t disturb anyone sleeping in the front lounge area.
Solar Power and Electrical Systems
The Evolution 185 comes equipped with essential systems to support comfortable off-grid living. The roof-mounted solar panel helps maintain battery charge when you’re away from electrical hookups, extending your independence from campsite facilities.
Inside, you’ll find all the expected electrical amenities including interior lighting, power points for charging devices, and controls for the heating system. The motorhome’s systems are designed to operate on both mains electricity when hooked up and the 12V battery system when camping off-grid.
While specific details about the heating system aren’t mentioned in the transcript, research indicates that Elddis motorhomes of this era typically feature efficient heating solutions suitable for year-round use, though performance in extreme conditions may vary.
Clever Storage Ideas Throughout
You’ll appreciate the Evolution 185’s thoughtful storage solutions throughout the vehicle. The fixed single beds at the rear have substantial storage space underneath, ideal for bulkier items like outdoor furniture or sports equipment. Above the beds, overhead lockers provide additional space for clothing and personal items.
The kitchen area features both overhead and under-counter storage for food, cookware and utensils. In the lounge, you’ll find more overhead lockers plus storage beneath the bench seats when the travel seats aren’t deployed.
For outdoor equipment, the rear-mounted bike rack allows you to transport cycles without sacrificing interior space. This comprehensive approach to storage helps you keep the living areas tidy and uncluttered, enhancing the feeling of space inside the motorhome.
Perfect For Weekend Warriors and Touring Couples
The Evolution 185 excels as a touring vehicle for couples who occasionally travel with guests. Its fixed single bed layout is particularly appealing if you prefer not having to convert dining areas into beds each night, while still having the flexibility to accommodate visitors when needed.
For longer tours, you’ll appreciate the well-equipped kitchen and spacious bathroom, which reduce dependence on campsite facilities. The solar panel extends your ability to stay off-grid, perfect for those who enjoy more remote or wild camping experiences.
Weekend getaways are equally well-served by this motorhome’s practical layout. At 3.5 tonnes, it remains accessible to most drivers without requiring additional licensing, making it suitable for those new to motorhoming as well as experienced tourers looking to downsize from larger vehicles.
Similar Motorhomes To Compare
Elddis Autoquest 185 – The standard model without the Evolution’s dealer special enhancements like the black cab and solar panel.
Marquis Majestic 185 – Another dealer special based on the same Elddis platform but with different styling and equipment choices.
Elddis Autoquest 196: Six-Berth Review – A six-berth alternative if you need more sleeping capacity, though with a different interior layout.
Elddis Evolution 196: Specification Review – The larger sibling to the 185, offering more berths while retaining the Evolution specification.
Need more family motorhome comparisons? Explore our complete motorhome reviews for detailed six-berth model breakdowns.
Why The Evolution 185 Makes Sense
The 2017 Elddis Evolution 185 represents a well-considered package for couples seeking a versatile motorhome with occasional capacity for guests. You’ll benefit from the fixed single bed layout that eliminates daily bed-making, while still having the flexibility of the convertible lounge when needed.
At 3.5 tonnes, it remains accessible to drivers with standard licences, and the 537kg payload should be sufficient for most touring needs if managed carefully. The dealer special enhancements, including the distinctive black cab styling and solar panel, add both visual appeal and practical benefits.
If you’re looking for a British-built motorhome that balances comfort, practicality and value, the Evolution 185 deserves a place on your shortlist. Its thoughtful design and comprehensive specification make it well-suited to both weekend escapes and extended European adventures.
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