Review: Bürstner B66 684

The 4-berth Bürstner B66 684 offers a unique rear bathroom layout that maximises the interior space in the motorhome, which measures an easy-to-drive 6.89 metres. Paul Owen takes a closer look.

Placing the bathroom at the rear of the cabin is a space-saving strategy adopted by a lot of caravans but relatively few motorhomes. In this market, we expect the locally made RVs to have a lounge at the back of the vehicle, while new imported motorhomes like those from Bürstner usually reserve that area for beds.

So, consider the B66 684 TD to be the outlier of the new B66 range from the German RV manufacturer for its front lounge and rearward bathroom. It may be the nonconformist van in the range for missing the memo that European motorhomes usually place their washrooms and showers in the middle, but the result is that the B66 684’s interior offers more room to move about than other B66 models under seven metres long.

If you compare the floorplan with others of similar length in the range, you’ll instantly see that there’s obviously more floor area in the B66 684. This translates to more room to move about in this cabin. Couples can pass each other more easily, and the advantages don’t stop there.

There’s such an immediate impression of space when entering the B66 684 through the usual generously sized Bürstner side door, and the model could justly be called an open-plan design. Building vehicles that feel bigger on the inside than their appearance suggests from the outside used to be the preserve of the Japanese car industry. The B66 684 TD proves that a German automotive manufacturer has learnt how to do it too.

Driving Ease

Being under seven metres in length, the Fiat Ducato-based B66 684 TD is a handy, manageable package. It is also chock full of driving aids, has great visibility through the forward and side cab windows, and the driver enjoys excellent mirror and reversing camera views. If there’s an easier motorhome platform to drive, I’ve yet to see it. A personal highlight is that the depth of the side windows makes it easy to judge how much turning space is available in tight low-speed manoeuvres.

The Ducato is also super refined and efficient. The nine-speed ZF automatic gearbox is shared with many Jeep and Land Rover models, including some with high-performance engines. If it can reliably handle more power and torque in those overachieving vehicles, it should last the life of the motorhome when driven by the Ducato’s smooth and effective 2.2L four-cylinder turbodiesel. (Fun fact: ZF was started by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in 1915 to build the gears that drove the propellers of his airships).

The automatic start/stop system of the Ducato increases the fuel savings already won by the efficient front-drive powertrain, enabling the diesel in the 60L tank to go further. Other electronic driving aids include auto-dipping headlights, hill holder technology, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warnings, emergency brake assist with cyclist/pedestrian detection, driver alertness monitoring, navigation with traffic sign recognition, traction enhancement and electronic stability control, and tyre pressure monitoring. It’s all easy to manage via the wealth of controls fitted to the multi-function steering wheel, the 6.7-inch central touch screen, and the easy-to-read instrument panel.

The Bürstner’s rotatable, leather-upholstered front seats feel superbly comfortable, reducing fatigue on long drives. Behind them, the front lounge of the B66 684 can be quickly converted into a pair of forward-facing seatbelt-equipped passenger seats, allowing four people to go on tour in the B66 684. Many European motorhomes can convert their front lounges into safe travel seats, but few make the conversion as easy and faff-free as the B66 684 TD.

The motorhome-ready version of the Ducato features a wider rear beam axle compared with ordinary delivery van versions. This improves roadholding and ride quality, and it also allows motorhome builders to fit a wider cabin to the donor cab/chassis. This allows the B66 684 to have a cabin that is a generous 2.3m wide. A pair of wedge-shaped side steps helps the Bürstner appear more complete than many semi-integrated motorhomes, and the graphics package successfully links the grey-coloured cab with the white motorhome body visually. Attractive 16” alloy wheels complete the handsome look.

Ready for Anything

The low ride height of the rear chassis rails supporting the cabin allows Bürstner to fit a double floor to the B66 684, with a 40mm gap between the two levels, bringing the top floor level with the cab floor. This is mostly filled with insulation, but there’s also a hatch in the centre of the top floor to give access to an underfoot storage locker. The floor, roof, and rear wall are made of Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP), while the sidewalls have a 30mm layer of foam insulation sandwiched between sheet aluminum. There’s a further 30mm-thick layer of insulation between the roof and the ceiling, ensuring the cabin of the B66 684 will retain plenty of heat in winter and keep cool in summer.

The 105L freshwater and 90L greywater tanks of the B66 684 are located in the insulated cabin body, meaning the plumbing is protected from freezing up during extreme winter weather camping. Meanwhile, the twin 9kg gas bottles sit securely in a locker on the lower floor, reducing the effort required to lift the bottles when swapping them over.

There’s a 4m Thule awning fitted to the right side of the cabin, along with external LED lights to illuminate the camping area at night. On top, the body has two opening skylights and a factory-fitted 100W solar panel, which trickles electrons into the 100Ah Lithium battery. This then feeds 12V power into a 1000W inverter so that 240V power can be sent to the four house sockets dotted around the cabin, and the handy 240V outlet located in the garage. The latter storage area sits beneath the rear bathroom and has a higher ceiling and an access door on the right side so that longer items can be stored upright.

Spacious Bathroom

The real benefit of having the entire width of the rear of the cabin dedicated to personal grooming and comfort is that there’s plenty of space available behind the curved sliding door, allowing for a separate private area. The back wall has a pair of huge cupboards hidden behind mirror doors; the one on the left is a generous wardrobe with a hanging rail while the other has a deep top shelf and a pair of pull-out drawers perfect for underwear, hoodies, and T-shirts.

The washbasin to the left of the entry door is accompanied by a mirror and a shelved cupboard for toiletry storage. Shavers, beauty enthusiasts, and make-up artists have never had it so good in a relatively compact motorhome before.

Meanwhile, the shower tub has plenty of space to move around. The black taps and shower nozzle stand out nicely against the grey/white/brown hues of the interior décor.

Living room to move

Suffice to say that the other living rooms of the B66 684 also feel more spacious than those of motorhomes with either the traditional rear bedroom or a rear lounge. The front lounge of the Bürstner has seating for six and converts easily into a 2.04m x 1.4m double bed for any overstayers. The 2.04m x 1.62m bed that drops down from the ceiling at the push of a button can extend into the cab area, creating a whopping 2.17m-long by 2.04m-wide bed if you need extra space.

The well-equipped kitchen feels roomier because the sliding divider separating it from the bathroom can open much wider than a conventional door. It’s great to have plenty of preparation space helped by the clever sliding sink cover that extends the available bench space.

If you’re a couple that occasionally invites a few friends or grandchildren along for a tour, it’s well worth taking a look at the B66 684 TD if intending to buy one of Bürstner’s B66 models.

Shifting the bathroom to the rear of the cabin has created more of that ultimate luxury – space.

Bürstner B66 684 specifications