What should you be considering when looking for the best motorhome for families? A large van with a huge overcab bed big enough for at least children is probably everyone’s idea of a motorhome (as opposed to a campervan).
In reality, the market has shifted very much more towards low-profiles these days, and many of those are aimed more at couples who occasionally take children with them, rather than big families. Still, there is a market out there for families of four or more who want to go travelling, as we reveal here.
It’s also worth highlighting the difference between a family motorhome and the best 4 berth motorhomes and the best 6 berth motorhomes – the number of berths in the former can vary from four to six, while four berth and six berth motorhomes will provide exactly that many sleeping spaces.
The Practical Motorhome Awards 2026 are on hand to help you find the best motorhome for you, as our judging panel pick out the standout motorhome for families category, as well as revealing the close contenders.
This year’s winner is the Elddis Whirlwind GT 196+, a motorhome that we think is just a great family ‘van at a price that is reasonable. As well as taking a closer look at our winner, we’re also sharing this year’s shortlisted options and the top picks from recent years.
The best family motorhome:
Shortlisted at the Practical Motorhome Awards 2026
Elddis Whirlwind GT 196+
Swift Trekker 584
Bailey Autograph 81.5
Our top picks from recent years
Itineo SBD700
Benimar Primero 202
Le Voyageur Eterna 7.0GJF
Itineo Cozi PS700
Rapido 854F
Coachman Travelmaster 565
Itineo SB740 Spirit Edition
Swift Voyager 584
The best motorhome for families:
Elddis Whirlwind GT 196+
- Price: From £67,689 OTR
- Base vehicle: Peugeot Boxer
- Berths: 6
- Belted seats: 6
- MTPLM: 3650kg
- MIRO: 2951kg
- Payload: up to 655kg
- Length: 7.37m
- Width: 2.68m
- Height: 2.93m
Reason to buy:
- Still a great family van
Reason to avoid:
- The 78-litre fridge is perhaps a bit small for six.
Best motorhome for families at the Practical Motorhome Awards 2026
Elddis’s new Whirlwind range is partly designed to bring the price of a motorhome back within reasonable limits where ordinary mortals, including ordinary mortal families, can afford them.
But that doesn’t mean this new model, which shares the same layout as the old Autoquest 196, with a rear lounge and front dinette that make up two double beds and a drop-down bed over the front dinette that makes up the third, is stripped bare. Far from it. You still get 16-inch alloy wheels on the outside, and a bright interior with a decent kitchen with a three burner hob and an oven. Plus, there’s a DAB radio in the cab.
We’re going for the GT 196+ range here, which you need a C1 motorhome licence to drive, because that gives you a possible payload of 655kg – masses for a large family. But if you have to stick to 3500kg, that is still available in the standard GT 196, with exactly the same spec and price, except you only get a payload of 549kg.
Swift Trekker 584
- Price: From £79,490 OTR
- Base vehicle: Ford Transit
- Berths: 4
- Belted seats: 4
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- MIRO: 3083kg
- Payload: 417kg
- Length: 7.85m
- Width: 2.37m
- Height: 2.87m
Reason to buy:
- Packed with style and useful features
Reason to avoid:
Payload isn’t huge if you’re travelling four-up
Highly commended at the Practical Motorhome Awards 2026
The launch of Swift’s new Trekker range of motorhomes for 2026 was a bit of a surprise in the industry, but combining the style and features of its popular Trekker campervans with the dimensions of a coachbuilt makes a lot of sense.
The whole range is aimed at those who are keen to hit the road and enjoy adventures, so given that it features rugged styling and hardwearing fabrics, we reckon it’s a good choice for families, too.
The 584 is our pick in this category: it has fixed single beds at the back which would work well for children, while the adults relax in the lounge up front, before dropping the other double bed down over the lounge. There are four belted seats, too, and the Truma CombiNeo hot water system should be ideal for those with youngsters. The external BBQ and cold-water shower points, and the interior USB sockets, all add to the appeal and practicality for those with families.
Bailey Autograph 81.5
- Price: £93,999
- Base vehicle: Peugeot Boxer/Al-ko
- Berths: 6
- Belted seats: 5
- MTPLM: 4500kg
- MIRO: 3587kg
- Payload: 913kg
- Length: 8.13m
- Width: 2.45m
- Height: 2.9m
Highly commended at the Practical Motorhome Awards 2026
Reason to buy:
- Great payload, so you can carry plenty of kit
Reason to avoid:
- Has six berths, but only five belted seats
If you’ve got a family with at least three children, you’ll appreciate how tricky it can be to find a motorhome with enough belted seats – which is why it’s great to see a five-belt model in Bailey’s popular Autograph line-up for 2026. Not only that, but it has a whopping six berths, too, giving plenty of room for families to stretch out.
The rear lounge is ideal for everyone to relax in, and there’s a second lounge/dinette at the front – as a result, both kids and adults can enjoy there own space.
This is, unsurprisingly, a big motorhome – it comes in at 8.13m in length, and it has an MTPLM of 4500kg, meaning that you’ll need a C1 licence to drive it. But that in turn results in a huge and practical payload of 913kg, which should be more than enough to carry the kit of everyone on board.
Itineo SBD700
- Base vehicle: Fiat 140
- Year: 2025
- Berths: 6
- Belted seats: 6
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- MIRO: 3059kg
- Payload: 441kg
- Length: 6.99m
- Width: 2.34m
Reasons to buy:
- Accommodate six people in style and comfort
Reasons to avoid:
- Make-up double beds only
Get ready for the ultimate family adventures in our pick of the family motorhomes at last year’s Awards, the Itineo SBD 700, a super-accommodating ‘van that, as a motorhome under 7m, is as practical as it is stylish. Designed to maximise space and comfort, this clever vehicle offers six homologated seats in the day and six cosy beds at night, making it perfect for larger-family holidays or weekend getaways with friends.
The Itineo’s compact size ensures smooth travel to any destination. The powerful, torquey engine and automatic gearbox make every journey effortless, allowing you to focus on the stunning views along the way. Meanwhile, inside, the bright and airy design exudes contemporary elegance, while the thoughtful layout ensures everyone has space to relax.
Key features include a spacious lounge area with an L-shaped sofa, an ISOFIX bench seat, and a 145-litre fridge in its well-appointed L-shaped kitchen. Sleeping arrangements include rear bunk beds, a cab bed, and a convertible dining area.
Benimar Primero 202
- Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato 140
- Year: 2025
- Berths: 4
- Belted seats: 4
- MTPLM: 3500kg & 3650kg
- MIRO: 2879kg or 2879kg
- Payload: 621kg or 771kg
- Length: 5.95m
- Width: 2.3m
Reasons to buy:
- Loads of spec and facilities in a compact length
Reasons to avoid:
- One double bed above the other
The Benimar Primero 202 is your ticket to adventure, blending style, practicality and comfort in a motorhome that ticks all the boxes.
Built on a reliable Fiat chassis with a 140bhp Euro 6E engine and AdBlue technology, this four-berth gem offers smooth performance with features like ABS brakes, ESP Traction Control, and Hill/Curve/Wind Assist for added safety.
Inside, the spacious front lounge converts into a double bed, while the electric drop-down double bed adds versatility. The fully equipped kitchen and bathroom ensure you’re set for any adventure, and the generous rear storage area keeps everything tidy.
With cab air-conditioning, cruise control, electric heated wing mirrors and stylish alloy wheels, this motorhome is designed for effortless travel. Add in a Pioneer 9- inch touchscreen DAB radio with Sat Nav and an integrated rear-view camera, and you’re ready to hit the road in style. Automatic and chassis upgrades are also available!
Full review: Benimar Primero 202
Le Voyageur Eterna 7.0GJF
- Year: 2024
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- MiRO: 3042kg
- Payload: 458kg
- Length: 7.05m
- Width: 2.24m
Reasons to buy:
- You get luxury, a flat floor, and a smoother drive
Reasons to avoid:
- You’ll need to be a very well-heeled family
In previous years you would probably have viewed motorhome brands like Le Voyageur as producing ‘vans only really for well-heeled retired couples who have their C1 licence.
Well, good news. This year the French company, part of Groupe Pilote, has redesigned what was its Classic range, renamed it Eterna, and introduced this family layout that comes in with an MTPLM of 3500kg, so anyone can drive it.
Within a length of just over 7m, this is a motorhome with fixed single beds at the back, a side kitchen next to a very sophisticated sleek washroom that takes its inspiration from stable mate Frankia’s Neo range, and a spacious parallel settee front lounge. Here you’ll also find a bed that drops down from the ceiling where the kids or the second pair of adults can sleep.
To get the weight down the driver’s cab does without any doors either side, but if you’ve driven an A-class motorhome in Britain before you may well be used to not having a cab door.
Full review: Le Voyageur Eterna 7.0GJF
Itineo Cozi PS700
- Year: 2024
- Berths: 6
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- MiRO: 2935kg
- Payload: 565kg
- Length: 6.99m
- Width: 2.23m
Reasons to buy:
- Plenty of family space without being too burdensome a drive
Reasons to avoid:
- The interior could be a bit more colourful
The PS700 is something of a first for Itineo, as it brings a six berth ‘van into the brand’s low-profile range for the first time.
Inside, there are two bunks at the back, a huge double you make from the parallel settees, the pedestal table and an extra platform stored in the garage, and a drop-down bed over this to bring the tally up to six. As with all good family motorhomes, you can also get six travelling seats to match the number of berths, although the sixth one is a cost option.
Thanks to fresh wood colours, this interior doesn’t feel overly crowded, despite the Ford-based van being less than 7m long. Add in the reasonable price, and this van is likely to be a real contender in the family market for many seasons to come.
Full review: Itineo PS700
Rapido 854F
- Year: 2023
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- Payload: TBC
- MIRO: TBC
- Length: 6.7m
- Width: 2.35m
Reason to buy:
- Family or group friendly layout
Reason to avoid:
- Only four travel seats
Family motorhomes need to have enough space for everyone to get together. So a good rear lounge layout should fit the bill nicely.
That is what the Rapido 854F has, the model that was our pick for the best motorhome for families at the 2023 Awards. Why? Because the French manufacturer has ditched the recliner that previously formed the offside of this rear lounge. Instead you now get a proper settee. That means you can easily fit at least six around the table at the back of this motorhome, possibly more. Six matches the number of people who can sleep in it, if, in addition to the bed you make by lowering the table and the cab bed you also go for the optional drop-down bed here.
This motorhome is ideally suited for family life in other ways too, even if it does have only four travel seats. There is heaps of storage, enhanced this year, in particular a huge wardrobe behind that rear lounge, with a full height hanging space. Also included within this section is an illuminated wine rack – a useful addition if the family you are travelling with is mainly adults. And this storage has been improved further this year with a retractable shelf behind the passenger seat.
There’s a good size washroom with a swinging partition, a kitchen worktop that is large enough to prepare family meals, and, perhaps most importantly, a good range of USB ports and other sockets for charging devices, all conveniently located.
Coachman Travelmaster 565
- Year: 2023
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 4500kg
- MiRO: 3650kg
- Length: 8.06m
Reasons to buy:
- Great spec, comfortable, luxurious interior
Reasons to avoid:
- Requires a C1 licence, pricey
One of the things that can really lift a good family tour to a great family tour is buying a motorhome that offers plenty of kit – with everything you need at your fingertips, dealing with the ups and downs of family life is easy.
That’s what you’ll find in the Coachman Travel Master 565, which is rammed with gadgets to help make your tours more comfortable. The spec list includes a 140W solar panel, an electrically operated drop-down bed over the front lounge, stain-resistant carpet, and a practical, 850kg payload. The adults in the party (who’ll need to have a C1 category licence) will thoroughly enjoy driving it too, thanks to the Mercedes-Benz 170 HP Sprinter engine and nine-speed automatic gearbox.
Full review: Coachman Travel Master TM 565
Itineo SB740 Spirit Edition
- Year: 2023
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- Payload: 443kg
- MIRO: 3057kg
- Length: 7.42m
- Width: 2.34m
Reasons to buy:
- Special children’s area close to the washroom, spacious front lounge with proper family size table
Reasons to avoid:
- Children’s lounge will be largely redundant once they have flown the nest
If ever there was a motorhome designed for children, it’s the SB740. It’s not just the bunk beds at the back. It’s the small children’s lounge next to them where two kids can easily while away a wet afternoon drawing or playing games. This converts into an extension of the bottom bunk to make it into a double if you actually have three children to find space for.
The central washroom next to this straddles the whole van. This means that they can potentially shut themselves off from the adult world, while also providing easy access to the loo if they need to get up in the middle of the night.
All that means that you as adults could potentially have the spacious front lounge to yourselves, except of course for family mealtimes, when you can easily bring six people to sit around the pedestal table. The comfy overcab double bed, meanwhile, is positioned far enough away from the kids’ hustle and bustle for the two of you to get some peace.
The motorhome is well kitted out for a family holiday too. You get five travel seats fitted as standard, with Isofix fittings where appropriate. You get a 145-litre fridge, two large wardrobes, and yes, the option of an oven in the kitchen. And yet the overall MTPLM is still 3500kg, so anyone can drive this vehicle.
And this season this model comes as a special edition Spirit Edition too, so you get exclusive magnetic grey upholstery and other extras such as a leather steering wheel and black Fiat alloy wheels on the outside.
Swift Voyager 584
- Year: 2023
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- Payload: 424kg
- MIRO: 3076kg
- Length: 7.85m
- Width: 2.37m
Reasons to buy:
- Great familiar Swift design, comfy lounge, huge garage
Reasons to avoid:
- Cassette loo is on nearside, so access would fall within any awning.
The 584 was the first model to be launched in Swift’s new Ford-based range, and it should work fine as a ‘vam for a smaller family if you’re looking at buying a used motorhome instead. When you are travelling you can fold out two travel seats in the front lounge. Unlike many such seats they are easy to assemble without trapping your finger, and provide each seat occupant with a good amount of leg room and, perhaps most importantly, a view through each side window.
Then when you arrive on site, it’s very easy to put everything back together and create a friendly lounge with a pedestal table and enough leg room for everyone to sit around it comfortably. This table can then be lowered electronically at night to make a large double for two kids while the adults get the large singles at the back.
In between these two bedrooms is a large washroom spread across the van, while the kitchen includes a two-way opening 133 litre fridge, a four-burner dual fuel hob, and a combined oven and grill. A flatbed (plateless) microwave is a dealer-fitted option.
Full review: Swift Voyager 584
How we choose the best motorhome for families
When you’re touring with your family, you’ll want a ‘van that will give everyone a comfortable experience. As a result, when we’re picking the standout options on the market, we make sure we look for the things that will meet the needs of day-to-day on tour life. These include the space it gives you all, how easy the washroom and kitchen are to use, and the value for money it provides, amongst other things.
We’re in a good position to assess these things – between us, our expert team has decades of industry experience, and we’ve developed a good sense of what to look out for when picking out the best family motorhomes.
We’re regularly putting ‘vans to the test too, with hundreds of these included in our motorhome reviews section – more are added all the time. We provide honest feedback on each ‘van, highlighting the pros and cons – you can find out more about our testing process on our About Us page.
Our Owner Satisfaction Awards also provide a useful insight into the experience our readers are having.
Combining this lets us start to draw up a preliminary list of the ‘vans that could be worth including, which we then whittle down to create a final shortlist. We’ll explain why they’re among the best motorhomes for families, as well as highlighting the pros and cons of each ‘van.
Written with contributions from John Sootheran.
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