Auto-Sleepers M-Star Van Conversion Is Packed With Features for More Enjoyable Adventures

A great campervan for both weekend getaways and longer adventures is the M-Star, a new model coming from English motorhome manufacturer Auto-Sleepers. Based on a Mercedes Sprinter, this is no ordinary campervan but a spacious and luxurious one packed with features meant to cater to the needs of the most demanding adventurers and make their camping trips more comfortable and enjoyable.

The trend of living and traveling in a van has gained in popularity during the lockdowns caused by the pandemic, but it doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. And while many adventure-seeking travelers choose to DIY, when wanderlust takes the wheel and guides you toward a new adventure, you need a trusted companion by your side.

Moreover, going down the professional route for a campervan conversion comes with many benefits. Professionally-built campervans are safer, have a more polished finish, come with a warranty, and hold their value better.

Auto-Sleepers is a Worcestershire-based company with about six decades of experience in motorhome manufacturing, and their vehicles are mostly based on van chassis from major brands, including the Peugeot Boxer and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Their M-Star rig is a premium van conversion that ups the ante in terms of luxury and style. The whopping £125,000 (around $155,700) price tag might scare you away, but it reflects the reputation of the three-pointed star brand and the lost list of standard equipment on board.

The Mercedes Sprinter 417 this campervan is based on comes in at 7.15 meters (23.5 feet) in length and has a width of 2.02 meters (6.6 feet), with an MTPLM of 3,880 kg (8,553 pounds). With dark blue exterior paint, alloy wheels, tinted glazing, and subtle graphics, the M-Star displays a premium appearance enhanced by some extra upmarket touches, such as the chrome bars on the grille and the illuminated step at the sliding door.

It is also a capable machine powered by a 170 hp engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission as standard, with Euro 6.3 rating for emissions. It also benefits from enhanced Mercedes features as standard. One of these is the Parking Package, which includes a reversing camera, crosswind assist, heated comfort driver and passenger seats, as well as electric closing assist on the sliding side door.

Built with an emphasis on cozy, comfortable, and secure living quarters, the M-Star campervan represents an ideal solution for customers who want to enjoy all the comforts of home during their camping trips. It is suitable for two travel-loving individuals and comes with a layout that includes a decently appointed kitchenette, a separate shower and toilet space, and a rear twin lounge layout that converts into a comfortable sleeping space.

In order to offer a premium camping experience, the designers fitted the M-Star with Alde Central Heating with six radiators plus two independent fan-assisted radiators for the cab and sliding door area and Alde Flow for hot water as standard, a system that is typically found on larger, upmarket coachbuilt motorhomes.

The interior of the van is surprisingly spacious, featuring an open-plan layout, and comes with contemporary styling with stunning gray leather trim. You easily walk through from the cab to the habitation area, but access inside the van is also offered through the side or rear doors.

The lounge at the back of the M-Star campervan is fitted with two inward-facing sofas that convert into single beds or a double bed at night (1.86m by 1.64m).

Two pedestal leg tables can be installed in the lounge area when necessary for dining or other activities. The tops and legs can be stowed away in the generous wardrobe alongside the fridge during travel.

The overhead cabinets all around the van are shaped in such a way as to maximize interior space and provide extra width. They also offer plenty of storage space for personal belongings.

Though modest in size, the mid kitchen is well-appointed for cooking decent meals during your trips, including a cooker with a separate Dometic microwave oven with ceramic plate, a dual-fuel four-burner hob, a 30-liter LPG gas tank, a sink, and a 157-liter Dometic fridge with a removable ice box.

The compact size of the kitchen means there isn't much counter space for meal prep, but this issue is solved by hinged worktop extensions on each end.

On the other side of the van, behind a sliding bifold door, is a generous bathroom with sufficient space for a separate shower cubicle, a small sink, and a swivel cassette toilet.

The cab up front exudes the same premium feel, boasting all the neat Mercedes Benz finishes. It also has swivel front seats with leather trim that matches the material used in the habitation lounge area.

Besides Alde central heating, the standard equipment Auto-Sleepers included onboard the M-Star campervan is quite impressive. The extensive roster includes Truma Aventa air conditioning in the living quarters, Avtex TV complete with soundbar, Wi-Fi, 110 Watt solar panel, 100 Ah lithium battery, Thule roll-out awning, external barbecue point, and more.

Since there isn't an options list to choose from, all you have to decide upon is the external color of the van, with available options including Iridium Silver, Cavansite Blue, and Selenite Grey, and internal upholstery, which can be gray leather as shown in the pictures or Vogue Grey, Pamplona G Azul, or Pamplona G Indigo fabrics.