2025 Carado T457

Designed for travellers who want comfort, quality, and great value all in one, the freshly released 2025 Carado T457 delivers a smart, spacious layout with all the extras included. Claire Smith steps inside to see why this motorhome is such a standout in its class.

Carado isn’t the loudest name in the motorhome world, but it’s quietly become one of the most trusted. It’s one of those brands that just gets on with the job of delivering well-built, thoughtfully designed motorhomes without making a fuss.

Manufactured in Germany under the renowned Erwin Hymer Group umbrella, Carado brings the same precision engineering and craftsmanship you’d expect from the top-tier European names, just without the premium price tag.

The T-series models are a great example of that philosophy in action: semi-integrated motorhomes with clever, space-efficient layouts, comfortable sleeping options, and a relaxed, car-like driving experience that suits long-haul travel just as well as weekend getaways.

The latest addition, the 2025 Carado T457, carries that thinking through beautifully. Light, open, and instantly welcoming, it feels homely from the get-go. And once you start to notice the finer details — the solid build quality, the finish of the joinery, the careful attention paid to how each element feels and functions — you realise it’s not just great value. It’s a great motorhome, full stop.

Comfy, capable and easy to drive

You don’t need to be a seasoned motorhome driver to feel comfortable behind the wheel of the T457. It handles more like a big car than a small truck — smooth, stable, and surprisingly easy to manoeuvre, even if you’re new to the game.

Built on the updated 2025 Fiat Ducato, it now features the new front-end facelift, including a sleeker grille design that gives it a more modern, polished look. The 2.2L Multijet engine delivers 140hp through an 8-speed auto gearbox, so it’s got enough power to cruise comfortably along the open road without feeling sluggish, and the wide-track chassis adds a bit of extra stability where it counts.

The 2025 model also includes an electric parking brake — which is one of those little upgrades that just makes life easier when you’re stopping and starting on the road.

Up front, the cab feels more like a comfy driving lounge than a workhorse. The seats are plush and supportive, with armrests and plenty of legroom for those longer stretches. There are cup holders and bottle slots within easy reach, plus heaps of handy storage nooks and cubbies for sunglasses, charging cables, snacks, or whatever else you like to keep on hand.

Tech-wise, it’s all pretty user-friendly, with traffic sign recognition, Bluetooth and CarPlay connectivity, air con, electric windows and central locking. Safety is covered too with ABS brakes, ESP, hill holder and dual airbags.

The sky view window above the cab brings in plenty of natural light, and when you’re parked up, the cab blinds fold down for instant privacy.

Make yourself at home

Once you step inside the living area of the Carado T457, there’s an immediate open and welcoming feel. This is largely down to the well-designed flow of the interior — there’s nothing cramped or awkward, just a layout that makes practical and aesthetic sense.

The face-to-face dinette up front gives the lounge area a lovely, relaxed, serene feel, while the kitchen sits neatly midship. Beyond that is a split bathroom setup and a proper rear bedroom with two extra-long singles that can be combined into a king.

Tucked neatly above the living area, the drop-down bed is there when you need it — perfect for guests or the grandkids — and lifts cleanly out of sight when you don’t.

There’s an immediate sense of calm and cohesion to the interior. It is well thought out with Visby Oak cabinetry adding a soft, Scandi-style warmth, balanced by crisp white and sand grey surfaces that bring contrast without trying too hard. It’s not just easy on the eye — the finishes are built to last, with UV and fingerprint resistant materials that stand up to everyday use. Altogether, it’s a space that’s serene, functional, and quietly stylish — easy to live in and easy to like.

Dine and unwind

The lounge and dining space is the heart of the Carado T457. With face-to-face seating for four, plus two extra seats thanks to the swivel cab chairs, there’s a good amount of room for up to six to gather around the table without clashing elbows or knees. The dining table has a clever space-saving function too. Have it fully set up for meals, or fold it in half to free up space during the day.

Large windows flood the space with natural light and create that all-important connection to the outdoors — whether it’s mountain peaks in the distance or just the morning sun creeping in while you make your coffee.

The kitchen runs neatly alongside the lounge, and everything’s within easy reach. The two-burner gas hob and Thetford oven with grill are perfect for everything from morning toasties to a tray of roast chops for dinner. The sink comes with a removable cover to give extra prep space, and there’s a 156L fridge with a separate 29L freezer, which means ice for your drinks and ice cream for the kids.

Overhead spotlights keep the bench area well lit, and there’s a window behind the benchtop for ventilation and another skylight above the living area to top it all off.

The open layout means it’s easy to chat with whoever is relaxing in the lounge while you’re prepping dinner. And with plenty of windows, you can keep an eye on the kids outside too.

Room to refresh

The Carado T457 bathroom is a great example of how clever design can make a real difference in a compact space. It’s centrally located, with a split layout — shower on one side, toilet and vanity on the other — and the whole area can be closed off from both the bedroom and the living space. It means you’ve got full privacy when you need it, and a surprising sense of space when you don’t. It also means that if both beds are in use, someone from either the bedroom or the living room can use the bathroom during the night without disturbing those in the other room.

The shower feels solid and well-built, with a proper sliding handset, a bottle holder for shampoo and soap, and even a drop-down rail for hanging togs to drip-dry between swims. There’s a vent hatch above and built-in lighting to keep everything bright.

On the opposite side, the Thetford swivel toilet has an electric flush, and the vanity area includes a good-sized mirror, towel rails, plus shelves and cupboards to stash your bathroom bits. There are even hooks for hanging clothes or robes.

Like the rest of the motorhome, it’s all been really well thought out. Everything has its place, and there’s still plenty of room to move without feeling boxed in.

Smart sleeping

Twin singles have always been my favourite setup, but for many, a roomy king bed is the ultimate luxury. With the Carado T457, you can take your pick. The rear twin beds are extra-long and can be easily slid together to form a generous king — at a maximum 215 × 210cm. It’s super easy too, with no awkward cushions or clunky mechanisms to fuss with. Just pull out the centre section and it’s done. The mattresses are top quality, with supportive slatted frames, so you’re in for a proper sleep, not just a ‘good for a motorhome’ kind of night.

There’s a window on each side, plus a skylight above, which keeps the space light and airy during the day and a spotlight on each side for reading or scrolling at night. Overhead cabinets take care of books, devices, and whatever else you need to have on hand — and there’s generous storage underneath the beds for the bulkier bits.

Up front, the drop down double bed at 190 × 140cm is just as thoughtfully designed. It’s easy to lower when you need it, quick to tuck away when you don’t and it comes with a proper mattress — not a token thin one. There’s a ladder for easy access, and when it’s not in use, it’s stored in the garage, leaving your living space free and open. It’s a flexible sleeping setup that makes travelling with friends or family easy, without giving up comfort.

Roadworthy and adventure ready

At 7.4 metres long and just over 2.3 metres wide, the Carado T457 hits that sweet spot — long enough to give you a spacious interior, but still manageable on the road and at campsites.

On the exterior, there’s plenty to like, starting with the generously sized dual-access garage — currently Wilderness’ largest available. It’s easily big enough to fit ebikes and bulky outdoor gear, with tie-down points, shelves and a plug socket to keep things charged and secure. It’s also been designed with usability in mind — low to the ground with no annoying lip, so loading and unloading doesn’t feel like a wrestling match. It’s one of those touches that makes the Carado T457 feel genuinely adventure ready.

The 2025 model also sports new flush aluminium-framed windows, a subtle update that looks smart, but also has some real benefits. Being flush means less wind noise while driving, better aerodynamics and fewer places for road grime to build up. They’re all double-glazed, too, with cassette blinds and insect screens to keep things comfortable inside.

The entry door is extra wide with an electric step and a sturdy, ergonomic handle to make getting in and out easier — handy when you’re carrying groceries or wrangling kids. There’s even a window in the door so you can see who’s knocking, plus built-in storage cubbies for those grab-and-go bits and pieces.

With a solid 600kg payload, there’s plenty of capacity to pack your gear without watching every kilo. And with a two year Fiat warranty, two year Carado warranty, and a seven year water ingress guarantee, there’s solid backup behind the build.

A lot of motorhome for the money

The Carado T457 is all about affordability without cutting corners. It’s a well-built, good-looking motorhome that delivers on comfort, practicality and quality — without the kind of price tag that makes you flinch.

Ideal for families wanting to escape for long weekends or a decent week or two away, the layout is spacious, comfortable and easy to live in. What’s more, it comes already loaded with extras at no additional cost — 190W solar, an awning, smartTV and two 9kg gas bottles. You’d be hard-pressed to find better value for money, especially in something that looks and feels this good straight out of the gate.

This review was written by Claire Smith and originally published in the Motorhomes Caravans & Destinations (MCD) magazine on 29 June 2025. We're republishing the review with the magazine's permission.