More than a third of all motorhome customers choose a semi-integrated vehicle. Our three selected new products for the season cover a broad spectrum from expensive to inexpensive and from mainstream to innovative floor plans.
Almost 40 percent of all motorhome customers choose a semi-integrated vehicle. With the three seasonal innovations Hymer B-Class T680 Modern-Comfort, Dethleffs Just 90 T7052 DBM and Forster T649 HS, we have selected a trio from an almost unmanageable variety of models that covers the spectrum from inexpensive to expensive and from traditional to innovative interior architecture clarified.
Hymer B-Class
Let's start with the Hymer, by far the most expensive example of this trio, although the partially integrated Modern Comfort is just the entry into the world of the now 40-year-old B-Class. For the type 680, the longest version at 7,39 meters, the basic rate of 75.490 euros is at best an orientation point, as many useful extras and equipment packages on our test vehicle add up to a good 95.000 euros.
In terms of layout, the T680 MC serves the mainstream of German motorhome enthusiasts. In front the seating group with the L-shaped bench, the swivel armchairs from the driver's cab, the single seat on the passenger side and a table that can be moved and rotated in all directions, but unfortunately cannot be extended. Behind the kitchen with three-burner stove and opposite 142-liter refrigerator. The shower on the left-hand side can be converted into a bathroom with the toilet washroom thanks to a hinged door with a double stop. In the rear, two single beds, which can be expanded with two middle sections to create a lawn-wide lawn, guarantee the best sleeping comfort. And the garage below is huge, easily accommodates two e-bikes and other bulky camping accessories, offers plenty of lashing eyes, shelves to keep things tidy and light on both access flaps - absolutely perfect!
But what makes the Hymer a premium product? Firstly, of course, the Mercedes Sprinter as the base vehicle in conjunction with the lightweight chassis (SLC) developed by the Upper Swabians in Bad Waldsee. The 130 kW / 177 hp diesel engine is powerful and pleasantly quiet. You can't complain about the average consumption of 10,6 l / 100 km with the 3,5 ton truck. With the multifunction steering wheel and the excellent MBUX multimedia system, we almost feel like we are in a car cockpit, if it weren't for the slightly more upright sitting position in the comfortable integral pilot seats.
But there are also other pluses that make the difference: the continuous double floor with the winter-proof tanks, the high fresh water volume of 180 liters, plenty of storage space, a good lighting concept with many light sources, lots of 230 volt and USB sockets and - something inexplicable Reasons is often neglected - numerous hooks for coats, jackets, towels, washcloths and whatever.
Minuses: The cabin door is not integrated into the central locking. There is still no central supply unit for all valves and drain taps, and with a payload of just 330 kilograms, things can get tight even for a two-person crew. Especially when other passengers go on a ride on the seat belt-secured seats.
Dethleff's Just 90
The Dethleffs Just 90 proves that the whole thing can also be a good 30.000 euros cheaper, among other things because the low-cost, semi-integrated model from Isny is positioned as a special anniversary model. With an inexpensive full equipment and a relatively modest list of options, the semi-integrated advanced from the competitor Knaus-Tabbert to the best-selling model of its class, practically the Golf among the motorhomes.
With the 90s Dethleffs as the T7052 DBM, you could start your vacation right away for the basic price of just under 50.000 euros. With a complete package (8.400 euros), which is equipped with all amenities, from the awning to the satellite system with 22-inch flat-screen TV and rear view camera to the roof air conditioning system, as well as the more powerful 118 kW / 160 PS motor (3.250 euros ) and the new, excellent nine-speed automatic converter (3.470 euros) for the Fiat Ducato base then leave nothing to be desired for a good 65.000 euros.
In the living area, the Just 90 has a similar structure to its corporate brother from Hymer. Also at the front is the L-shaped seating group without an extendable table for five people. In the kitchen, however, the hobby cook has to be content with two burners. The toilet, washroom and shower can be sealed off from the living space in a similar way. Only in the rear is a double bed waiting for the tired motorhome enthusiast, although it is heavily sloping at the front corners. It is very accessible from three sides and the two side wardrobes are very useful. Optionally, an electrically lowerable fold-down bed for two people can be installed above the seating area.
There's no lack of storage space anywhere. The large wardrobe at the foot of the queen-size bed is particularly practical, even if the 90-liter fresh water tank protrudes into the lower compartment. After all, it is easily accessible in this way, which does not apply to the boiler valve under the bench. Here, too, one misses a central disposal unit. A plus point: The bicycle rack at the rear is actually superfluous, because the height of the large garage also fits two bicycles, which is by no means a matter of course for a queen-size bed floor plan.
There are enough USB and 230 volt sockets, albeit not as abundant as in the B-Class. With the 70 centimeter wide body door, the Dethleffs looks even better, can also load a good 500 kilograms, offers four centimeters more space in the body width, and the Ducato was hardly less spirited than the Sprinter when driving. However, the Fiat is not that quiet and with 11,2 l / 100 km it was also a bit thirsty.
Forster T649HS
The 10,0 kW / 100 PS version of the 103-liter Ducato engine in the Forster T140 HS proved to be more frugal with exactly 2,3 l / 649 km diesel, which, in contrast to the other two semi-integrated models, is unusual and innovative Excellent floor plan. The new motorhome for the 2021 model year has no fixed beds on board, but relies on two electrically operated fold-down beds: a double berth in the rear and a lowerable single bed above the front bench for one additional person. A fourth sleeping place is created after the conversion of the L-shaped seating area.
The pull-down bed concept has two advantages: It enables a compact design with a total length of just 6,50 meters, and it creates space for a rear seating group, which has climbed further up the popularity scale. Together with the front L-shaped seating area, the Forster T649 HS in the daytime configuration with the two raised fold-down beds would comfortably accommodate ten people. The division into two activity rooms for parents and children could possibly speak as an argument for the unusual interior design. In any case, only four people can travel with the Forster, as there are only that many seat belts on board - the two on the bench also have Isofix fastenings.
There are four compartments for clothes above the rear seating group and in front of it a half-height wardrobe and another open hanging option, but in the front area there is practically only a small overhead locker. To make matters worse, bulky items are not exactly easy to store in the relatively small and jagged garage.
In the kitchen, on the other hand, all cooking utensils should find their place in the overhead storage compartment and in the base cabinet with a large loading compartment and three drawers. The refrigerator has the usual size of 142 liters. Sizzling is only done on two flames and unfortunately there is only a small work surface available on the kitchen block for the vegetable chopping beforehand. The filling volumes of the fresh and waste water tanks are rather above average for a 6,50 meter motorhome with 115 and 100 liters. There is enough freedom of movement in the combined bathroom with shower, wash basin and toilet opposite the kitchen.
The T649 HS from the entry-level brand Forster from Eura-Mobil is specified with a base price of just over 49.000 euros and is just below the Dethleffs Just 90, but with comparable equipment it should then cost around 63.000 euros.
For potential customers of a semi-integrated vehicle, this means: At best, less than 50.000 euros can be found at absolutely cheap brands with lean equipment. Between 50.000 and 60.000 euros you should land a few hits for comfortable travel with brands such as Dethleffs or Forster. With full equipment and all amenities from the awning to the satellite system, a tariff above 60.000 euros will be the rule. At the top, the price range for premium brands like Hymer extends well into the six-digit range.
