Motorhome test: Ilusion Caravaning XMK 740

In the fall, we had the first opportunity to get to know the motorhome of the Spanish brand Ilusion Caravaning in such a direct way. It is still a new brand on the Polish market, so we really wanted to check how you travel in a car of this brand.

The camper was lent us for testing purposes by Camper Planet , which is the official distributor of the Ilusion Caravaning brand in Poland.

As September is the month of Caravans Salon in Poznań, that's where we decided to go in a motorhome. We traveled from Bielsko-Biała to Poznań mainly on the highway via Wrocław. We returned, however, through Kępno, along much more demanding roads, partly with ordinary single-carriageway "countries".

Engine, route and combustion

The motorhome was built on a Citroen chassis with a 2.0 engine with 160 HP . This unit provided very nice handling and acceleration, especially when overtaking. An additional advantage of the 2.0 engine is the low excise tax upon purchase. As a result, the final price of the motorhome is 15.5% lower compared to cars with an engine capacity of more than 2 liters.

Unfortunately, it was not a holiday trip, so you had to hurry a bit all the time. In addition, when transporting the entire exhibition structure in a motorhome, we were loaded to the limit, and maybe even slightly exceeded the permissible total weight. I was convinced that the fuel consumption would be about 15 liters per 100 km, but to my great surprise, the motorhome consumed an average of 10.5 l / 100 km , which is a very satisfactory result. This is a huge plus of this car.

I was very positively surprised by the soundproofing quality of the entire building. A motorhome travels in comfortable and quiet conditions, both in the front and in the back of the vehicle. You can not hear the tiring noise from under the car's chassis, and the body itself is well fitted and does not creak, even when overcoming larger unevenness.

Interior layout, comfort and equipment

The interior of the Ilusion XMK 740 has been designed in an extremely functional way. All thanks to the rear bed, which can become two single beds . In turn, after its connection, we get a huge 3- or even 4-person bed, the width of the entire vehicle. Above the bed there is a tilting roof window with a crank, which allows you to open and close the window even when the mosquito net is covered.

There are steps between the beds, which also serve as practical storage spaces for shoes (or other small items). The manufacturer has placed 3 drawers for clothes under the bed on the left side of the vehicle. This is a very cool solution that I have not encountered before. Under the second bed there is a large wardrobe in which we can store a hanging wardrobe and hide other larger items. We have access to it either through a sliding door or from above, by lifting the mattress.

In the sleeping area there is a separate, spacious toilet with a washbasin and two cabinets, which is closed with a sliding door. A large shower is on the other side of the motorhome. I didn't quite like the shower lighting which is just blue. I think a much better solution would be to make a roof window with LED lighting in a neutral color. The bedroom space with the toilet can be separated from the living area and kitchen with a sliding door.

In the living area there is an L-shaped kitchen with a three-burner stove and a round sink. The lid of the sink is a single, separate piece, which is difficult because you have to think about where to put it every time ... A much better solution would be a sink with an integrated hinged lid, such as that offered by Dometic, for example.

The kitchen worktop and the table in the dining area are made of a very interesting material called Krion . It looks and feels like stone, but it is much lighter and warm to the touch. It is easy to clean, antibacterial, durable and also looks interesting.

Opposite the kitchen is a spacious absorption refrigerator (gas-operated, 12 V and 230 V) with a Dometic freezer. Above the fridge you will find a control panel for all devices in the motorhome and a panel for automatic lowering and raising the bed, which is located above the table. 5 people can comfortably sit in the dining area, and the ease of adjustment will allow us to adjust the system to the current space needs.

Above the cab there is an invisible panoramic window that can be covered with an installed roller blind. The manufacturer put covers on the driver and passenger seats so that the main seats do not differ from the rest of the camper's upholstery. I didn't really like it because the cover didn't fit perfectly with the chair. I think that the manufacturer could attempt to trim the seats professionally in the future.

An important element of the basic equipment , which often requires an extra charge from other manufacturers, are practical USB sockets located above the rear bed and a 230V socket and a USB socket at the table in the living area.

Lockers and trunk

The Ilusion Caravaning XMK 740 camper has a lot of practical compartments in the living area. They are very cleverly arranged and we will pack various practical things into them. Unfortunately, as in most motorhomes, I did not find a suitable place to hide a small trash can, so it had to stand in the passage. A huge advantage is a very large, through garage in the rear part of the motorhome. We have put all our exhibition buildings in it, and it is not just a small matter.

To better present the entire motorhome, we have prepared a video. We invite you to watch it:

Heating in Ilusion Caravaning

The model I tested was equipped with a Webasto Dual Top 6 Diesel stove , which was responsible for heating the interior of the vehicle and heating the water in the boiler. In addition, it was a winter version with insulation and heating of the gray water tank, which allows you to go skiing in a motorhome.

I consider it a great solution, because personally in touring cars I prefer diesel heating than gas heating. With oil heating, there is no problem with carrying additional and heavy cylinders, which you have to take with you even after use. It is especially troublesome in winter, when you need to have several such tanks as a spare.

Summary

The Spanish Ilusion Caravaning XMK 740 motorhome made a very good impression on me. The car is in the middle of the price range, but the quality of workmanship and bodywork corresponds to more expensive models. The use of GRP in the floor, and even in the wheel arches, adequately soundproof the entire interior, which has a huge impact on improving travel comfort and driving pleasure.

I encourage everyone interested in this brand to contact Camper Planet from Bielsko-Biała directly. Before buying, you can rent various models from this manufacturer and see for yourself that the cars are really interesting.

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