Motorhome test: Pilote G741 Sensation

Traditionally, when we went to the Caravan Salon fair in Düsseldorf, we took a Pilote motorhome for tests. This time we had the opportunity to test the largest and most luxurious vehicle we have received for testing so far.

We are talking about a fully integrated motorhome by Pilote, model G741 in the Sensation equipment option, built on the basis of Fiat Ducato with AL-KO chassis. The vehicle was registered for the first time in mid-2016, and at the time of the test it had approx. 32 thousand. km.

We received the vehicle from the sole importer of the Pilote brand in Poland - CarGO! Rent a Camp from Poznań .

Another PILOTE motorhome tested by us is described here .

The route and burning of a motorhome

The crew of the motorhome consisted of two adults and a 2-year-old child. During 11 days we traveled the route Poznań -> Magdeburg -> Düsseldorf -> Antwerp -> Herford -> Poznań, covering a total of 2,100 km.

On highways, we usually traveled at a speed of 110-120 km / h, where fuel consumption was about 11 l / 100 km. For faster driving (approx. 130 km / h), the consumption of 12-13 l / 100 km has to be assumed.

The average fuel consumption of a motorhome from the entire route was 11.5 l / 100 km, which seems to me a great result, especially if we take into account the dimensions of the vehicle and the large, only slightly inclined windshield. Before the test, I was convinced that the combustion result would be much higher.

Driving properties

As I mentioned before, the superstructure was made on the basis of Fiat Ducato, which is very popular in the caravanning world, but with a chassis and frame made specially by the AL-KO company. It is this addition that distinguishes this motorhome from many other motorhomes where the double floor has a typically technical function. In this solution, the space between the floors has a plurality of storage compartments and is typically cargo space.

A very important element of the AL-KO chassis is its suspension, which should affect the comfort and safety of driving. It should be, but was it really? For comfort - for sure! It was very comfortable to ride, but personally I would prefer the vehicle to be a bit more stable. It is possible, however, that the impression of poor stability resulted from getting used to my car, which I use every day. In such a large motorhome it is rather impossible to stabilize the vehicle so much and it will always swing a little during sudden movements. Halfway through the test I got used to it and it didn't matter to me anymore.

As for the engine, a suitable unit was used here, which was not missing - the 2.3 MultiJet II with 150 HP. Even with a heavily loaded camper van (we always take way too many things), he got up very briskly and when it was time to overtake, he had no problem with it.

Interior layout, comfort and equipment

Moving on to what is probably the most important in this type of vehicle, i.e. the interior, I must admit that it really is "on the go". There is so much space that spending time inside is not overwhelming at all, thanks to the fully integrated buildings. It seems to be a small difference, because only the cab is wider in relation to the dimensions of the rest of the vehicle, but this is what "does the greatest job" and gives a feeling of great freedom inside - especially when sitting in the front seats, when they are turned rearward facing the direction of travel.

In the cab itself, the attention is drawn to a large windshield with a huge window sill, on which you can put a few pots with flowers, or make a comfortable bed for our pets. But seriously, this part has been arranged nicely. There are many different sized trays and compartments where you can keep small items.

The driving position is very comfortable, but at the beginning you need to get used to the fact that there is still a lot of space from the left armrest to the side window. The view to the front is very good, but you have to lean sideways sometimes to see if nobody is driving before you get into traffic.

The motorhome was equipped with a Zenec Z-E3726 multimedia center, with which we could connect the phone to talk via a hands-free set, listen to the radio, music from the phone or let ourselves be guided to the destination of the built-in navigation. It took a while to get my hands on all the configuration options, but after a few days of cursory learning the ins and outs of the menu, I was able to use all its amenities.

There is a living room with a kitchen right behind the cab. In addition to swivel seats for the driver and passenger, we have a comfortable two-seater bench, equipped with belts. This is what you can use while driving. When parked, you can use it as a corner sofa and stretch your legs comfortably. On the right side of the motorhome there is another two-seater sofa (without belts), positioned alongside the vehicle, with a spacious storage compartment underneath. Between the armchairs and sofas, there is a table that can be easily moved to the sides and to the front and back of the vehicle, which is a great convenience when 6 people are sitting at the table. Unfortunately, there are no drink holders in the table, but I have not seen such holders in any mass-produced motorhome yet - a pity, because it would be a rather desirable convenience.

In the couch, we lacked the possibility of installing a child seat using ISO-FIX, but this is also a problem that occurs in many motorhomes.

On both sides of the "table" part there are large windows and above them there are spacious cabinets with fronts made of varnished and polished wood, which looks really cool and gives a sense of high quality.

Kitchen

Going further towards the rear of the motorhome, on the right side you will find a large kitchen with a three-burner gas stove with a spark gap and a sink. The surface of the worktop is sufficiently large, and if the sink and the stove are closed with a glass lid, we get a very large work surface.

There are three very spacious drawers under the top. There will be room for both pots and provisions. There is also a large drawer for a trash can. There is another cupboard above the kitchen, in which we can fit the necessary dishes.

On the opposite side of the kitchen there is a refrigerator with a separate freezer. The refrigerator can be powered by gas, 12 V or 230 V when parked. A crash-sensor has been used for gas cylinders, which allows you to move a motorhome with a gas cylinder unscrewed. German policemen very often check whether the cylinders are closed while driving and they can fine those who will travel this way. The exception is having the aforementioned system that automatically cuts off the gas supply in the event of a collision.

Above the refrigerator there is a place for another very spacious cabinet, in which you will find an additional 12 V socket and connections for all cables to the TV and antenna. Above the entrance there is a control panel that will allow us to check the water level in the tanks, the battery charge level (we did not have to worry about them, because there were solar panels installed on the roof) and control the efficient Truma Combi 6 gas heating (you can also use your smartphone ).

In the residential part there is one factory roof window at the table level, which gives a lot of light, and at the height of the kitchen there is Dometic FreshLight roof air conditioning (it could be a bit quieter), which also has a skylight that can be covered with a blind.

Bathroom and bedroom

There is a door between the living area and the bedroom with a bathroom that can either separate the entire rear area from the living area or just close the toilet. This solution gave a very nice functionality and when we do not use the toilet or the bedroom, the toilet can be closed all the time, and we have quick access to the bedroom, often used also during the day due to the cabinets inside.

The toilet and sink are on the right side of the motorhome and the shower is on the left. The whole can be fenced off by closing the door from the kitchen side and the sliding door from the bedroom side - this way we will have a separate toilet and shower area. The shower is very large and comfortable to use. When it comes to using the toilet, it is most convenient to use it when the door is closed towards the kitchen, because when we only close the toilet, it may be… too tight.

As for the bedroom itself, the motorhome was equipped with a very popular central bed, under which there were two drawers for clothes and a spacious storage compartment that could be accessed by lifting the bed. On both sides of the bed there are cabinets for a hanging wardrobe and above the bed there are two lockable shelves, so there is a lot of space for luggage.

The bed is height-adjustable, so we can increase or decrease the height in the garage. When we raise them to the maximum height, the stairs located on the right and left side of the bed will be helpful.

The mattress itself is very comfortable, but we did not like the central bed too much as we sleep together with a small child and would prefer to have a bed the full width of the motorhome. However, if two people will sleep in it, there will be enough space.

The second double bed is located in the front above the driver and passenger seats. When not in use, it is practically invisible because it is right under the ceiling. But you only need to pull it lightly with your hand to make it slide down.

It can be a bit burdensome to have to tilt the backs of the armchairs each time you want to unfold the bed, but thanks to this the whole bed "descends" very low and reaches the lower edge of the windshield, which allows us to sit at a table for four people.

Garage and lockers

As I mentioned before, the motorhome was built on the AL-KO frame, thanks to which the manufacturer could offer a lot of storage space under the floor. These lockers are perfect for camping furniture (chairs, table), extension cords, and in winter they will also be perfect for skis and ski boots. We have access to the storage compartments in the floor from both sides of the motorhome or through the floor in its central part.

The garage at the back of the motorhome is also very roomy and functional. Thanks to the adjustable height, we will certainly accommodate everything we need, and even what we will not even take out during the trip.

Summary

When I look at the motorhome from the front, it reminds me a bit of the fairy-tale Kung Fu Panda, especially his belly ☺

But seriously, I think it is a very comfortable motorhome. Its dimensions may seem very large and problematic when it comes to driving, but you can get used to everything. After all, much larger buses run around city centers and handle it without any major problems. The engine used in this model is a very good choice. The only thing I would improve is to stiffen the suspension a bit.

I liked:

• great space,
• cool, dynamic engine,
• AL-KO frame and storage compartments in the floor,
• large shower,
• an easily sliding table, at which you can sit even after unfolding the front bed,
• varnished furniture fronts,
• all doors closed with a remote control,
• Zenec multimedia center,
• comfortable couch for rear passengers,
• crash-sensor system for gas cylinders.

I would like it more if:

• the steering wheel was trimmed with leather as standard,
• the dashboard did not creak (fault covered by the service action, and therefore to be corrected),
• there were more USB sockets (only 1 socket in the living area),
• there were more 230V sockets (only 1 in the residential part and 1 in the bathroom),
• there were more 12V sockets (there were only 2 in the living area),
• the speakers were of a similar standard as the rest of the motorhome,
• a gas outlet was installed outside the motorhome, which would allow the connection of a gas grill.

The specimen described is currently on sale and you can find the offer here

The tested motorhome model can also be seen in the video below:

Best regards!

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