Full review

It’s the rear lounge that’s the star here. Unlike the shorter (8.00m) 790 Plus Titan, the 840 model eschews the traditional U-shaped lounge – always a UK favourite – for a currently en vogue C-shaped round seating group with positions facing all four directions. It’s very inviting and even offers corner headrests for when life is just too hectic and you need 40 winks.

The leather upholstery here is a three-grand option but almost everything else you see on this high-spec motorhome is standard – even the 32in flatscreen TV (which slides out from a tall locker to sit in front of the offside window) and the Teleco satellite system.

Base vehicle is a Fiat Heavy chassis-cowl with Al-Ko tag-axle lowered frame and 5-tonne gross weight. The top-spec 177bhp engine is standard, as is the automated Comfort-Matic gearbox, 16in Borbet alloy wheels, cruise control, automatic climate control, leather steering wheel, Alpine 9in sat-nav screen with DAB radio and a 120-litre diesel tank. Payload is a pretty generous 870kg but this can be uprated by ordering the 5,500kg chassis.

Externally, the Titan has the latest Frankia styling with chromed grille and LED indicators. The Thermo Guard Plus construction features a full-length heated double floor (350mm height) and an 11-year water ingress warranty. Central locking operates both the cab and habitation doors, while a 5.5-metre awning is another standard feature.

There’s a full-sized rear garage (1.24m internal height), despite this not being an end bedroom floorplan, and, of course, the 840 Plus also features Frankia’s renowned service hatch with built-in hose and mains cable. Water tank capacities are 150 litres fresh and 130 litres waste (with payloads calculated with 50 litres on board).

Inside, the kitchen backs onto the lounge, so the chef is not excluded from conversation. The galley includes six large drawers, plenty of worktop and a serving shelf between the kitchen and rear-facing sofa. A Thetford two-burner gas-on-glass hob is mated to a Dometic Origo induction hob, which can be covered when you need extra preparation space. A recessed bin is mounted under a trapdoor in the counter while tea towel rails are fitted over a heater vent. Alongside the cooker is a 160-litre fridge/freezer with oven/grill above (but not excessively high as the fridge is fitted at floor level).

Up front, an electric drop-down bed is nothing unusual but here it is conjoined singles that come down from the ceiling. Slide-out steps provide easy access, while adjacent is a full-width en suite with generous shower and loo area with ceramic toilet and boutique-style wall-mounted tap. The toilet door closes off the bathroom from the rest of the vehicle while a sliding door ensures privacy from the bedroom. There’s a small wardrobe and plenty of clothing storage in the en suite area but the larger wardrobe is not included in this space.

What is included in Titan spec is a unique specification derived from the success of Frankia’s Mercedes-based Platin range. The exclusive technology package included here, developed with Büttner Elektronik, is designed to give you the ultimate in independence on tour.

As well as two 110W high-performance solar panels, a 1,700W sine wave inverter (to provide 230V power away from sites), a state-of-the-art 110Ah lithium battery and a CAC Smart Converter charger, there is a display to always show your power consumption and battery charge. With so much spec as standard, this new Titan A-class starts to look very good value indeed.

If you enjoyed this review, you can read loads more like it in What Motorhome magazine. You can get a digital version of the latest issue of What Motorhome magazine here.