Full review

Replacing Frankia’s Selection range of Fiat based 3.5-tonne coachbuilts, the new Frankia Neo takes a different direction using the latest front-wheel drive Mercedes Sprinter. This version of the Sprinter is lighter anyway, but couple that to the lightweight Al-Ko chassis and you get an even more usable payload figure. This model also gets the electronic parking brake.

Step inside and the instant feeling is very different to that of the rest of the Frankia line-up, with liberal use of grey and white for furniture and accents. What does remain, however, is the flat floor (a proper double floor, too) from cab to right through to the steps for the beds. The swivelling cab seats also lower for a better driving position.

The lounge has a small side sofa and a half-dinette with a side cushion to make it L-shaped. This seating offers two extra travel seats, while the side sofa easily lifts to access storage underneath – there’s external access to this space, too. The table is narrow, but an extension swivels round to provide extra space. Another common Frankia feature can be found just inside the quality Hartal habitation door and that’s the shoe locker built into one of the steps.

The kitchen has a two-burner hob as well as a recessed sink unit with a two-part lid. The larger one of these lids slides into a recess in the worktop to create extra prep space. The fridge sits under the hob, offering 70 litres with a door that can be opened from either side. There are three big drawers adjacent to the fridge, the lowest one of which has a small waste bin. There is also a shelf with a mains and USB socket below two high-level lockers.

The washroom is new for 2020. Open the door and step into what initially seems like a large shower area and it is, but it is so much more. Need to use the toilet? Push the lower unit to release and the cassette toilet slides out into the shower. Then push the sink unit and this, too, slides out above the toilet, although it is quite a shallow unit. Frankia is looking at addressing this in production models. The shower itself has plastic doors that cover over the slid-away toilet and sink as well as one that goes across the door. There are also twin (diagonally opposed) drain holes. The mirror door cupboard houses toiletries, but there is nowhere for towels.

Finally at the rear you will find twin single beds with a lightweight Froli bed support system under cold foam mattresses. The bed area has a series of steps which can fold away for more floor space or lower for accessing the bed. Storage consists of four lockers on each side – there is a shelf on the back wall, so sitting up in bed needs care. There is a wardrobe under one with a door and access through the lifting bed base. The other bed has a shelf unit that slides out.

The space below here is the garage, with external access only, but what brilliant access. There is a rear door as well as two side doors and the floor height is set lower for ease of loading. This rear door is worth a mention as it’s a sculpted piece of GRP with the road lights (including dynamic indicators) integrated into it. It’s also the biggest garage door across the whole Frankia line-up. Choose between a silver or a dark grey cab to contrast against the stark white coachbuilt side. And you can pick your choice of upholstery from any currently offered in other Frankia models. Plus there are four equipment packages to further bolster the equipment levels.

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.