Full review

Words & photos: Peter Vaughan

The Weinsberg CaraCompact MB 640 MEG Edition Pepper

Choosing a three-pointed star on the front of your motorhome has always come at a premium. However, that hasn’t stopped Mercedes-Benz taking a greater slice of the market since the Sprinter became available with front-wheel drive and, as Fiat chassis are in such short supply, Merc, Ford, MAN and VW all seem to be seeking to erode the Ducato’s once near-total domination.

That said, you usually need deep pockets if it’s the Teutonic star that you’ve set your sights on – and the choice of models is also considerably greater if you want a large luxury A-class. But what if you’re after a Mercedes motorhome without the £100k price tag? Or, as my mum would have said, a Champagne motorhome for beer money? Well, Weinsberg might have the answer…

Knaus’ entry-level brand launched its Edition Pepper as long ago as the 2018 model year with a surprisingly comprehensive spec list that has taken it to the top of the sales charts in its homeland. Now, for 2023, you can have this high-spec low-profile on a Sprinter chassis for a not unreasonable premium (just over £5k) above the  Ducato-based version. This new MB 640 model is also both longer and wider than the existing 600 MEG (on the Fiat), but still on a 3,500kg chassis as standard.

There’s also a new four-berth Suite version with a drop-down bed over the lounge but, what we have here is the standard two-berth, which sneaks in under £70k for the 150bhp, manual gearbox model. Considering the standard equipment on offer here, which includes an Oyster satellite dish and 24in smart TV, as well as a 4m Thule roll-out awning, that must surely make this one of the best-value motorhomes of 2023.

What’s included

It’s not as if the Weinsberg has an entry-level feel to it. Yes, the habitation windows are the caravan-style ones that sit proud of the body, and you’ll need to fork out £1,106 for the electric step and Premium door seen here, but there isn’t a long list of extras that you can’t live without – unlike some German rivals.

In fact, this is a rather handsome motorhome, with its bold copper/orange graphics, colour-coded front bumper and 16in alloy wheels. Aluminium (not plastic) side skirts, 3D Weinsberg badges front and rear, and  chrome highlights on the tail lamps further ameliorate your initial impressions.

If you decide to pay for that better door, it comes with a sturdy grab handle, a window, two-point locking, a brolly holder and even a shopping bag. A flyscreen comes as standard, too, but the remote central locking is just for the cab doors.

The bodywork features a GRP roof and smooth aluminium sides, while the overcab pod (with large, opening sunroof) uses long fibre injection technology for superior longevity.

There are two full-sized loading doors (0.74m by 1.10m) for the rear garage, too, while the generous space for your bikes has headroom of up to 1.24m and a load limit of 250kg. There are LED lights at either end of the garage, some shelf space and a home for the leisure battery (with plenty of room to double your 12V power). The only thing that looks a bit mean is the two tie-down hooks with only rather limited adjustment.

The gas locker puts the cylinders side by side for easier changeovers, while the nearside Easy-Travel-Box houses the mains hook-up, fresh water filler and water drain taps in a convenient, inboard location.

The fresh tank is par for the course, at 95 litres, but the grey tank’s meagre 65-litre capacity will require more regular emptying.

Running boards help to visually merge the body and a driving department that’s equipped with Tempmatic air-conditioning, height-adjustable seats with twin armrests apiece and a leather multifunction steering wheel. As standard, the Merc also comes with ESP, stop/start, Crosswind Assist, Hill Start Assist and a reversing camera.

The options

If you want the full gamut of toys, though, you’ll have to find just over £3,000 extra for the Hot Pepper Package, which includes Traffic Sign Assist, the electric parking brake, upgraded (10.25in) MBUX display with sat-nav and Active Distance Assist Distronic (which translates as adaptive cruise control).

Our test vehicle also had the 170bhp engine (20 extra horsepower) and nine-speed automatic transmission (controlled, as usual on a Merc, by a small column stalk). That’s the priciest option of them all (£3,469), but one that most Pepper purchasers will probably want.

The extra spend is royally rewarded on the road, where the Edition Pepper excels. Not only does the effortless performance seem a match for Fiat’s top (180bhp) unit, but this new 2-litre Merc motor is super-refined. This is only the second model we’ve tried with the downsized OM654 engine ( first was a much larger Frankia) and here, it’s mated to the nine-speed automatic and a wide-track rear axle, it drives brilliantly. The ride is not as harsh as a Fiat’s and there is no loss of stability; even better, there was barely a squeak from the habitation area.

If only all coachbuilt motorhomes were as good to drive – and as quiet – then your Road Test Editor would be a very happy man!

The décor

The habitation door is wide and opens to reveal a conventional continental floorplan, featuring a half-dinette lounge and rear single beds. There are no alternative floorplans for the Edition Pepper in Mercedes form.

Carpets are not included (it’s a practical parquet-style vinyl floor throughout), and there’s no choice of décor. The upholstery, called Malabar, is part faux leather and the Tiberino furniture is a mid-tone wood with large positive-locking handles that are easy to operate. Attractive copper-coloured panels surround the top locker doors and the sturdy hinges back up the feeling of durable solidity that we got from the rattle-free drive.

The lack of a physical parking brake eases the rotation of the cab seats, which grip you supportively on the road but might seem a tad too tight if you’re broad of beam. Like everything else in this motorhome, the soft  furnishings seem well finished but ‘soft’ is not the word for the half-dinette bench. It was too firm for my liking, but at least it’s unlikely to go soggy with use! Aesthetically, there is a softer touch, thanks to the ‘Cozy

Home Edition Pepper’, which includes two scatter cushions and a table runner, as well as a pair of pillows and blankets in the bedroom.

The interior

Up above, the large Heki rooflight is of the push-up type (one of the few economies); with another sunroof over the cab, there’s plenty of daylight here. Artificial light is not in short supply, either, with downlighters in the ceiling and below the top cupboards, as well as ambient lights around the eye-level lockers. There are no reading lights for the cab seats, however Weinsberg has fitted extra speakers in the overcab.

If you want to watch the telly, you’ll have to occupy the swivel chairs, but you can pull out the Avtex TV to a more central position (as long as the chef is not at work in the adjacent galley area).

The small touchscreen above the entrance not only provides the usual information on batteries and water levels, but also controls the (Truma Combi 6 gas/electric) space and water heating, keeping everything in one place. And neat details continue with the coat hooks and a shelf for your keys by the door.

The table is wall-mounted and has a swing-out extension leaf to reach the driver’s seat, although it would still be a slight stretch to dine here. You might also notice that the rear bench is not at right-angles to the wall but canted away slightly to make egress from the table easier – it seems to work!

The kitchen

If you’re familiar with imported motorhomes of this ilk, the kitchen will be just as you’d expect, with the tall, slim fridge (automatic energy selection, of course) as the star feature. There’s just enough worktop once you’ve deployed the sturdy folding flap by the doorway and the three-pin socket adjacent to this seems much more usable than the one set into the base of the cupboard above the sink (which would require a long lead on any appliance).

The cutlery and utensils drawer is huge and, below that, you’ll find the Thetford Duplex oven/grill – this is an option and it’s rather close to the floor, but this is so much better than one at head height.

It’s just a shame that, alongside, is a large, shelved cupboard rather than more drawers. Even inside the lockers, though, some makers could learn from the neat plumbing and wiring installations found here.

The washroom

Opposite, the washroom has a clever sliding washbasin arrangement to free up extra space. It’s as sturdy as other aspects of this Weinsberg, but might still leave some wishing for a little more shoulder room on the loo, which is the superior Dometic unit.

Likewise, space in the shower, behind its folding screens, is adequate rather than generous. But, again, the details are spot on – twin drains in the tray, a roof vent above, a towel/clothing drying rail and two large mirrors (one of which hides a good-sized cupboard for all your toiletries).

The beds

At night, it’s a couple of easy steps up to reach the twin beds, mounted over the garage. Identically sized, these beds are almost 2m in length and the EvoPore HRC mattresses (sitting on a base of sprung staves)  impressed with their comfort.

Reading lights, a backlit headboard and contrasting open-fronted cupboards on either side of the bedroom create a homely appearance, but the lockers over the head of both beds prevent you from comfortably sitting up with your first brew of the day. That seems like a basic design faux pas but one that we see time and again in twin bed layouts.

Converting the twin singles into a huge (2.03m by 1.61m) double is the work of seconds, with a simple slide-out set of slats and an infill cushion. A ladder is attached but access is now for the more agile motorhomer – and you still can’t sit up in bed as there are lockers on either side (one with 230V and USB sockets).

Two small signs of cost-cutting can also be found in the bedroom. There is just one window (on the offside, the nearside wall is blank), and the blinds are the cheaper type that let in a little daylight at the bottom. On the plus side, though, the cab comes with Remis blinds all round and the bedroom does have a roof vent, as well as the opening window.

Under the beds, there is a large shelved cupboard on the offside, while behind a similar tambour door opposite is the wardrobe. This has a long hanging rail (690mm), but the drop is a modest 760mm – fine for shirts but not longer garments.

Although there are four travel seats in this motorhome, there is no lounge bed, so it’s just a two-berth. Oddly, the table can be lowered as if to make an extra dinette bed but no infill cushion was provided to complete a kiddy bed in this space.

Motorhome supplied by SMC Motorhomes, Newark
Tel: 01636 670760
smcmotorhomes.co.uk

Insurance: £464.12
Tel: 0800 975 1307
shieldtotalinsurance.co.uk
For quote details: motorhome.ma/QuoteInfo