Pilote Selection Edition P720FC motorhome review

PIlote's P720FC is now available in Selection Edition guise with off-grid hook-up-free motorhoming underpinning its kit list, including lithium battery, solar panels, inverter and fast charger...

Selection is a new range of special editions from French manufacturer, Pilote. The main focus of the extra kit is about self-sufficiency, with the additional kit designed to enable off-grid living.

The range includes two new A-class models, which have been designed to offer a sensible payload even at 3,500kg. There’s also a choice of two layouts – rear single beds or a central double – so you can pick a low-profile at 7.20m long or the A-class (7.25m in length) with either floorplan.

Here we’re looking at the low-profile P720FC with a twin sofa lounge up front and a rear island bed, with kitchen and washroom between.

Exterior and engine

As this is a low-profile model, it gets a black cab and black roll-out awning, but it shares contour-effect graphics with the all-white A-class (with a white awning to match).

It’s based on the new Fiat Ducato, with the 140hp engine and the automatic gearbox as standard. Buyers also get an electric parking brake, much easier than reaching down to activate the handbrake, especially if you are on the shorter side, like me.

The 7in screen comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – use your phone to stream music, as well as getting navigation.

Off-grid electrics

Accessing the habitation area is aided by an electric step. The switches for lights, step and the control panel are by the door. The control panel is a fully digital, touchscreen display, showing the standard features, and highlighting some of the off-grid extras that are part of the special edition.

As we were reviewing it on a sunny day, we could see the two 100W solar panels adding energy back into the 200Ah lithium battery. This is needed, though, as there is a compressor fridge, diesel heating (which takes more 12V power to run compared to gas) and a Nespresso coffee machine. 

Plus there is a 1,500W inverter, so you don't need to be plugged into the mains to use that coffee machine and any other mains powered kit you carry. Add in the high-powered battery charger, and those hops between campsites or stopovers will help top up your leisure battery quicker.

That leaves the gas just required for the hob and oven – even then the gas locker still takes two decent-sized cylinders and some owners may only travel with one and use the remaining space for storage or to free up payload.

Lounging and travel

With cab seats swivelled, these are likely to be where you’ll relax with a coffee, especially if the table is folded in half. This allows access from cab to lounge, etc. As well as folding, it swivels and slides on a fixed leg. When folded, the table is the perfect height for the cab seats. Unfolded, I’d prefer to use the lounge sofas to dine, because the cab seats are set slightly higher in their lowest position.

Both sofas convert into travel seats if needed, but only the passenger side seat has a head restraint – a panel pops up to reveal mounts for the removable headrest supplied – plus spare cushions will have to be stashed somewhere when travelling. We’d suggest the sofa on the driver’s side is more of an occasional seat.

Underneath the passenger-side sofa are the electrics (battery, 40A charger and fuses). The diesel heater is under the opposite sofa. There are, however, two lockers fixed underneath the drop-down bed.

The bed lowers to almost the height of the kitchen, so you’ll need the ladder. It’s 6ft 7in long and 4ft 1½in at the widest point (2.0m by 1.25m). There’s a cut-out at the foot narrowing to 3ft 4in, which only partially obstructs the doorway, meaning you shouldn’t have to duck to use this door with the bed down.

Despite this bed, the area feels light and spacious and the underside of the bed is padded, which gives a premium feel. Standing height beneath the bed is 6ft 4in (1.94m), which is a decent amount of headroom.

That feeling of space is helped by the open-plan layout, as well as a skylight above the cab, a window on either side and a non-opening window in the door. There also a vent above the kitchen, as well as a window here.

Add in light-coloured wood and seats, and a modern feel is created thanks to splashes of dark grey and black. This is shown in the entrance with a black striped Japandi-style pattern below the grab handle.

Above this and the control panel, there’s a bracket for a TV. It folds out and is on a riser bar for a more comfortable viewing angle.

Kitchen basics

Moving into the kitchen, it’s a fairly simple layout. A large square section of worktop holds the sink with a black mixer tap and a lid to create extra worktop. However, buyers are unlikely to need this as the two-burner hob is set well back with enough space for a decent-sized chopping board in front.

The slate-effect surround for the window holds a three-pin socket as well as a USB-A and USB-C point. It’s a sensible height to use for a kettle, which can be tucked away behind the tap in the corner when not needed.

Coffee addicts are catered for, too, with that standard Nespresso coffee machine – the plug for this pops into a socket under the top locker, which was a stretch for me. However, it’s fitted on a sturdy sliding bracket to make the water tank easier to reach.

This model comes with an optional oven, although it is unlikely any UK-bound Selections will come without one – if you did want to forgo the low-down oven/grill, you’ll get extra storage here instead.

There’s a drawer below the oven, while a second drawer contains a basic cutlery tray and another deeper drawer has the bin – I’d be tempted to think about displacing this bin as the space is more useful as kitchen storage. The eye-level locker above is quite high. I could just reach into it by using the step up to the washroom, so it’s better for taller people. There is a small spice shelf on the wall, too, with a deep lip and a hook.

Opposite, the 149-litre fridge is a good size and the perfect height. This electric-only model has a freezer section at the top and a bottle drawer.

A shallow drawer below is welcome, while the locker above reveals the drop-down bed switch and the Truma heater controls. There is storage in here, but I’d probably use this for coats, etc, as it’s a little too high for everyday stuff.

At the back

A step leads to the washroom and bedroom. The door swings round to shut off the whole rear and there is a panel that slides across – for privacy at night and if there are guests or kids using the front bed. The shower is on the right and toilet compartment on the left. Because of the door arrangement there is plenty of space on the toilet and it is also not set too high.

Where the kitchen lacks a little storage, the washroom is brilliant – a large, tall locker for all your essentials sits above the toilet with retainers to keep everything in situ on even the bumpiest road. There is also a space below the countertop-mounted sink for chemicals, loo rolls (with a holder and hatch for the roll in use) and possibly towels. Two hooks and a shelf like that seen in the kitchen complete the set-up. The mirror is a good height for most with two spotlights above.

The shower, too, is great with a couple of recesses behind the riser bar, etc, for gels.

The floor has a small step, but it will be OK for most. There is only one drain hole in the shower tray, though.

At the rear, the island bed is 6ft 3in long with a minimal cut-out on either side to allow access around the foot of the bed.

This model also has the optional electric rising bed – set it low for easy access or high to create more storage in the garage below.

Proper tambour doors shut off the garage sides when it’s low.

In its lowest position, anyone relaxing and enjoying a morning coffee from the machine can easily sit up in bed and there are recesses on either side with USB charging points (one of each type), which are perfect for books, glasses or tablets, etc.

A wardrobe on each side has a hanging rail, plus there are reading lights and two speakers. There are also two overhead lockers above, as well as two drawers at the foot of the bed.

There are three recesses under the bed; for access the bed base hinges upwards with gas struts keeping it securely in position. The 4ft 11in-wide Comfort Bultex mattress sits on slats for extra support.

Windows on either side and a rooflight are there for daylight and ventilation. These have blinds and flyscreens but, like the lounge windows, also have thin cotton drapes to soften the area. Finally, two doors provide access to the garage, one being 1.1m high, tall enough to get bikes in. The door on the nearside is a touch smaller. Kit inside the garage can be secured with two tie-down rails holding five movable brackets each.

There is a power socket in here, as well as a shower, so you can wash down any muddy outdoor gear before storing it away. A heater vent means the area shouldn’t get too cold, as well as allowing wet items to be dried.

With the bed in its lowest position there is still 86cm of usable storage height. There’s a strip light on the wall and a central hatch allows access to the inboard water tank for servicing.

The waste tank can be accessed via a hatch in the lounge floor with a pull-to-empty lever underneath the motorhome just behind the cab.

A compartment under the washroom floor contains that ever-so-useful 1,500W inverter.

Make sure to note the useful slide-out drawer in the side skirt – perfect for levelling ramps or other such mucky campsite kit.

PIlote’s Selection Editions are fitted with the right kit to be able to stay electrically independent at a sensible price. The interiors are spacious and modern, while this 7.20m-long island bed model has a great bedroom, washroom and lounge. And, while the kitchen is compact, the layout works well. Just ensure you’re happy with the storage for food and cooking equipment if you need the oven.