Knaus Sky TI 700 MX
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Description
Price from: £54,995 Price as test: £57,790 Type Approval: European Whole Vehicle Berths: 4 Travel seats: 4
Key Features
Model Year
2012
Product Class
Low Profile
Product Model Base
Fiat Ducato
Price from (£)
£54995
Length (m)
7.47
Berths
3
Belted seats
4
Main Layout
Island Bed
Full Review
This Knaus Sky TI 700 MX has some wonderful touches that make it, and its occupants, feel very special – that wow factor island bed, the soft, self-closing kitchen drawers, the fully partitioned bedroom and dressing area and the (optional) hidden TV all conspire to make those on board feel pampered.
For a couple, this 700 MX is hard to fault, but we tested it as a four-berth motorhome. In practice the front lounge bed is one suitable only for one adult or two small children, in reality one child gets ample space while the other runs the risk of falling off the edge while asleep.
Here, the Knaus wins hands down. Don’t just take my word for it, at the filling station, at the supermarket, on the campsite and at the seaside – everywhere we stopped curious visitors came over under the pretence of admiring the exterior, but as we all know, they all really wanted to look inside.
TO BED
It’s that island bed that does it. While there are options within the Sky range for a variety of rear bed layouts, for me it is this island bed layout that works best.
The mattress is supremely comfortable and the bed long (192cm) and wide (140cm) enough. Cleverly, the bed folds up so one can sit up under the duvet in comfort while drinking a cuppa.
Making the front bed is a hassle. The table, which we found heavy and awkward to handle, has to be lowered, which means removing half of its leg, and then reattaching it on a lower fixing point.
Then an additional plank of wood needs to be fixed across the table extension – remember to swivel this out before fixing it – and then an infill cushion needs to be slotted in.
The result is an L-shaped affair which is certainly never going to be a long-term sleeping solution.
TEETH BRUSHING
The separate loo area comes with a Dometic swivel toilet, a deep washbasin and mirrors galore, including on the door of the adequate bathroom cabinet.
It is a tight squeeze, so Knaus has installed a clever sliding wall to increase space.
The WC door also swings across to partition off the bedroom and washing area from the rest of the living space, which again is ideal when one has children and desires a little privacy.
COOKING
The central kitchen is very well equipped with a three-burner gas hob, large fridge and grill/oven, which unfortunately is too high for practical use.
The sink is deep enough to swallow a meal for four’s worth of washing up, but there is no draining area for wet dishes.
Despite what felt initially like a rather cramped space for preparing meals, it actually proved to be a very practical kitchen area.
There is plenty of storage that comes in the shape of three deep drawers, a large cupboard and three overhead lockers. There is also a low-level cupboard under the fridge.
RELAXING
Forward of this well-equipped kitchen is the lounge area, which, when the front travel seats are swivelled round and the table extension is in use, provides ample space for five to dine, chat or relax with a game of cards and a drink.
The excellent (optional) Maxview autoseeking satellite system and Avtex pop-up TV and DVD player was a life-saver on a very wet Sunday afternoon.
Despite being the middle of our so-called summer, the heating was called into action. And superb it was. The easy-to-use gas and mains Truma blown-air system did exactly what we wanted when we wanted it.
External storage, which only comes with access from one side, managed to swallow three push bikes (although one has to remove the front wheel to get an adult’s bike inside), a set of levelling blocks and all the family’s wet-weather clothing and boots.
This is a superb motorhome and a worthy overall winner of the 2012 Motorhome of the Year award (although the actual winner was the shorter, French bed layout 650 MF model).
Want to know more? Read the previous review of our long term test Knaus Sky Ti 700MX
An extended version of this motorhome review first appeared in the
For a couple, this 700 MX is hard to fault, but we tested it as a four-berth motorhome. In practice the front lounge bed is one suitable only for one adult or two small children, in reality one child gets ample space while the other runs the risk of falling off the edge while asleep.
LASTING IMPRESSIONS
First impressions count, especially in the world of motorhomes, where the ambience of the living quarters and the instant emotional attachment one makes with it can mean the difference between a deal being struck or not.Here, the Knaus wins hands down. Don’t just take my word for it, at the filling station, at the supermarket, on the campsite and at the seaside – everywhere we stopped curious visitors came over under the pretence of admiring the exterior, but as we all know, they all really wanted to look inside.
TO BED
It’s that island bed that does it. While there are options within the Sky range for a variety of rear bed layouts, for me it is this island bed layout that works best.
The mattress is supremely comfortable and the bed long (192cm) and wide (140cm) enough. Cleverly, the bed folds up so one can sit up under the duvet in comfort while drinking a cuppa.
Making the front bed is a hassle. The table, which we found heavy and awkward to handle, has to be lowered, which means removing half of its leg, and then reattaching it on a lower fixing point.
Then an additional plank of wood needs to be fixed across the table extension – remember to swivel this out before fixing it – and then an infill cushion needs to be slotted in.
The result is an L-shaped affair which is certainly never going to be a long-term sleeping solution.
TEETH BRUSHING
The separate loo area comes with a Dometic swivel toilet, a deep washbasin and mirrors galore, including on the door of the adequate bathroom cabinet.
It is a tight squeeze, so Knaus has installed a clever sliding wall to increase space.
The WC door also swings across to partition off the bedroom and washing area from the rest of the living space, which again is ideal when one has children and desires a little privacy.
COOKING
The central kitchen is very well equipped with a three-burner gas hob, large fridge and grill/oven, which unfortunately is too high for practical use.
The sink is deep enough to swallow a meal for four’s worth of washing up, but there is no draining area for wet dishes.
Despite what felt initially like a rather cramped space for preparing meals, it actually proved to be a very practical kitchen area.
There is plenty of storage that comes in the shape of three deep drawers, a large cupboard and three overhead lockers. There is also a low-level cupboard under the fridge.
RELAXING
Forward of this well-equipped kitchen is the lounge area, which, when the front travel seats are swivelled round and the table extension is in use, provides ample space for five to dine, chat or relax with a game of cards and a drink.
The excellent (optional) Maxview autoseeking satellite system and Avtex pop-up TV and DVD player was a life-saver on a very wet Sunday afternoon.
Despite being the middle of our so-called summer, the heating was called into action. And superb it was. The easy-to-use gas and mains Truma blown-air system did exactly what we wanted when we wanted it.
External storage, which only comes with access from one side, managed to swallow three push bikes (although one has to remove the front wheel to get an adult’s bike inside), a set of levelling blocks and all the family’s wet-weather clothing and boots.
This is a superb motorhome and a worthy overall winner of the 2012 Motorhome of the Year award (although the actual winner was the shorter, French bed layout 650 MF model).
Want to know more? Read the previous review of our long term test Knaus Sky Ti 700MX
An extended version of this motorhome review first appeared in the
October 2012 issue of MMM
Our Verdict
Despite being a four berth our long-term test is a motorhome made for a couple who occasionally need an extra berth or two
Advantages
Island double bed
Extending width WC
Night-time guide lights
Disadvantages
Poor front bed
Oven and grill too high Knaus Sky TI 700 MX
