Mercedes Benz is one of the most successful automotive manufacturers in the world.
While they might be best known for their lineup of sleek stylish cars, they also have popular engines, transmissions and a chassis like the Mercedes Sprinter that are used by a wide range of RV manufacturers as a platform for Class B and Class C motorhomes.
This might have you wondering “Which are the best RVs built on a Mercedes-Benz chassis?”
To help you find the best Mercedes Benz Motorhome to meet your family’s needs, we will need to ask and answer a few important questions to help familiarize you with some important underlying details.
From there we can dive into reviews of some of the best Class B and Class C RVs that are built using the Mercedes Benz platform of chassis, engine and transmission.
What Is A Mercedes Sprinter Motorhome?
The Sprinter is one of Mercedes Benz most popular chassis. It originally started life as a transit van that appealed to tradesmen and transport companies who needed to move a lot of materials or get a fair number of people from Point A to Point B comfortably.
Of course, it didn’t take long for engineers to start imagining how the successful Sprinter chassis could be used for other things like a motorhome.
What Is The Difference Between A Sprinter Van And A Sprinter Cab Chassis?
There are very few material differences between the sprinter van and cab chassis.
The most important exception being that the cab chassis only provides the driver’s area from Sprinter.
This serves as sort of a blank canvas where the rest of the RV motorhome can be added to the frame behind the driver’s seat position.
Whereas the van is a complete structure that encompasses the entire vehicle from front to back.
What Are The Pros & Cons Of The Mercedes Benz Sprinter Chassis?
There are a few important benefits and a few minor drawbacks to the popular RV that is built on a Mercedes Benz Sprinter Chassis.
Some have minimal effect on its capabilities as a motorhome, whereas others are factors you might want to consider when deciding whether or not a Mercedes Benz Class B or Class C motorhome is right for you.
Pros Of Why You Should Choose A Mercedes Benz Motorhome
The Mercedes Benz Sprinter Chassis paired with other Mercedes components has some strong characteristics that have made it one of the most popular platforms for Class B and Class C motorhome around the world.
Potential Drawbacks Of A Mercedes Benz Motorhome
For all its strengths the Mercedes Benz motorhome platform and the Sprinter chassis do have a few potential drawbacks.
While they aren’t all bad, you do need to take them into account while shopping for and test driving Class B and Class C motorhomes.
8 Best Mercedes Benz Motorhomes In 2021
The Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassis is used as a primarily built platform for a wide range of Class B and Class C motorhomes.
So, we tried to review models in both classes, while looking for key features that might also speak to niche travel styles, and the type of family that motorhome might serve best.
Here are the 8 of the best Class B and Class C Motorhome RVs built on a Mercedes Benz chassis:
1. 2021 Winnebago Revel 44E Class B Motorhome
Winnebago made its name as a manufacturer of high-quality motorhomes.
So you know when they put their badge on one like the 2021 Winnebago Revel, that they are going to start with one of the bests chassis in the Mercedes Benz Sprinter.
At the heart of this Class B motorhome, you will find a fuel-efficient Mercedes Benz 3-liter, 6 cylinder diesel engine.
This produces up to 188 hp at 3,800 RPMs, which translates into a maximum towing capacity of up to 5,000-pounds.
The interior layout of the 2021 Winnebago – Revel 44E was designed to sleep only two people, which makes it a great campervan for a couple that loves to travel in a nimble RV that also offers a fair amount of elbow room.
The rear of this Class B motorhome is equipped with a power lift bed that is firmly connected to the sturdy Sprinter chassis.
This gives you a sleeping space above and a clever gear garage area below.
2. 2021 Airstream Atlas Murphy Suite Class B Motorhome
Airstream originally made its name with a lineup of scintillating aluminum-clad travel trailers.
Though that hasn’t stopped them from breaking into the motorhome niche with a Class B model like the 2021 Airstream Atlas.
The Atlas is built on the Mercedes Benz sprinter chassis platform. Its beating heart is a Mercedes Benz 3-liter, 6 cylinder diesel engine.
This produces up to 188 hp at 3,800 RPMs. This gives it a maximum towing capacity of up to 5,000-pounds, which lets you bring a fishing boat or a toy hauler with you on your RV adventures.
If there’s one thing to be a little wary of with the Airstream Atlas it’s the exterior height.
At 126-inch (10.5 ft.) it’s a little too tall to fit into most residential garages, parking garages, and even a fair number of fast food drive-thru lanes.
3. 2021 Pleasure-Way Plateau TS Class B Motorhome
The 2021 Pleasure-Way – Plateau TS takes advantage of the versatility and stability of the Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassis to support a very comfortable Class B motorhome.
It has the 7 speed Mercedes transmission paired with the popular 3-liter diesel engine. This gives it up to 188 hp at 3,800 RPMs and a maximum towing capacity of up to 4,220-pounds.
The interior was designed to maximize the living space, while also providing you with a well-appointed kitchen that outshines a lot of the other more basic kitchens in this niche.
It can also sleep up to three people, which is appealing to small families with a single child.
4. 2021 Tiffin Wayfarer 25 RW Class C Motorhome
With the 2021 Tiffin – Wayfarer 25 RW we step up into the Class C motorhome niche.
It gives you more interior living space, which translates into being able to sleep up to 6 people.
This is thanks to the Sprinter’s frame being able to support a large power slide-out section as well as a cab-over bunk.
When you look under the hood, you will find the same 7 speed Mercedes transmission paired with the popular 3-liter diesel engine that you find in a lot of the popular Class B camper vans.
It also means that the Wayfarer 25 RW can produce up to 188 hp at 3,800 RPMs with a maximum towing capacity of up to 5,000-pounds.
Here again one of the tradeoffs you face with the roomy interior and the spacious cab-over bunk is the looming height problem.
Measuring in at 136-inches (11.33 ft.) you won’t be able to fit it in a standard residential garage, multi-story car park or most drive thru lanes.
5. 2021 Winnebago View 24D Class C Motorhome
The 2021 Winnebago – View 24D is another great Class C motorhome engineered to pair the Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassis and the Mercedes 3.0-liter diesel engine.
It also uses Mercedes popular 7-speed transmission which helps put the power down to climb hills, deal with rough terrain, and tow up to 5,000-pounds.
The Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassis is also sturdy enough to support a large power slide-out section.
It houses a murphy bed in the master bedroom as well as a U-shaped dinette that is truly large enough to let the entire family sit down together for a meal.
There’s even a reasonably large rear bathroom with large waste and fresh water storage tanks to support it.
6. 2021 Dynamax Corp Isata 3 Series 24FW Class C Motorhome
The 2021 Dynamax Corp – Isata 3 Series 24FW is a sturdy, spacious Class C motorhome built on the Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassis.
It uses the popular 3.0-liter 6 Cylinder diesel engine and 7 speed Mercedes Benz transmission that you find in a lot of popular Class C motorhomes.
This gives it a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity without significantly compromising the miles per gallon when towing your toys or boat behind you on your vacation.
The towering 137-inch height means you likely won’t get it into your residential garage or into a drive thru lane.
Though it does mean that whoever sleeps in the large cab-over bunk won’t feel hemmed in, or bang their head if they sit up a little in the middle of the night.
7. 2021 Leisure Travel Unity FX Class B+ RV
The Leisure Travel Unity Class B+ RV uses the same Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 Dual Rear Wheel Chassis and the Mercedes Benz 3.0 L V6 Turbo Diesel paired with Mercedes 7 speed transmission which makes it such a successful motorhome platform.
Though Leisure Travel Vans has gone the extra mile to engineer it with a king-size murphy bed to give you a better experience on the road.
When you also take into account that the floorplan is engineered to only sleep two people it makes the Leisure Travel Van Unity one of the best Class B+ Mercedes motorhomes for a couple who likes to tow their toys along with them.
You might also appreciate the spacious dry bedroom with large shower area and the water storage tanks that let you travel in comfort for days, even if you can’t find an RV park with an available campsite.
8. 2021 Thor Motor Coach Delano 24RW Class C Motorhome
One look at the 2021 Thor Motor Coach – Delano 24RW and you can tell that every effort was put into making it feel like a true luxury Class C motorhome.
It takes advantage of the Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassis’ strength to support a 68.5-inch spacious dinette section that also houses an impressively large 40-inch TV.
It also has the same popular 3.0-liter diesel engine and 7 speed Mercedes Benz transmission that a lot of the other popular models on this list have.
This translates into 188 hp at 3,800 RPMs with a maximum towing capacity of up to 5,000-pounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does A Mercedes Benz RV Cost?
The average price for a new Mercedes Benz motorhome runs between $60,000 to $80,000. Though this price range can swing wildly depending on special features and creature comforts you want installed into it.
What Kind Of Gas Mileage Does A Sprinter Get?
14.5 MPG is the average of the lineup. Though it can vary widely depending on the size and type of the engine, as well as the gross vehicle weight rating of the motorhome.
A lighter Mercedes Benz RV with a diesel engine might get as much as 24 miles to the gallon on the highway.
Whereas a heavy Class C motorhome with a gasoline engine might only get 11.5 to 12 miles per gallon when driving on rough and bumpy back roads.
How Tall Is A Sprinter RV?
The tallest Class C Mercedes Benz motorhome can measure as tall as 79-inches, which might be too tall for a standard residential garage or a parking garage with a low ceiling.
On the other end of the spectrum, a lower profile Class B Mercedes Benz camper van can be as low as 65.5-inches.
Can A Sprinter Van Fit In A Garage?
Some of the taller Mercedes Benz motorhomes that use the Sprinter platform can be as high as 79-inches, which might be a little too high for a standard residential garage.
Though most of the Class B models are low enough to fit in a residential garage or within the height restrictions of a multi-story parking garage.
Conclusion
The Mercedes Benz Sprinter platform has been popular for decades. It’s nice to see it getting so much love as a canvas for some great Class B and Class C motorhomes.
The one that is best for your family’s needs will depend on your travel style, budget, and the number of people you typically travel with.
If you have a family with three or more children, then the 2021 Winnebago – View 24D might be the best Class C Mercedes Benz motorhome to meet your needs.
It can sleep up to 6 people and comes with a large U-shaped dinette, which is made possible by the overall sturdiness of the Sprinter chassis.
If you have a small family, or you just want to travel with your spouse in a comfortable, well-designed Class B motorhome, then you might want to give the sturdy, yet nimble 2021 Winnebago – Revel 44E a good hard look.
It offers a great amount of interior living space and can still get through most fast food drive thru lanes.
1 Comment
kim
1 year agoi’ve been shopping for a new or nearly new class c and i sure can’t find one for the 60k to 80k range.