TAKE ME TO THE PILOTE

Paul Owen looks at the $214,000 7.4m Pilote P740 from Blenheim’s Deluxe RV Group.

The Pilote Group is a motorhomemaking machine, producing 7000 RVs a year and selling them under six brands, including the upmarket Frankia and Le Voyageur marques.

The $214,000 7.4m Pilote P740 sampled here sits smack in the middle of the group’s wide model range in terms of size, stature, branding and price, and could therefore represent the sweet spot when it comes to value for money.

There’s an island bed at the rear, a separate shower and toilet/washroom as you move forward, followed by a kitchen, and the five-seat lounge acts as a makeup double bed.

As mobile places to relax go, this one’s hard to beat at this price, and Pilote gives buyers the opportunity to fine-tune the décor to their tastes. There’s the pick of three wood veneers, two benchtop and splashback colours, while various seat coverings and curtain options are available on pre-order.

Starting at the rear bedroom, there’s some nice hanging wardrobes on either side of the island bed. Those who enjoy having long shelves on either side of the head of the bed to rest books and cups of coffee on will approve of the way that Pilote has designed those wardrobes so that handy bedside shelves can easily be located below them.

The shower cubicle and the washroom/ toilet sit on opposite sides of the P740 ahead of the bedroom, and these areas can be fully enclosed if desired with doors at either end. A proper screen seals off the shower so that water doesn’t escape into the adjacent drying area, and the washroom/toilet can also be enclosed when in use.

The kitchen bench has an unusual shape, being wider at the rear, and skinnier at the front, and works all the better for it. You get a deeper set of drawers below the wider section, while the skinny part allows easier reach to the three-burner gas hob located near the kitchen window. Below is the oven/ grill and a further drawer. Completing the kitchen are some generously sized overhead lockers with removable shelves inside, a pull-out pantry, and a three-way fridge/freezer unit located on the other side of the Pilote.

No motorhome is perfect, but in terms of design and build quality, the Pilote P740 gets temptingly close to perfection. Find out more at deluxegroup.co.nz

Specifications

Make/model PILOTE P740

Berths 4

Engine 2.2L turbo-diesel, 140bhp (180bhp available on pre-order)

Gearbox Nine-speed automatic

Length/width/ height 7450mm / 2300mm / 2880mm

Performance 105kW, 330Nm torque

Fresh/hot/grey water Fresh 135L / Hot 10L / Grey 95L

GVW/payload 3650kg / 605kg

Unladen mass 2895kg

Price From $214,000