Ci Magis Plus 66XT Review

All the basics, with classy extras and upgrades – this model scores well against Bill Savidan’s wish list.

Every now and then a reviewer comes across an RV they really like. For me, the Ci Magis Plus 66XT, to give the full title, is one of these: an appropriately equipped base vehicle, understated external appearance, slightly overstated interior decor, practical interior layout with nearly all the bits and pieces I need in a motorhome. 

‘Plus’ in the model title indicates a higher standard of decor. In the Magis the most visible sign is the quilted, two-tone eco-leather upholstery and feature panels. 

BEDROOM

The sought-after north/south island bed sits over the garage at the back of the Magis. You can manually wind it up to give more headroom in the garage. In the low position it’s easy to get in and out of bed. An extra bedside step improves access when the bed is raised. 

The ‘Plus’ decor – like the shelves beside the shower, the wall-mounted magazine pouches either side of the bed, and the quilted panels around the ceiling hatch – add an extra layer of sophistication and quirkiness. And a central wall, at the foot of the bed, is the perfect spot to mount the TV in the bedroom, and the handbasin in the washroom.

There are plenty of options for stowing clothing and personal items, in the more familiar storage places: two bedside wardrobes, two overhead lockers, space under the mattress at the foot of the bed and under the bedside steps.
Not forgetting the bed (1900mm x 1500mm). It has a cold foam mattress over sprung wooden slats; an extremely popular and comfortable arrangement. 

Above the lounge is a drop-down double bed (cold foam mattress/sprung wooden slats). At the head it is slightly wider (1280mm) than a double bed, tapering to 1070mm wide at the foot. Held at the front by vertical alloy rails and, at the rear, by seat-belt style straps, it’s rock steady when deployed. In the lowered position the lockers on the underside of the bed just touch the back cushions of the couch. A ladder is provided for getting in and out of bed. My wife and I have shared beds of this size and configuration, and been pleasantly surprised at how well we have slept. 

BATHROOM

Up a step from the lounge, the washroom has a novel, well thought-out layout. Its centrepiece is an elegant handbasin standing alone in the middle of the motorhome. It stands on a single cupboard cabinet in front of a mirror. As you face the basin, the toilet is to the right, with a floor-to-ceiling mirror door alongside covering five cubby shelves.

To the left is the shower, its handpiece rail-mounted on a backlit corner panel.

The effect of the mirrors and the black and white decor is dramatic. Three sliding doors close off the washroom from the kitchen and bedroom, forming a spacious ensuite. When needed, a curtain separates the Thetford toilet inside the ensuite.

KITCHEN

If asked to describe the kitchen in a word, ‘compact’ springs to mind. It has a Thetford Duplex oven, a two-burner LPG hob and a spacious automatic 140L 3-way fridge-freezer. Storage opportunities are a single locker above the sink and a single cupboard  below. If you like to stock up on groceries, you’ll need to use some of the lounge overhead lockers.

A stylish wall panel to the left of the sink has a rack for jars, and hooks for small utensils. Splash guards offer protection at both ends of the bench, and a large, backlit splash guard surrounds the window behind the sink.

Entry is via one of the new, extra-wide 700mm habitation doors. It’s a relatively low step up, and there’s a grab handle if you need it.

LOUNGE/DINETTE

This one has the increasingly popular layout where couches face one another either side of a central dining table. With the cab seats rotated there is comfortable table seating for five. Folding the tabletop back during the day gives ample room to walk through from the kitchen to the cab. Cushions on both couches can be repositioned to create seat-belted travel seats for two passengers. Under the kerbside settee is the water-pump/tank, and electronics occupy all the space under the other settee.

CAB 

Above the cab in the low-profile Luton is a shelf large enough to stow puffer jackets and smaller items like cameras and phones. The cab seats are upholstered to match the interior decor. Horizontal blinds and full-length curtains cover the cab windows and windscreen. Why both, you ask? Well, the curtains are quicker to use if you don’t want to fiddle with the blinds, and they offer an additional thermal barrier in really cold weather. Note: rain sensors control the wipers, dusk sensors activate the lights, and the cab doors both have grab handles.

ENTERTAINMENT 

A four-speaker stereo is part of the new infotainment system – a pair each in the lounge and the bedroom. And a new 18.5in Pro Series LED TV/DVD player is paired with an Alden auto satellite dish in the lounge. Power and aerial connections are installed for an optional second TV in the bedroom.

EXTERIOR

Kerbside, there are lockers for two 9kg LPG bottles, a toilet cassette, a lower skirt locker behind the passenger door, and the large hatch at the rear for the garage. There is a four-cycle bike rack on the rear panel, below dual rearview cameras (push-button to view one or the other). Driver’s side has an extra large garage hatch at the rear, and two fridge vents, with an awning above.

CHASSIS

Mounted on a Fiat Ducato heavy-duty, extra-wide chassis, the Magis has a GVW of 4150kg and a useful payload of 800kg. Power is supplied by a 2.3L 160 BHP turbo diesel motor. To help Ducatos comply with Euro 6d emissions, they are equipped with variable-geometry turbochargers, electronically controlled fuel pumps to reduce consumption, and intelligent alternators, part of the new start/stop technology. In New Zealand, apart from Auckland’s traffic snarl-ups, stop/start is not often needed. When the extra wear on the battery, starter and engine is taken into account, is it really necessary? Fortunately it is easily deactivated via a dashboard switch. 

For me, the best new Ducato feature is the 9-speed automatic gearbox. It’s streets ahead of the previous Comfort-Matic gearbox that was, as a UK reviewer put it, “slow-witted to say the least”. 

GOING OFF-GRID

As reviewed, the Magis has good freedom camping credentials for two people for four or five days. At 100L each tank, fresh and grey water would require careful use. No problem with LPG, and for that timeframe the fridge size is generous. The 100-amp AGM house battery being replenished by a 120W solar panel will be fine in spring, summer and autumn but it may be stretched with continuous grey skies in winter. But your 6kW Combi Truma gas water and space heater will still be boxing on, especially if you install a second LPG bottle (which the locker has space for). 

SUMMARY

As I declared at the start, I liked the Magis. Kitchen storage space might be tight but there is enough for me. As with any Ci supplied by Walkabout Sales, it has a very comprehensive equipment specification, excellent warranties and certificates, and includes all on-road costs. And the price includes a special grey carpet from proprietor Shane Smale. It looks neat and can be cleaned with a waterblaster. And as he keeps reminding me, No Hidden Costs.

PROS

• ‘Plus’ decor upgrade
• Face-to-face couches
• Stylish, spacious washroom
• Ducato’s 9-speed auto/160 BHP motor combination

CONS

• Needs a larger house battery/solar panel combo for winter travels
• Two large towel rails in the washroom, please

Ci Magis Plus 66XT Specifications

Price as reviewed: $164,900

Visit cimotorhomes.co.nz to find out more.

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