Itineo MC740 Review

Rotated, the cab seats become part of the lounge

Itineo Motorhomes are part of the Rapido Group, based in Mayenne, France, and are built in the Rapido factory. Once a caravan manufacturer, Rapido diversified into motorhomes in 1983 and now operates Europe-wide.

The MC740 model is an integrated or A-class motorhome, meaning the body is completely constructed from front bumper to back by the motorhome body builder. Itineo have been building this body style for 10 years, and have it down to a fine art. Built on a Fiat Ducato chassis, the MC740 has a Fiat 180BHP turbo-diesel motor driving the front wheels through a six-speed AMT gearbox. At GVW4400kg, it requires a COF but can be driven on a car (Class 1) licence.

The MC740 is an integrated motorhome, i.e the body is constructed from front bumper to back by the motorhome body builder

This integrated body style, which carries the width of the body right through to the windscreen, has some major advantages:

• It allows for wonderful panoramic views from the front lounge through the windscreen and passenger/driver’s side windows – better vistas than most rear lounge motorhomes offer.
• The width and depth of the cab space is added to the lounge, making it much bigger.
• Across the full width of the cab is a fold-down double bed that stows out of sight above the cab and lowers to a convenient height when needed. It is nice to be able to offer overnight guests a bed that is nearly as accessible and just as comfortable as the owner’s bed at the back. And it doesn’t disrupt the use of the lounge.

It takes just a touch of colour to bring the decor to life

Lounge/dinette

Stylishly upholstered, the cab seats rotate to become part of the lounge. It has a sensible layout, with twin settees facing one another (length: 1200mm kerbside, 900mm driver’s), allowing easy passage from the entry door through to the cab.

The seat cushions are upholstered in a fine woven fabric in a light coffee colour, with their top panels covered with faux leather in a darker shade of coffee. Tjese neutral tones match well with the honey-coloured timberlook of the cabinetry.

The dining table folds in half lengthwise and is stowed towards the kerbside seat when out of use. The top is mounted on a sliding frame so when the table is unfolded, it can reach those seated on the driver’s side settee. It accommodates five diners with ease.

All the overhead locker cabinets have a useful shelf below the locker. Each has an up-stand across the front to keep the contents from falling off when travelling.

There are two forward-facing, seat-belted passenger seats, one each side of the lounge. Each has a removable seat back/headrest that is stowed in the garage when the lounge is in dining/entertainment mode.

With these installed and a couple of seat cushions re-arranged, the passengers are comfortably and legally seated for travel. All the windows are the popular cassette style with built-in blinds and insect screens and each has a pair of gauze curtains for daytime privacy.

Entry

A single electrically powered step eases the way into the MC740 via a twostep stepwell. The door has a window (with blind), which is handy if you are dismounting while traffic is passing. There is also a rubbish bin mounted on the door and an insect screen that covers the opening to keep the airborne bugs out when you are parked up.

As you enter, under the settee to the right, is a shoe locker. Just above is the switch for the steps, with the water heater controls, lights and pump switches, and fresh/grey tank water level monitors up higher still above the door.

To the left above the fridge-freezer, an Avtex 24” LED television is mounted on the wall beside the door, where you can watch it from the comfortable seats in the lounge.

A practical layout, the kitchen has three gas hobs at the back of the bench and working space at the front

The ample storage includes a slide-out pantry under the sink

Kitchen

The practical layout includes three gas hobs at the back of the bench and working space at the front, with the sink to the left. There is lots of storage, especially since RnRV has reconfigured the space under the sink into a slide-out pantry.

Above the fridge-freezer, a TV is mounted on the wall, where you can watch it from the lounge

Also there is a large (1140mm x 450mm x 300mm-deep) storage cubby in the floor. And the kitchen has two appliances Kiwi buyers ask for; a large two-door, 150-litre auto energy select fridge-freezer and an oven. Small this may be, but it’s still big enough to store a hi-top kettle with room to spare.

Curtains provide privacy in the cab

The sun-visor blinds are mounted on concertina metal frames

Cab

The MC740 cab will look familiar to those who have owned or driven Ducatos before because Itineo have retained the Ducato dashboard and the fittings below it. The 180BHP motor provided me with ample power for driving along the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, and it should cope well when fully laden. Two window curtains, rather than horizontal blinds, offer privacy in the cab. Covering the side windows and the windscreen, they are easy to use, look good and durable, and could easily outlast the blind setups used by many manufacturers. There are separate driver and passenger sun-visor blinds mounted on concertina metal frames. The rear-view monitor is mounted to the right of the driver, on top of the dashboard.

The shelving in the shower is very stylish

Washroom

There is a single step up from the kitchen to the washroom. The ensuite is split in two, with the shower kerbside and toilet and handbasin opposite. The toilet door also closes off the kitchen, while a solid sliding door shuts off the bedroom. Behind a pair of folding doors, a simple push-up ceiling vent airs the dramatically styled shower stall. It has good shelving for bathroom necessities. The toilet is a smart-looking Dometic model. Storage is available in the wall behind the toilet, in the cupboard below the corner basin and in the medicine cabinet above the toilet. A window provides ventilation and there are hooks for a hand towel and clothing, but no rails. Overall, an excellent bathroom with enough room to do what is needed.

The padded bedhead is practical means there is no flimsy window blind waiting to get damaged

Bedroom

The MC740 has a decent sized bed; 2000mm long by 1400mm wide with the bottom end corners cut off to improve access past the foot of the bed. Above are two large lockers, each with the aforementioned shelf underneath, with a hanging locker, a magazine/book storage pocket and a reading light on each side of the bed. The driver’s side gets a small-hinged countertop (for the morning cuppa) with storage underneath, while the other side gets a countertop and the USB port. The padded bedhead is practical and it means there is no flimsy window blind waiting to get damaged.

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Some of the overhead lockers have a mid-shelf and all have a shelf below

Ventilation is taken care of with a window on each side wall and a hatch in the ceiling. The reading lights are supported with an array of hidden LEDs plus a single LED downlight.

Exterior

Just behind the front wheel on the driver’s side is the LPG locker. It will accommodate two alloy 12kg bottles or two regular 9kg bottles, whichever you prefer. The habitation door and the cassette toilet hatch are amidships, with the larger of the two garage hatches at the back.

In the default position, the internal height of the garage is 860mm. However, more height is available at the push of a button. The bed can rise around 300mm for a new total height of 1160mm, allowing bikes to be carried standing in the garage. A small amount of shelf space is available on the front wall of the garage. The hot and cold water ‘frost’ taps are accessible in the garage should you need to drain these water systems to avoid having them freeze in cold weather. A large durable plastic bin makes up the base of the garage. It has anchor points strategically positioned around the perimeter. Up front on the kerbside is the cab passenger door, while amidships is a hatch the same in appearance as a toilet cassette door that gives access to the Truma water heater.

Freedom

This A-class is high spec, certified self-contained, and fitted out with freedom camping in mind. It has 340 watts of solar panel feeding two 100a/hr AGM batteries, 120-litre fresh and grey water tanks plus 20 litres of fresh in the hot water tank, a four-metre Dometic awning, two 9kg LPG bottles, the 150-litre three-way fridge/freezer, and a KiwiSAT automatic satellite dish to go with the TV.

Summary

Aimed at entry-level A-class buyers, the MC740 has captured customers prepared to spend up to $250,000 for their motorhome. They see what it has to offer in layout design, a spacious lounge/dinette, island bed at the back and the light, bright interior and decide there’s no need to look any further. On top of that are all the extras included in the price of $184,990 including GST.

Floor plan – daytime

Floor plan – nighttime

Itineo MC740 specifications

*The weight of all extras adds to the tare weight and diminishes the payload.

Price as reviewed: $184,990

Pros

• The lounge and that wonderful view
• The extra space the integrated body provides
• The roomy washroom, separate shower and doors either side that close off to create an ensuite
• Well equipped for freedom camping

Cons

• The clash between the rubbish bin and the main entry insect screen

For more information, visit rnrv.co.nz

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