The Villagio sports full-body paint on its gel-coat fiberglass exterior, shown here with a color called Caramel 4.
This innovative Type B+ motorhome offers contemporary styling on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis. By Mark Quasius, F333630 March 2015Since the company’s inception in 1997, Kibbi LLC — better known as Renegade RV — has continued to cement its footprint in the RV world. The Bristol, Indiana, manufacturer currently builds custom vehicles, including motorhomes that bear names such as IKON, XL, and Classic on Class 8 heavy-duty truck chassis, as well as the Explorer and Verona on Class 7 business-class truck chassis. They can be custom-built to serve a multitude of purposes, from specialty vehicles and race car haulers to luxurious palaces on wheels. These big-boy Super Cs can haul most anything as they travel down the road in style.
Renegade also makes the Villagio Type B+ motorhome — a “little brother” by comparison. But being smaller doesn’t indicate lower quality. The Villagio is perfect for someone who wants to downsize from a Type A motorhome but doesn’t want to sacrifice anything but length and width. It’s targeted to the RV owner who isn’t just a weekend camper, but who wants to spend serious time living and touring — just in a compact vehicle.
During a recent visit to Renegade’s production facilities, I had the opportunity to examine a Villagio 25HAB, one of four floor plans available in the line for 2015; all are 25 feet long and include one or two slideouts. The 25HAB comes with one street-side slideout, which houses a sleeper sofa with an all-foam sleeping surface.
Unlike Renegade’s larger motorhomes, the Villagio is built on the Mercedes-Benz 3500 Sprinter chassis. This compact platform uses a Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC 3.0-liter diesel engine and a five-speed automatic transmission to power the 11,030-pound-rated motorhome smoothly and economically. Towing a vehicle is accomplished via a 3,500-pound hitch with a seven-way plug.
The cab area is comfortable. When seated behind the wheel, one is reminded more of a big SUV than a motorhome. Plus, the motorhome’s 25-foot length enables drivers to park in places where larger vehicles just won’t fit. The cockpit area contains a “media center” with an AM/FM radio, DVD and CD players, and a rearview camera and GPS. It also has its own climate controls. Cab-over storage is accessible via large cabinet doors.
The 215/85R16 all-season tires on my test unit were mounted on optional polished aluminum rims. When I filled the 26.4-gallon fuel tank and the 34-gallon fresh-water tank and ran the Villagio across the scales with two persons aboard, it registered 9,960 pounds. In my opinion, the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 11,030 pounds and the cargo-carrying capacity of 1,070 pounds are more than adequate for this motorhome. The front axle is rated at 4,410 pounds, with an actual weight recorded at 3,680 pounds. The rear axle was rated at 7,720 pounds and weighed 6,280. Thus, the weight was distributed evenly across both axles.
Renegade employs “green” methods when building the Villagio. In fact, its manufacturing practices have been certified green by TRA Certification, an independent third-party company. Rather than using wood in its construction, as is common in many smaller RVs, Renegade designers work with various composites, such as Fortis, Cosmolite, and Azdel. These man-made materials are said to be 50 percent lighter than wood; to offer three times higher insulation values; to emit no odors or formaldehyde gassing; to better absorb sounds; and to be impervious to rot, mold, and water damage. The Azdel material sandwiches both the inside and outside of the aluminum-framed, laminated sidewall, resting beneath the exterior fiberglass panels as well as the interior décor panels.
Beauflor flooring is used in the interior. This upgraded laminated composite resembles wood-look vinyl but is more comfortable to walk on; it also is said to be more durable and better designed to handle the thermal expansion and contraction common to RVs than other materials. A laminated Fortis vapor barrier and special flexible adhesive help to achieve this. A woven Cosmolite vapor barrier layer helps to protect the underside of the floor from road debris and the elements. This space-age construction method results in an upscale look and is said to provide better insulation and durability than traditional materials.
The Villagio’s gel-coat fiberglass exterior features standard full-body paint; my test unit was finished using the optional upgrade Caramel 4 color paint. Aerodynamic fiberglass caps grace the front and rear of the coach.
All of the DOT and convenience lighting uses LED technology. A 15-foot power awning with lateral arms covers the patio area. The awning can be extended out to 8 feet and is equipped with a weather/motion sensor; it also is outfitted with standard LED accent lighting. An enclosed topper awning protects the slideout from leaves, twigs, and other debris.
The motorhome entry door can be keyed manually or from the keypad located next to the entry-door handle. A two-stage electric step at the entrance is covered with nonslip material; a large grab handle is provided.
The frameless, flush-mounted tinted windows create a sleek appearance; they are hinged full-pane and open jalousie-style to afford maximum airflow.
The 2015 Villagio is offered in four floor plans; the newest is the 25HAB, which I tested. Though designed primarily as a couples coach, according to the company, the Villagio is able to sleep three to four adults, depending on the floor plan.
The interior is open and contemporary. It incorporates stainless-steel hardware and brushed-nickel accents with solid-surface countertops, which are heat- and scratch-resistant. Cabinets are smooth, with modern, curved lines made possible by the composite materials used. Day-night shades and valances are standard. Bright, energy-efficient LED lighting is installed throughout, including brushed-nickel ceiling lights.
Finding room to put everything in a 25-foot motorhome can be a challenge, but the 25HAB’s unusual floor plan makes the best use of available space, providing plenty of room for normal activities.
To start with, the 25HAB breaks from the other floor plans in that it has no dedicated bedroom or dinette. Yet, it still offers ample room for sleeping and dining by allowing the sofa to be used for multiple activities.
The sofa, in the street-side slideout, easily makes into a 60-inch-by-80-inch queen-size bed with an all-foam sleeping surface. As a couch, it provides a comfortable spot to relax. Dining needs are met by a set of four portable tables, which fold up and are stowed in a felt-lined storage rack inside a galley cabinet. When the two cockpit chairs have been rotated rearward to face the living area, comfortable seating is available for entertaining or accommodating up to five persons for meals.
The curbside galley is equipped with a stainless-steel sink bowl that has a fold-down faucet. Both the sink and the two-burner propane cooktop include hinged, removable glass covers that provide additional work space when desired. A 7-cubic-foot three-way refrigerator with a removable freezer section and a convection-microwave oven above are adjacent to a work area with cabinets, including the storage area for the portable tables.
Just to the right of the refrigerator is a large pantry; the top portion has adjustable shelves, and the lower portion is fitted with drawers and storage trays on full-extension rails. All shelving and trays are built with durable, yet lightweight, composite materials. A 28-inch LED 12-volt TV is located over the galley, within easy view of the couch on the opposite wall.
The Villagio’s bath area is located in the rear. A large corner shower with a glass door and a skylight is situated on the street side. Next to it is a china-bowl toilet. The vanity is equipped with a raised vessel sink basin and a brushed-nickel single-lever faucet, and accented with a mirrored medicine cabinet. A full-length mirror hangs on the bath door. On the curbside wall, a large wardrobe closet with two sizable doors can be used for clothes or bedding storage.
A 13,500-Btu rooftop air conditioner with heat pump and a pair of holding tank heat pads comes standard in all Villagio floor plans. An 18,000-Btu propane furnace keeps the interior warm on cold nights and is supplied by a 13.2-gallon LP-gas tank. The 34-gallon fresh water tank and SHURflo water pump (rated at three gallons per minute) deliver fresh water to the various plumbing fixtures.
Two 29-gallon holding tanks handle black and gray water waste, and a black-water tank flush keeps solids from forming in that particular tank. The utility bay is equipped with the usual array of valves, plus a winterizing kit and a Spray-Away self-recoiling exterior shower hose.
Electrical needs are met by two AGM 12-volt 200-amp house batteries and a 55-amp converter/charger. My test unit was equipped with the standard Onan 3.6-kw LP-gas generator; a 3.2-kw diesel generator is available as optional equipment.
As noted earlier, driving the Villagio felt more like being behind the wheel of a large SUV than a motorhome. Maneuverability was excellent, as expected in a 25-foot motorhome. It was easy to park the coach. For RVers who want to tour in their motorhome without having to unhook a towed vehicle, this unit is just the right size. The economical 3.0-liter Mercedes-Benz diesel engine (which is said to achieve up to 18 mpg) provided plenty of power, and the five-speed transmission shifted smoothly as I quickly brought the coach up to speed. I expected more noise from a front-engine diesel, but this coach was pleasantly quiet; the purr of the engine wasn’t loud enough to hinder normal communication between the driver and copilot.
Though designed as a smaller, more economical motorhome, the Villagio retains the quality found in Renegade’s larger units; it is not an entry-level model. The unique, multifunctional 25HAB maximizes available space and, like the other floor plans in this model line, it embraces a modern, open design. RV travelers who are looking for a well-built, easy-to-operate motorhome in a smaller package will want to put the Villagio on their list.
