Benimar Mileo 224: Suitable for 6 people

A camper suitable for six people… you don't come across that very often. Certainly not under 3,500 kg – the magic limit to be able to hit the road with a camper van with a regular B driving license. The Spanish Benimar succeeds with the Benimar Mileo 224.

Six berths in a camper: you can find those – with some creativity – in more campers. But you also need six officially approved seats to be able to hit the road with so many people: each equipped with a seatbelt. And you don't come across such campers very quickly – at least: not under 3,500 kg. In this test, we look at the Benimar Mileo 224, a semi-integrated motorhome with clever solutions.

Exterior

Benimar has serious ambitions. The Spanish camper builder doubled its production capacity for 2018, to 3,000 campers. If we look at the exterior of this Mileo semi-integrated, we see a polyester sandwich construction in which plastic frames provide sturdiness. The two windows in the back reveal that a bunk bed is hidden behind them – if you fold up the bottom bed, a garage is created that you can load via a service hatch. With folding bikes, for example, and camping chairs. Reinforcements have been made in the rear wall for an – optional – bicycle rack and we see a sporty spoiler in which the reversing camera is integrated. Dark recessed windows from Seitz are mounted in all walls.

Interior of the Benimar Mileo 224

The entrance door of the Benimar Mileo 224 is at the rear of the vehicle – the sightlines are maximum, creating a great sense of space as soon as you step inside. The light incidence through the large panoramic roof contributes to this, but the furniture also looks fresh and modern: dark wood colors with light, high-gloss cabinet doors. If we start counting sleeping places, we begin with the two-tier bunk bed for the children, against the rear wall. Then we come to the pull-down bed above the dinette – as of model year 2018, this is standard in all semi-integrated models, and moreover: electrically operated. What is special is that the pull-down bed can also be operated manually, which is useful in the event of a malfunction. Sleeping places 5 and 6 are created when we convert the spacious dinette into a bed. The seating area is also generously designed for six people, with two L-shaped benches plus the swivel passenger seat. The USB ports integrated into the reading lights above the front seats are clever. The pull-down bed lowers low, but can stop at any desired height. This is pleasant if there are also sleepers on the converted dinette, because otherwise it would be very cramped with four people. Directly next to the entrance door is the corner kitchen: a small worktop, with a three-burner gas stove, a sink and an extractor hood above it. Opposite we see the large refrigerator with the improved shower and toilet area next to it. A Thetford swivel toilet is installed in it, we see a washbasin with a mirror and a well-sealable shower area.

Technology

The Benimar Mileo 224 is built on a Fiat Ducato light chassis with the well-known 2.3 multijet engine (130 hp). Two airbags are standard and the vehicle is equipped with cruise control. Cables and piping are neatly executed and the new, improved pull-down bed is sturdy, even in the low positions. What is striking is the option to operate the bed manually, in the event of a power outage. The unladen weight of the 6.91 meter long Mileo is remarkable: 2,800 kg – so there is still enough reserve for a considerable amount of holiday luggage. But that is also necessary, in a vehicle suitable for 6 people.

Conclusion

For model year 2018, Benimar has thoroughly refreshed its Mileo line. The renovated sanitary area deserves praise. The main advantage of this vehicle is, of course, the number of berths and approved seats. You also see that the payload, but also, for example, the refrigerator, are geared towards a large travel party. Compliments for that. Large - or blended - families will not easily find a vehicle under 7 meters from other brands that can also be driven with a normal B driver's license.

Pros & Cons

+ for large groups
+ low curb weight
+ high payload

– little storage space (if you travel with 6 people)

Facts & Figures

(manufacturer's specifications)

ENGINE
Chassis: Fiat Ducato Light chassis
Standard engine: 2.3 Multijet (130 hp)
Maximum power: 96 kW (130 hp) at 3,600 rpm
Maximum torque: 320 Nm at 1,500 rpm

DIMENSIONS
Length: 691 cm
Width: 230 cm
Height: 289 cm
Headroom: 198 cm
Maximum mass: 3500 kg
Wheelbase: 3800 mm
Curb weight: 3,025 kg
Payload: 475 kg

Number of seats/berths: 6/6
Drop-down bed front: 193 by 140/120 cm
Bed under drop-down bed: 210 by 140/120 cm
Rear bed: 1 x 210 by 84 cm
1 x 210 by 74 cm

Price from: € 76.900
More information: www.benica.com