Frankia Neo MT 7 BD Black Line: motorhome test

Frankia Neo: Perfect for two people who value comfort

That’s him: Perfect for two people who don’t want to make any compromises when it comes to living and driving comfort and are looking for a compact vehicle in the 3.5 ton class. The Neo series has been around since 2019. With the Mercedes star on the bonnet right from the start, because that’s a tradition at Frankia. The Franconians have relied on Swabian base vehicles for over 45 years. Usually in large models of 4.5 tons or more.

Beautifully designed transition from the living area to the driver’s cabin. The open compartments at the front are practical.

Our test vehicle remains at 3.5 tons and offers a few other extras in addition to the special model equipment, such as an awning, TV system and charging booster. The test car price thus adds up to a whopping 100,750 euros.

The sink and bench toilet disappear into the back wall

He has: Comfort in many ways, plenty of equipment and ideas that make everyday life in the vehicle easier. Even when loading, you can see how practical the tailgate is. Packing and lashing luggage and bicycles is easy and back-friendly thanks to the low loading sill. There is space for additional luggage in the loadable and heated double floor, which offers several access points from the inside. Great for getting to bunkered supplies, for example.

The sliding bathroom equipment creates enough space for showering.

Another special feature can be seen in the bathroom: Thanks to gas pressure springs, the washbasin and bench toilet can be stowed away in the back wall. This creates more space for showering. Also special to Frankia and proven in practice: central supply and disposal with permanently attached hose including water hose adapter and integrated cable drum. But details such as the fabric-covered ceiling also pay off in everyday life, in this case with better acoustics and a more pleasant room climate.

Let’s get to the night’s sleep: a spacer fabric serves as the spring base for the double bed. Thanks to the foam mattress, you sleep quite well in the transverse bed, but you don’t feel like you’re lying on clouds. There’s still room for improvement. A slatted frame or plate springs could improve sleeping comfort. With a vehicle in this price range, everything should simply be of the highest standard. Other negative points: there is only one USB socket under construction, and the cut-out for the toilet cassette compartment is too narrow. The first cracks in the wood veneer are already evidence of this.

The Neo also demonstrates a high level of driving safety in everyday use

This is how he drives: Powerful and relaxed, as you would expect from a Mercedes. The Sprinter always puts its powerful 170 hp on the road with good traction via the front wheels. On the slalom course and during the evasion test, the ESP intervenes early and sensitively and keeps the vehicle safely on track.

The rolling movements of the structure are kept within limits.

Not only on the test track, but also in everyday life, the Neo demonstrates a high level of driving safety, even on snow-covered serpentine roads. The low rolling movement of the body plays an important role here. The Neo drives with a standard low-frame chassis from ALKO, shows good rolling behavior and irons out bumps in the road. Transverse and longitudinal joints are also hardly noticeable. The Neo collects further plus points for its quiet background noise while driving.