A Type C motorhome that continues its manufacturer’s tradition of durability and luxury-focused design.
By Robbin Gould, Editor
May 2020
Early this year, Renegade RV, a subsidiary of REV RV Group, debuted the 2020 version of its Villagio Type C motorhome. This 25-footer is built on a Mercedes-Benz 3500 Sprinter chassis and powered by a Blue Tec 3.0-liter turbo-diesel engine. These attributes are combined with detailed production techniques to produce a sturdy vehicle well suited for everything from full-time live-aboard travel to weekend commutes — designed for “functional luxury travel” as the Villagio’s brochure states.
The galley has a two-way refrigerator, a microwave-convection oven, and an LED TV viewable from the slideout.
The 2020 Villagio is offered in four floor plans, all with an exterior width of 92.25 inches, an interior height of 6 feet 10 inches, and a street-side slideout. Depending on floor plan, the slideout room houses a standard dinette (theater seating optional) and either a 60-inch-by-74-inch conventional bed or a 65-inch-by-72-inch Murphy bed, with an option to convert to a 65-inch-by-78-inch Murphy bed. Other interior configurations vary by floor plan also: among them, a coach-wide rear bath or a smaller bath and larger living area, and a 48-inch-by-79-inch cab-over bunk or a smaller storage area above the cockpit.
CONSTRUCTION
According to company literature, the Villagio and its motorhome siblings are built for “extreme” durability, reliability, and longevity. Company designers begin by selecting chassis they consider to be high quality, and then take a proprietary approach to manufacturing.
A cabover bunk is available.
The roof, sidewalls, and floor are vacuum-bonded and laminated, as are all slideout components. The roof is crowned, which creates “attic” space directly below, allowing wiring, cooling ducts, etc. to be installed. This results in an interior ceiling height of 6 feet 8.5 inches.
The front cap is fiberglass. Renegade motorhome caps are actually two-piece structures. After extensive travel, and inevitable chips to the exterior of the coach, the bottom portion of the cap could be replaced should the owner so choose.
The Villagio’s floor is a sandwich of two nonorganic composite substrates. The main floor is a seamless sheet of this composite material, which contains no wood products; it resists all moisture, therefore guarding against the growth of mold or mildew. The underbelly is the same material, with a dark covering. The material is said to be extremely durable against the outside elements.
Each floor plan contains a shower with surround.
The Villagio features full-body exterior paint in four color choices: Carbon, Dune, Ocean, and Ruby. The coach is outfitted with framed windows, aluminum side-hinged baggage doors, and steel wheels with chrome simulators. Its 16-foot lateral-arm Girard awning with wind sensor comes with integrated LED lights. A standard topper awning shields the slideout. The coach comes prepped for an exterior entertainment center.
Other exterior features include cab steps, a power entry step into the coach living area, a 3,500-pound-rated hitch with a seven-way plug, an LP quick connect, and four-point hydraulic leveling. Diamond Shield protection is offered as an option.
INTERIOR
When stepping inside, RVers are greeted by a sleek, smooth design. Solid-surface countertops are
complemented by hardwood maple cabinetry — not just cabinet doors and drawers, but cabinet stiles and passage doors as well. Deluxe decorative valances and roller-style night shades grace the windows. Heavy-duty vinyl flooring runs throughout. LED lights in the padded vinyl ceiling provide ample illumination. The living area is outfitted with a powered skylight. Customers can select one of two interior décor choices: Gray Mist or Sandstone.
The living area also includes an LED TV with a sound bar. Occupants can relax in seating that’s covered with soft-touch fabric.
Cooking duties in the compact curbside galley are handled by a two-burner, flush-mounted propane-powered cooktop and a 1-cubic-foot microwave-convection oven. The galley also contains a 7-cubic-foot double-door two-way refrigerator and a stainless-steel sink with a cover recessed into the polished solid-surface countertop. Depending on the floor plan, pantry and wardrobe storage are just aft of the galley area or across the aisle. Drawers are outfitted with full-extension guides with a soft-close feature.
In the street-side slideout is the dinette area mentioned earlier. All Villagio floor plans include a conventional dinette as standard equipment, with optional theater seating available, as well as a sofa on the FW floor plans. Overhead cabinets provide storage in this area.
A view of the conventional bed.
The previously mentioned beds, also in the slideout, are juxtaposed with the rear bath. Regardless of layout, the Villagio’s bath area features a shower surround with door, a skylight, and a porcelain bowl toilet. The vanity holds a stainless-steel sink with a brushed-nickel faucet and is accompanied by a mirrored medicine cabinet.
Up front in the cockpit, the pilot settles in behind a multifunction steering wheel. He or she can take advantage of Adaptive ESP technology, designed to stabilize the vehicle in critical driving situations, and also access the rearview, side-view, and backup cameras. Powered, heated mirrors also aid in driving. A table designed for use in the cab is available as an option.
If an additional sleeping berth is desired, the Villagio can be selected with the 48-inch-by-79-inch cabover bunk, which comes with a ladder. Or customers may opt for a shorter, more streamlined front that contains overhead storage with dedicated doors instead. Storage needs have been addressed in various ways, as each floor plan contains ample pantries, wardrobes, overhead cabinets, and exterior compartments.
The Villagio features vinyl flooring, a padded ceiling, LED lights, hardwood maple cabinetry, and a full-wall slideout.
Various coach operations can be monitored and controlled via a multiplex system with a color touch panel; the system also can be accessed viaa Bluetooth app. A 1,200-watt pure sine wave inverter and a 3.6-kw propane generator come standard. A 3.2-kw diesel gen set is available, as is a Winegard ConnecT 2.0 Wi-Fi extender. The Villagio comes prepped for an optional 175-watt solar panel. Also worth noting is the motorhome’s Auto Gen Start (AGS) feature, which can be utilized with either the propane or optional diesel generator; it works off the parameters of interior temperature, battery voltage, and/or time of day.
RV shoppers looking for a functional yet luxurious diesel-powered motorhome will want to consider the Villagio.
SPECS | RENEGADE VILLAGIO
MANUFACTURER
Renegade RV, 52216 S.R. 15, Bristol, IN 46507; (888) 522-1126; www.renegaderv.com
MODEL
2020 Villagio
FLOOR PLANS
(4)
CHASSIS
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500
ENGINE
3.0-liter Blue Tec turbo-diesel; 188 horsepower; 325 pound-feet torque
TRANSMISSION
(2019 chassis)
7-speed automatic
AXLE RATIO
3.92 to 1
TIRES
All Season LT215/85R16
WHEELBASE
170 inches
BRAKES
disc with dual-piston floating calipers; “drum in hat” emergency brake
SUSPENSION
standard Mercedes-Benz with multiple aftermarket upgrades
STEERING
multifunction steering wheel
BATTERIES
chassis — (1) 70Ah AGM;
house — (2) 110-amp-hour AGM
ELECTRICAL SERVICE
30 amps
EXTERIOR LENGTH
24 feet 9 inches
EXTERIOR WIDTH
92.25 inches
EXTERIOR HEIGHT
11 feet
INTERIOR HEIGHT
6 feet 8.5 inches
GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR)
11,030 pounds
GROSS COMBINATION WEIGHT RATING (GCWR)
15,250 pounds
GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATINGS (GAWR)
front — 4,409 pounds;
rear — 7,721 pounds
OCCUPANT AND CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY (OCCC)
varies based on specs
INSULATION
high-density block foam throughout roofs, walls, floor
FRESH WATER CAPACITY
34 gallons
HOLDING TANK CAPACITIES
gray water — 29 gallons, heated;
black water — 29 gallons with tank flush, heated
PROPANE
20.3 gallons
FUEL CAPACITY
24.5 gallons
FUEL REQUIREMENTS
diesel
WATER HEATER
6 gallons
HEATING SYSTEM
18,000-Btu furnace
AIR CONDITIONING
13,500 Btu with heat pump
REFRIGERATOR
7 cubic feet
TOILET
porcelain
WARRANTY
house — 1 year limited;
structural — 3 years/36,000 miles basic;
chassis — 3 years/36,000 miles limited;
powertrain — 5 years/100,000 miles limited
MANUFACTURER’S SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE
$138,000