The Ride: Meet the Newmar Freedom Aire Luxury Class C Model
There's definitely something in the Aire.
Image Caption: Photo Credit: Newmar
Over the course of its 50-plus years in business, Newmar Corp. has made some of the finest motorhomes to grace American highways and campgrounds. The company’s King Aire and Dutch Star Class A models are the stuff of luxurious legend, while its Summit Aire is the standard by which all other Super C coaches are measured. But over that long history, the brand has never made anything quite like the new Newmar Freedom Aire, a compact Class C that oozes luxury and style.
“We came up with the idea of putting ‘Freedom’ in the name as a way to inspire our customers,” Newmar VP of Sales Matt Ellinger tells us. “Because it is so maneuverable and easy to drive, the Freedom Aire frees them up to visit and camp in more places without compromising comfort or features.”
Photo Credit: Newmar
Ellinger says that when Newmar initially started exploring the idea of building a compact Class C coach, the company decided it was only worth doing if it could bring something new to the space. “We knew we had to come up with some industry-first features to make it worth it for our customers,” he says. “We didn’t want to build just another small motorhome.”
The designers at Newmar put their heads together and came up with some inspired ideas. For example, the standard floor plan includes a U-shaped dinette and a queen-size Murphy bed that, when folded away, reveals a 74-inch sofa. But an optional upgrade swaps the hidden sofa for a foldout table and replaces the standard dinette with plush theater seating, complete with built-in tray tables and adjustable headrests. When folded away, the bed’s legs cleverly convert to light sconces along the wall, but offer illumination along the floor when the bed is deployed.
Photo Credit: Newmar
This being Newmar, the Freedom Aire comes with swanky amenities. Those include high-quality vinyl flooring, hardwood cabinetry and a 15K BTU air conditioner equipped with a heat pump. The rig’s galley kitchen is sleek and modern, with matching appliances, including a sizable refrigerator, induction cooktop and a microwave that doubles as an air fryer. With its glass-bowl sink, porcelain toilet and residential-style shower, the bathroom is equally impressive.
Newmar didn’t skimp on tech, either. The Freedom Aire comes with a 32-inch smart TV in the cabin and another located in an outdoor entertainment center. The coach ships with two 120W solar panels, 200 amp-hour house batteries and Starlink prep as standard features. And because it rides on a Mercedes 4500 Sprinter chassis, it comes with a 208 HP turbo diesel engine and a suite of built-in safety features, including assistive cruise control, lane keep assist, active braking and more.
Thanks to its cabover sleeping space—which doubles as added storage—the Freedom Aire comfortably sleeps four. At launch, it is only available in a single floor plan, although Newmar has ideas for future iterations. The coach is available in six exterior color schemes and multiple interior decor, cabinet and flooring configurations. Pricing starts at $299,860.
Dimensions
| GVWR: 12,125 lbs. | Overall Length: 25′ | Exterior Height: 11′ 2″ |
Illustration by Dee Duncan
- 240 watts of solar panels mounted on the roof
- Outdoor shower and pet wash station
- An alternator charger replenishes house batteries while driving
- Exterior entertainment center with 32” smart TV and soundbar
- Roof-mounted Girard patio awning
- Integrated handle includes keyless entry and a doorbell
- Exterior storage bay for tools, RV accessories, and supplies
- A rear-view camera comes standard
This article originally appeared in Wildsam magazine. For more Wildsam content, sign up for our newsletter.
Kraig Becker is a writer in the RV, outdoors, and adventure travel space. Over the course of his career he has contributed to such outlets as Popular Mechanics, Outside Online, Business Insider, TripSavvy, Digital Trends, GearJunkie, The Adventure Blog, and countless others. An avid runner and cyclist, he enjoys camping, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and just about any other outdoor activity. His travels have taken him to seven continents and on many amazing adventures.
