Low-cost class A motorhomes for the family on a budget have become a hot commodity for a
number of market-savvy motorhome manufacturers. By offering a solid base unit with a number
of useable standard features, and making a number of other features available at extra
cost, these manufacturers are able to produce relatively low-cost coaches that can be
optioned up to the owner’s particular tastes and needs.
Winnebago Industries’ Itasca
division recently introduced the Sunova Class A motorhome specifically designed for the
entry-level market. Available in 27- and 30-foot lengths, the Sunova is available on the
Workhorse chassis with a 14,800-pound gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr) in the 27C model,
and either an 18,000-pound gvwr Workhorse chassis (with 8.1-liter GM gas engine) or
18,000-pound gvwr Ford chassis in the 30B model (with Ford V-10 engine). We tested the 30B
on the Ford chassis. Like most of the coaches we have tested on the Ford chassis, the
Sunova felt solid and stable.
Though the ride might be firm compared to luxury coaches, it
is this very firmness that inspires confidence when driving on winding roads, or through
the desert, where wind gusts can be fierce. The Sunova’s floorplan is simple, yet inviting.
A swivel/glider chair resides aft of the passenger seat, while a 48×70-inch couch and a
fixed dinette with room for four are positioned behind the driver’s seat in a large living
room slideout. The Sunova offers a standard 19-inch television mounted in a forward
overhead cabinet, which also housed the optional VCR in our test unit.
Other useful options
include a digital satellite system and a 130-watt inverter, so you can watch TV in a
campground with no hookups and not have to run the standard Onan MicroQuiet 4kW generator.
Like most low-cost Class A motorhomes, the Sunova is not without some degree of compromise.
But it is a good choice for the nascent RVer who is looking for a modestly sized coach with
Winnebago quality.
For more details, pick up the March 2002 issue of MotorHome on the
newsstand.
