Comparing Three Compact RVs: Traveling in the Winnebago View, Solis & EKKO
Comparing Three Compact RVs: Traveling in the Winnebago View, Solis & EKKO
Find out what an adventurous RVing couple loves most about these motorhomes.
By: Tanya & Dave Virnelli
Hello fellow Winnebago enthusiasts! For those who don’t know us, we are Tanya and Dave, a married couple who embarked on the RV lifestyle over three years ago with our two beloved kitties, Brady and Bailey. We share our experiences traveling and enjoying RV life in our camper van on our LetsTurnItUpWorld YouTube channel.
Our very first RV that we owned was the Winnebago EKKO, which we still currently call home. (Read why we chose this RV here!) Over time, we’ve also had the opportunity to try out two other Winnebago models: the Winnebago View and the Winnebago Solis. Here’s our detailed comparison of RV life in each of these motorhomes, based on our personal experiences.
1. RV Life in a Winnebago View
We had the opportunity to travel in a 2023 Winnebago View 24D during our road trip to the Eclipse Fest in Oregon in the fall of 2023. The Winnebago View was our introduction to a more traditional style luxury Class C RV. We spent several weeks traveling in the Winnebago View, and we must say that we really enjoyed its luxurious features and comforts.
Watch our full tour and review of the 2023 Winnebago View here.
What We Liked Most about the Winnebago View:
- Spacious Living Area: Coming from our smaller Winnebago EKKO, one of the first things we immediately loved about the Winnebago View was its spacious living area. The massive slideout made a huge difference giving us lots of living space and making our daily RV life experience very comfortable. Our Winnebago View model also had a Murphy bed, which created even more living area once we folded the bed away.
- High-End Finishes: The Winnebago View is clearly designed and built as a luxury RV. The cabinetry, countertops, and finishes are all high-end. In addition, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis interior has a more high-end feel than our Winnebago EKKO’s Ford Transit chassis interior.
- Well-Designed Kitchen for Cooking: We found the Winnebago View 24D’s kitchen to be very convenient providing enough counterspace, a double-basin kitchen sink, and higher-end appliances such as a very large refrigerator, induction cooktops, and a dual microwave/convection oven. We really enjoyed cooking meals in the Winnebago View’s kitchen during our three-week road trip.
- Fuel Efficiency: The Winnebago View’s Mercedes diesel engine is very fuel efficient, and we really appreciated the fuel savings and longer driving range provided by this Class C RV. We enjoyed much better fuel mileage than what we get in our gas-powered Transit chassis in the Winnebago EKKO. That being said, one drawback of the diesel engine was less power during acceleration, as compared to our Ford EcoBoost gas-powered engine, which we really noticed during long uphill stretches.
2. RV Life in a Winnebago Solis with Pop-Top
We had the opportunity to travel in a Winnebago Solis during our road trip to Breckenridge, Colorado, this past summer. Our Winnebago Solis had a pop-top and a Murphy bed, which was our first experience living in a camper van with a pop-top. The Winnebago Solis is a true Class B RV and more compact and versatile than many of the other RVs we have been in previously.
What We Like Most about the Winnebago Solis:
- Versatility: The pop-top feature and Murphy bed added quite a bit of versatility for a true Class B RV. We appreciated the extra sleeping and living area provided by the pop-top. Our Winnebago Solis had enough bed space to comfortably sleep four. With only the two of us, we chose to sleep in the Murphy bed, which we found surprisingly comfortable. For the most part, we kept the Murphy bed down during our two weeks living in the Winnebago Solis and didn’t fold it up each time we hit the road.
- Drivability: The Winnebago Solis is much smaller than the Winnebago View and even smaller than our Winnebago EKKO, making it especially easy to navigate through city streets and park in tighter spots. We really enjoyed the increased maneuverability, which is a significant advantage especially for urban adventures and also for exploring narrow rural roadways and more remote campgrounds with smaller camping sites. In addition, the Dodge Ram ProMaster chassis provided enough power for us and good fuel efficiency for a gas-powered engine.
- Affordability with Practical Features: The Winnebago Solis is more budget-friendly compared to the Winnebago View and Winnebago EKKO, making it accessible to a wider range of RVers. While the amenities are more basic comparatively, we felt that we had what we truly needed to live in a smaller space. The dinette area is well designed and, while the capacity of the refrigerator and counterspace are obviously much less than what we had in the Winnebago View, we recognize that it’s a trade-off of living in a smaller and more budget-friendly Class B RV.
3. RV Life in a Winnebago EKKO
Finally, we come to our beloved Winnebago EKKO, “Desert Snow,” the first RV we have ever owned and still our home on wheels. Desert Snow is built on a Ford Transit chassis with an EcoBoost gas-powered engine and is designed for off-grid and true four-season adventures. We have been in our Winnebago EKKO for more than three years now and absolutely love it.
What we like most about the Winnebago EKKO:
- Off-Grid Capabilities: The Winnebago EKKO comes with a robust solar power system and large water tanks, making it perfect for boondocking. We love the freedom to explore remote locations without worrying about hookups.
- AWD & Powerful Performance: The Winnebago EKKO’s AWD chassis with its powerful EcoBoost gas-powered engine is a pleasure to drive. We are comfortable driving up steep mountain roads given the power provided by the EcoBoost engine. Desert Snow has noticeably more driving power than the Winnebago View and Winnebago Solis. The fact that the Winnebago EKKO is AWD is also a very important capability for us, especially given that we do a lot of winter camping driving down snow-covered roadways.
- True Four-Season Capability: As we mentioned, we enjoy camping during all seasons, including winter camping. The Winnebago EKKO’s thick insulated walls and water tanks make it the perfect RV for us while camping in extreme temperatures and conditions. We have spent many days and nights camping in below-freezing temperatures and Desert Snow has always kept us warm, cozy, and safe.
Final Thoughts on Comparing Three of Winnebago’s Compact RVs
Each of these Winnebago RV models has its unique strengths and weaknesses. The Winnebago View is luxurious and spacious, the Winnebago Solis with pop-top is versatile and affordable, and the Winnebago EKKO is perfect for off-grid and four-season adventures. Our journey through these RVs has given us unforgettable and rewarding experiences.
Of course, Winnebago has multiple other compact RV and camper van models, larger Class A motorhomes, and various sizes of towable RVs. Ultimately, the best RV for you will depend on your RV lifestyle, travel preferences, and budget. Happy travels, and may you find the perfect home on wheels for your next adventures!
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