If you thought the Winnebago Revel looked spiffy, just check out the company’s newest camper, the Ekko Sprinter. The iconic RV company has been making more luxury models aimed at van life.
With the Ekko Sprinter, Winnebago has built a camper with all the expected amenities — but on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis versus the Ford Transit the Ekko debuted on a few years ago. That brings its Ekko lineup closer to the Revel, which also offers all-wheel-drive (AWD).
It’s also 18 inches longer than the previous Ekko model built on a Ford Transit chassis. That allows the Ekko Sprinter to squeeze in another bed, creating enough sleep space for five happy campers.
Also, it ain’t cheap. With a baseline cost of $235,738, the Ekko Sprinter sports a slightly steeper price tag than the Winnebago Revel, which now sells for $223,000 on the company website.
But, if you’re looking for a full-featured house-on-wheels in a relatively compact package, the Ekko Sprinter fits the bill. You might just have to sell your actual house to afford one.
Winnebago Ekko Sprinter: Engine & Tech
It’s powered by a 2.0L turbo-diesel engine with a nine-speed automatic transmission. With 211 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, it provides plenty of oomph for on- and off-road adventures. Despite a seemingly modest engine size, the Ekko Sprinter can handle towing a 5,000-pound trailer.
The van also comes equipped with several Mercedes-Benz driving features. Those include adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, rain-sensing wipers, and compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Finally, a digital rearview mirror enhances visibility for the driver, providing a clear view behind the van, ensuring safe and confident travels.
Winnebago Ekko Sprinter: Interior
The floor plan features a highly modular interior, adaptable to various group sizes and activities. As mentioned above, this Mercedes-based model measures 24.5 feet, offering an additional 18 inches of interior space. With the option of a pop-top roof, it can comfortably accommodate up to five travelers (though it only seems to have seat belts for four).
In the rear of the van, the bedroom includes two longitudinally mounted twin beds on either side of a narrow walkway and a nightstand. For a more traditional sleeping arrangement, the nightstand can be flipped over to create a transverse queen-sized bed.
The living room area, located near the front, includes captain’s chairs for the driver and shotgun rider that can swivel 180 degrees, allowing them to face inward. There’s also a sofa and lounge chair situated around a small table. This dining area folds down into a small bed.
In the center, you’ll find a wet bath and kitchen area. The kitchen is fully equipped with a refrigerator, microwave/convection oven, and an induction cooktop stove. What sets the cooktop stove apart is its portability — it can be taken outside for cooking beneath the extendable awning.
Both the bathroom and the kitchen sink are supplied by a 50-gallon freshwater tank. Waste is managed through a 51-gallon gray-water tank, while the cassette toilet has a capacity of 5 gallons.
Winnebago Ekko Sprinter: Pricing Comparison
Winnebago’s latest camper doesn’t come cheap, and there are decent alternatives out there. A Mercedes G Wagon offers off-road capability, costs about $143,000, and has several options for conversion, such as the $12,000 Tecrawl system from Terracamper. But that’s still a far cry from the comfort found in a fully built RV like the Ekko Sprinter.
And in general, the Ekko’s price tag isn’t much pricier than many recent releases of high-end camper vans. The beastly Grid Mini from Wilderness Vans will set you back $220,000. Buying Airstream’s Interstate 19X, released in September, will take nearly $200,000 out of your bank account. The Vanacea, an upcoming electric camper from Maxwell Vehicles and Rossmonster, costs $180,000, including the conversion.
The Ekko Sprinter still costs more than all of those. But it’s got both Winnebago and Mercedes behind its construction, which might be just enough to lure buyers from the many other options.
Learn more on the Winnebago website.
