Does Engine Size Matter?

All the statistics surrounding motorhomes can be pretty confusing so it’s no wonder that buying one is such a long and arduous process. One of the key figures you will almost always see quoted is the engine size of a motorhome. Engine size corresponds, rather complexly, to the amount of air displaced when the cylinders which drive the wheels move. Essentially, the greater the engine size, the more movement you get from your engine to your wheels. But does it have other practical consequences for motorhome owners?

Drive Feel

The main thing you’ll notice with a larger or smaller engine size is the ‘power’ of the car. A larger engine will drive the wheels harder which could result in better acceleration and, probably, a better top speed. This will certainly feel like you have more power at your disposal when driving and you’ll be able to use that to good effect. The weight of most motorhomes means engine size doesn’t have as much of an effect as it would in an ordinary car, but a bigger engine will feel quicker.

Fuel Efficiency

Bigger cylinders means more fuel is needed to drive those cylinders and, thus, you use up more fuel more quickly. There is a balance to be had here as, of course, more fuel does provide more power, but in general larger engines tend to be less efficient as there is more potential for energy leakage. Engine size is a toss-up between efficiency and feel, but don’t assume that there aren’t other variations; there are plenty of big and efficient engines.

Extra Costs

The one thing that is affected if you go for a bigger engine is your motorhome insurance premium. Almost all motorhome insurers use engine size in some way to determine the cost of insurance, even if that’s only by way of judging motorhome size. You should check out some quotes before you buy and see how much you’ll be affected.

Engine size is important when you’re thinking about buying a motorhome, but you won’t notice a bigger engine first hand. What you will experience is better acceleration, better ascents up hills and worsening fuel efficiency. Unless you have any special technical goals, these are the figures you’ll want to focus on.