2012 Entegra Anthem - Road Test and Review

Raising The Proverbial Bar on the Class-A Motorhome
Article Date: September, 2011

Article and Photography by Mark Quasius

The Road Test

The 450-hp Cummins ISL made the Anthem move out quite briskly. With 1,250 lb-ft of torque, varying road grades were not a problem. The front disc brakes, drums on both the rear and tag axles, plus the engine compression brake brought it to a stop with ease. Maneuverability was excellent. During our photo shoot we managed to snake the Anthem down a graveled Amish buggy path and did some very tight parking maneuvers, which were impressive given the size of this coach.

I think the Anthem is the smoothest, quietest and best handling coach of this size that I've driven. The tweaks that Entegra did to the already excellent Mountain Master GT chassis offered slight improvements in handling. Body lean was noticeably less on tight turns and the coach always went where it was pointed. The most impressive differences were noticed in the ride and noise level.

The chassis stiffening, plus the wooden floor sub-structure absorbed any jolts from potholes or vibrations from the road. The suspension did all of the work and the coach body just rode along as smooth as can be. Clean aerodynamics, especially noticed in the flush mounted windows, further reduced any noise at highway speeds. Rear engine diesel pushers typically are quiet, but the clean aerodynamics and superior insulation really made this coach standout from the rest.

Granted, the Entegra Anthem is not an entry level Class-A motorhome. But in its price range, it easily stands out as an excellent value with features typical of that market segment.

Specifications

2012 Entegra Anthem 42DL

Base Price: $405,750 (MSRP)

Standard Features:

• Three 15,000 BTU air conditioners with heat pumps
• Residential refrigerator
• Living area theatre surround sound system
• 32" LCD front overhead TV, 40" LCD mid-coach TV
• Bedroom theatre surround sound system, 32" LCD TV
• Flexsteel Ultra Leather six-way cockpit seats
• Flexsteel Ultra Leather interior furniture
• Winegard automatic in-motion satellite dome
• VIP Smart Wheel
• Electric fireplace
• Corian solid surface countertops
• Dual 2,800 watt true sine wave inverters
• AM/FM/CD/DVD sound system with GPS navigation
• Polar Pack insulation, R-33 floor, R-16 walls, R-24 roof, with reflective foil backing
• Power patio and door awnings
• Keyless entry system and baggage door locks
• Multiplex lighting
• Amish crafted solid hardwood cabinetry and woodwork
• Aqua Hot 450 water and heating system with in-floor heating
• Onan 12,500 watt Quiet Diesel generator
• Fisher-Paykel dishwasher drawer
• Stackable washer and dryer

Standard Features:

Gross Vehicle Weight: 44,600 lbs.
Gross Combined Weight Rating: 59,600 lbs.
Cargo Carrying Capacity: 7,336 lbs.
Trailer Hitch Capacity: 15,000 lbs.
Wheelbase: 296 inches
Overall Length: 43 feet
Overall Width: 101 inches
Overall Height: 12 feet 10 inches
Fresh Water: 100 gallons
Gray Water: 60 gallons
Black Water: 60 gallons
Chassis: Spartan Mountain Master GT rear engine diesel
Suspension: Air-ride suspension
Brakes: Front ABS air disc, rear drum
Fuel Tank: 150 gallons
Trailer Hitch Capacity: 5,000 lbs.
Engine: Cummins ISL9
Horsepower: 450 HP
Torque: 1,250 lb-ft at 1,300 RPM
Transmission: Allison 3000 series 6 speed automatic

Source

Entegra Coach
(800) 945-4787
www.entegracoach.com

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