The 2024 Burstner Elegance I 920 Motorhome Lives Up to Its 'Penthouse on Wheels' Rep

There's vanlife and then, at the opposite pole, there's luxury nomadism. Burstner caters to both segments of the market, with the Elegance series offering the most stylish, highly curated, and high-quality take on the modern errant lifestyle.

The Elegance series was introduced some three years ago, as the higher-end version of every other recreational vehicle in Burstner's lineup. The German maker offers everything from travel trailers to travel vans of different dimensions, but the Elegance motorhome stands out for something entirely different. It's still a home on wheels and the perfect RV but with an added touch of luxury, extra comfort, and even more sustainability.

Since the first introduction of the Elegance model, Burstner has worked hard to add extra features and more optional packages, further honing in on the promise within the "penthouse on wheels" descriptor. The original Elegance used a Mercedes-Benz chassis, and that still applies to the 2024 Elegance I 920 unit, the most recent variation on the model.

Weighing 5 tons and with a length just under 9 meters (29.5 feet), the new Elegance is 2.3 meters (7.5 feet) wide and a hair over 3 meters (9.8 feet) tall. The European version of it (the one showcased in the video at the bottom of the page) comes with just one access door and sleeping for four people in two bedroom areas – one at the front and the other at the rear, with the option between a royal suite or a king-size island bed.

In between the two sleeping areas is a spacious lounge that converts into a dining room for four, a full-size kitchen with every appliance imaginable, and a beautiful bathroom with marble accents and even an extra touch of sustainability thanks to the Thetford iNDUS toilet system.

Thetford is a name that probably needs no introduction with regular travelers, but it's also a company that deserves credit for their efforts towards more sustainable bathroom solutions. Back in the '60s and all through the late '70s, for example, Thetford sold the Thermasan waste disposal system, which collected all waste from the toilet and burned it using exhaust once speeds over 35 mph (56 kph) were reached.

Sure, exhaust was stinkier than usual because of the burned poop, but the system itself was surprisingly popular, being featured in anything from Airstreams to the GMC Motorhome and limited-edition motorhomes. The Thermasan system disappeared altogether – and somewhat mysteriously – in the late '70s.

The iNDUS toilet system is also focused on sustainability but without the extra poop-y odor because the approach is different. It consists of a tank that collects all graywater from the sinks and shower, treats it with chemicals and filters it, and then runs it once more as flushing water for the toilet.

This doesn't just reduce the quantity of water you need on the road, to allow up to one week of autonomy for two people on the road, but also does away with the need for a large holding tank for graywater.

To make matters even easier, Burstner has added casters to the 19-liter (5-gallon) black water tank, so you can empty it without moving the vehicle or, as the presenter in the tour below says, "walking your poop" through the campsite for everyone to see.

The Elegance I 920 features a pass-through cavernous garage in the rear, under the bed in the main bedroom, exterior camera system, and all the features you'd expect from a Mercedes vehicle, from adaptive cruise control to traction control, EBD and ESC. Throw more cash at it, and you can get fancier touches like a leather steering wheel, or heated seats and heated mats with the optional winter package.

Like with every other Elegance before it, the highlight of the I 920 model is the spectacular and luxurious interior. It's still a compact space to live in, especially for a family of four, but thanks to creative features like the electronic drop-down bed over the cabin or storing the rear passenger seats in the benches in the lounge, it's made to live much larger.

Unexpected elements, like the addition of a wine rack, a wall-mounted kitchen sink, and an almost residential-size fridge and freezer, turn the compact kitchen into a rival to what you'd find in a large brick-and-mortar family home.

The bathroom also stands out both in terms of size and finishes. You get a shower on one side and the toilet and sink with vanity on the other, and you have the option to close it off completely for privacy. The bathroom also serves as a space divider between the main bedroom and the rest of the cabin, further enhancing privacy.

The bedroom features a high bed, whether you opt for the island model or the royal version, which is basically a U-shaped bed made up of two singles because, apparently, royals aren't much for cuddling at night. Storage options are scattered throughout, making this motorhome a suitable option for full-term living (for very wealthy modern nomads): under the bed, by the bed, and on the wall shared with the bathroom, where you get wardrobes with hanging space.

Other highlights of the latest variation of the Elegance include a double-floor with insulation and extra storage for the off-grid package, if you opt for it, automatic blinds, and app connectivity that allows you to monitor everything from mileage to electricity and water, and servicing intervals.

In short, the 2024 Burstner Elegance I 920 lives up to the "penthouse on wheels" reputation its predecessors have built, down to pricing. A base Elegance starts new at £152,000/€179,000 (approximately $194,000 at the current exchange rate) and can go as high as £190,000/€223,000 ($2410,000) once you've added most of the extras available.

For this kind of money, you'd expect nothing less than the most luxurious and high-quality motorhome, right?