It’s just over a year since I took a look at this popular rear-island-bed four-berth from Benimar. But for 2025, the brand has made considerable changes to the Mileo’s interior.

So I thought it was time to revisit the 294, which I did at the South Yorkshire branch of Marquis Leisure, currently Benimar’s sole UK distributor.

The new interior looks sunnier, in my opinion. There’s a warmer wood tone, with formerly off-white cupboard doors now in deep brown. When it comes to upholstery, greys and dark blues seen in the 2024 Benimar Mileo 294 have been replaced by a warmer oatmeal on seat bases and scatter cushions in avocado green.

The exterior remains pretty much unchanged, and it’s still a standard Fiat Ducato cab with a 140bhp engine and a six-speed manual gearbox. The MTPLM of 3650kg means you’ll need a C1 driving licence to drive the motorhome.

Inside the Ducato cab
Standard Fiat Ducato cab with 140bhp engine and six-speed manual gearbox

A 180bhp engine with eight-speed automatic transmission costs £8000 more, and the MTPLM is then 4400kg. That does give you a 1146kg payload, better than the 400kg in the manual.

Cab and lounge in the Benimar Mileo 294

The Benimar Mileo 294 has two travel seats in the rear, but the cushions to make them up play no part in making up the main lounge. They are stored in their own bag, so if you don’t need them, you could easily leave them at home.

The two rear travel seats
Two travel seats in the rear can accommodate adults in comfort

They are also seats two adults would be happy to sit in, as they have lots of legroom, a window to look out of, and a mains socket and USB and USB-C socket in front of each.

I reckon you could probably squeeze six into this lounge, so four should feel very comfortable, something which will always be a consideration when looking for the best 4 berth motorhome. There’s room for four to dine in comfort at the huge table.

The lounge area in the Mileo 294
Four can dine in comfort at the huge table in the lounge

I liked that there is plenty of light, too, even with a drop-down bed, thanks to a huge openable sunroof. Reading lights for the cab seats are up in the ceiling, but there’s also LED striplights under the bed panel and ambient lighting behind the overhead lockers.

The kitchen in the Benimar Mileo 294

There is, however, only a small amount of permanent worktop in the kitchen. The pull-out extension is separated from the base unit by a splashback. You do, though, get an extractor fan above the three-burner dual-fuel hob and stainless-steel sink.

The kitchen in the Mileo 294
Kitchen extension flap is separated off by a clear splashback

The area is well lit, with a huge window and a striplight, but there’s only a combined oven and grill.

Across the aisle is a motorhome fridge with a separate freezer, a microwave, and an Omnivent above that.

The washroom in the Mileo 294

The central washroom has two roof vents, including one in the shower cubicle. Slide the door shut and a mirror greets you. There’s another big mirror, with LEDs, in the washroom, which has a salad-bowl-style basin.

Sleeping in the Benimar Mileo 294

Here, the rear bedroom of this island bed motorhome is well lit, with huge windows and a Heki. It includes a dresser and additional TV sockets. The island bed is comfortable, with good spotlights, a big headboard and large bedside tables.

The rear island bed
Rear island bed has a sizeable headboard and bedside tables

The drop-down bed is fine, but not much more than that. It gets in the way of the door slightly when lowered, and the ladder butts up against the fridge.

The drop-down bed
The drop-down bed is in a very bright and airy space

Storage in the Mileo 294

Storage options start with the large garage at the back, which can be made higher by manually raising the bed.

There’s a big shelf above the cab and two overhead lockers in the lounge. The island bed mattress folds back, for access to the storage area below. There are two overhead lockers above the bed and a half-height wardrobe either side of it, one with a hanging rail, the other with shelves. There is a clothes rail in the shower. You also get a shelved cupboard in the dresser, and a cubbyhole in the steps.

One advantage of a combined oven and grill in the kitchen is that you get a huge pan locker. There are three drawers to the left of the oven, an overhead locker with shelves partly taken up by the extractor fan, and another locker above the microwave. From the kitchen, you can reach the cubbyhole in the washroom floor. There’s a shallow cupboard here, too.

Alternatives to consider

The Pilote P720U Expression provides plenty of storage and an excellent washroom, as well as a spacious lounge. Then there’s the McLouis Fusion 373, a four-berth with fresh new looks and one that provides a bright and airy interior.

Technical specification of the Benimar Mileo 294

  • Price: £81,995
  • Sleeps: 4
  • Belts: 4
  • Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato
  • Engine: 2.3 litre, 140bhp turbodiesel
  • Length/width/height: 7.39/2.30/2.89m (24’2”/7’5”/9’5”)
  • MTPLM: 3650kg
  • MiRO: 3254kg
  • Payload: 400kg
  • Water (fresh/waste): 100/105 litres
  • Leisure battery: 100Ah
  • Gas: 2 x 6kg, or 1 x 11kg
  • Contact: www.marquisleisure.co.uk

If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, why not get the latest news, reviews and features delivered direct to your door or inbox every month. Take advantage of our brilliant Practical Motorhome magazine SUBSCRIBERS’ OFFER and SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER for regular weekly updates on all things motorhome related.