First Look Evaluate of the 2026 Entegra Coach Embark

It’s a fairly odd sensation rolling into the throttle of the motorhome you’re driving and never listening to a sound from the engine, or feeling the transmission shift up gears whereas merging into fast-moving freeway site visitors. It’s additionally refreshing to really feel throttle response extra akin to the efficiency of a fundamental gas-powered household automotive than a 22,000-pound luxurious RV. And to be driving a motorhome that doesn’t really feel the results of aspect winds and passing large rigs, or lean like a ship wallowing on the open seas as you drive on curvy roads.

However that’s precisely how I really feel sitting behind the wheel of THOR Industries’ 2026 Entegra Coach Embark, the world’s first “range-extended” Class A electrical motorhome. It’s constructed atop a state-of-the-art Harbinger electrical medium-duty chassis.

The Embark shares related drivetrain know-how to that powering cruise ships, locomotives, and electrical semi-trucks. This stunning, Euro-styled 22,000-pound coach, the primary manufacturing prototype hybrid-electric RV to roll out of THOR’s Entegra Coach meeting plant, makes use of its gasoline engine simply as a generator to energy its electrical drive “prolonged vary” EV drivetrain.

Briefly: Customers in search of a Class A motorhome that oozes state-of-the-art design and engineering, the all-electric 2026 Entegra Coach Embark has no rival up to now. The acceleration, braking, and dealing with set a brand new excessive bar for motorhomes. Storage is considerable in and out, and the seating, bed room, and galley are all well-designed. And, each facet of charging the 140kW battery pack is roofed from each angle — off-grid, at house, or in a campground.

2026 Entegra Coach Embark Evaluate

The wedding of a gasoline engine to spin a generator brings an entire new perspective relating to the way forward for motorhomes as a result of Embark has 105 miles within the Electrical-Solely mode, and greater than 450 miles within the Prolonged Vary mode. 

Cruise ships, diesel-electric locomotives, and diesel-electric large rigs use their combustion engines solely to spin the mills that cost the battery packs — or ship energy on to electrical motors that present propulsion. So does the European-inspired 2026 Embark.

This distinctive coach makes use of a front-mounted, fuel-efficient, low-emissions, German-built 1.4L GETEC four-cylinder gasoline engine related on to a 140kW generator. The generator then fees the 4 onboard battery banks that energy the electrical motor related to the rear differential, which is the place the RV will get its propulsion. It’s all tucked neatly in a Harbinger-built medium-duty chassis particularly for this function.

That electrical motor strikes the Embark swiftly and silently down the street — and down the street, and down the street.

Charging will primarily be achieved at campgrounds with 50A hookups. It ought to take about 11 hours to get a full cost from empty, and a Degree 2 240V house charger ought to take about 8.5 hours.

Charging by way of DC quick chargers (800V + 250kW) takes about an hour. The coach additionally comes with an adapter for Tesla charging stations.

Behind the Wheel

“Harbinger builds an outstanding medium-duty chassis that offered a robust, low-center-of-gravity body on which to mount our Embark physique,” says Kane. “The double wishbone entrance suspension provides it a small turning radius, which will probably be appreciated by RVers. The rear electrical central drive, with half shafts out to the 2 hubs, additionally helps enhance the journey high quality.”

As talked about earlier, driving this motorhome is far simpler than a standard Class A, and even Class C, for that matter. The largest facet isn’t having to take care of an inordinate quantity of physique lean when cornering or being hit by a wind gust from the aspect, like when a semi blows by in the other way.

Updates Coming

From my preliminary half-hour drive across the highways and streets in the course of the annual THOR Industries Seller Open Home in Elkhart, Ind., there have been some points encountered. However, there are adjustments coming quickly, as is the case with practically all prototype merchandise.

One situation I skilled is the poor visibility instantly in entrance of the coach. That is due to the Embark’s driver seating place and sprint placement. Forgey and crew has already began addressing this, and says a “decrease, barely completely different sprint and completely different seating place” is already within the works earlier than the primary fashions hit the rental fleet.

My different remark is the acceleration. Whereas it’s far faster from a cease than a comparable gas-powered RV of this measurement, the mid-range efficiency may very well be even sooner. Forgey says the early model would actually spin the rear tires from a cease in case you nailed the throttle. So that they had Harbinger change the programming to dial again the facility supply.

“One of many issues that we’re persevering with working with Harbinger on is driving profiles,” says Forgey, Jayco’s VP of Engineering. “Right this moment, what you drove was a single profile. That’s all that’s programmed in right here. However future-wise, we wish to get to a degree the place there’s single-pedal driving. We will probably be making the mid-range acceleration stronger, and rising the regenerative braking [which also charges the batteries] so it can kick in stronger to sluggish you down, down that hill.”

Forgey says they will make that driving profile change fairly easy: “We will simply put a request in with Harbinger and per week later get a brand new driving profile. We’ll replace it and also you’re good to go!”

These minor driving tweaks will make the Embark much more spectacular than it already is in comparison with customary gasoline fashions.

Experiencing the Electrical Class A

The prototype Embark EV, because the identify implies, is a work-in-progress. It’s slated to enter full (business) manufacturing starting in mid-2026, in accordance with Forgey. “RVers excited by experiencing driving an electrical Class A motorhome will be capable to lease an Embark from THL in 2026, the place the California rental program can have a dozen Embarks in service.”

Advantageous-tuning the Embark from this intensive shopper testing program is a excessive precedence for the THOR design and improvement crew that has spent nearly 5 years on this new RV entry.

“This rental program is a good alternative to get buyer suggestions,” added Jim Kane, the pinnacle of eMobility on THOR’s improvements crew. “The massive factor from this rental program is simply find out how the motive force feels about issues such because the Embark’s acceleration, its dealing with, how they use the brand new energy system, and the way a lot time are they spending off-grid. We’ll make changes and enhancements accordingly.” 

Euro-Impressed Look & Really feel

In and out, the brand new EV Embark exudes the European design affect. It’s vivid and ethereal. There are skylights within the ceiling, the huge entrance windshield is angled again, the inside colour scheme is tastefully muted, the textures are comfortable, and plenty of thought went into storage and luxury.

I cherished the north-south orientation of the elevated, outsized king mattress. The standard of the nightstands additionally stood out.

The massive walk-in bathe feels wealthy as a substitute of low cost — like many conventional Class A coaches. I additionally actually recognize the best way the galley is organized and outfitted.

The acoustical wall panels block out annoying exterior noises at a campground or whereas driving to the subsequent vacation spot. Lounge seating may be very comfy, and I favored the best way the stowaway dinette has a lot flexibility in the place and the way it may be utilized.

The pass-through rear cargo space is large, and it may be accessed from both aspect in addition to from the rear of the coach.

2026 Entegra Coach Embark Pricing & Availability

The THOR advertising crew advised me that whereas ultimate pricing will probably be set by its unbiased sellers, the Entegra Coach Embark is predicted to retail between $300,000 and $400,000. The worth will rely on shopper choices outlined by person suggestions from the rental fleet.

When the 2026 Entegra Coach Embark does attain sellers in late 2026/early 2027, it’s certain to draw plenty of consideration. So will the longer term electrical RVs rolling out of the THOR Industries steady, be they Class A, Class C, B Vans, and even towables. Thrilling occasions!

For vacationers trying to spend money on the way forward for RVing — combining luxurious, innovation, and sustainability — the Embark delivers extraordinary worth in a unprecedented package deal. I look ahead to seeing extra of those on the street and in campgrounds.