Adria Altea 552UP

Have you noticed how many European-style caravans are currently on Australian roads?

Slovenia’s Adria, founded 50 years ago in 1965, is one of the stalwart imports, with their light weight combined with budget pricing attracting around 1000 buyers in the five years from 2009-2013.

Like many caravan manufacturers and importers, they took a buffeting from the Global Financial Crisis, but under new Australian distributor Apollo Motorhome Holidays since February last year, things are cooking again.

Now with a significantly updated, expanded, attractively-priced and importantly, 'Australianised’ range to offer, Adria is commanding a well-deserved surge of interest on our market.

Apollo, whose own Aussie origins go back to 1985, is focusing its attention on three basic Adria model ranges – the five Altea and Altea Axess single axle models, ranging in external body length from 4.77m (15ft 6in) to 6.312m (20ft 8in ft), while the tandem axle Adora models are all 6.776m (22ft 4in) vans.

Reviewed here is the 6.312m (20ft 7in) Altea 552UP, which is a two, or occasional four-berth model that many Australian couples will find appealing for long-distance touring, given its spacious dimensions, large sedan or compact 4WD towing weight of 1700kg laden and equally modest tow-away price of just over $50,000.

From the outside, the 552UP is obviously a Euro van – smooth all fibreglass construction atop an Al-Ko steel chassis, a big front window and a single axle with relatively small 14-inch diameter wheels under a long body.

You’d normally expect tandem suspension under an Aussie van of this size, but in my opinion the Altea is a good looker, with clean, fuss-free styling.

And after a number of years on the Australian market and particularly under Apollo’s new distribution, Adria caravans have shed some of their quirky Euro features and developed a slight ‘Strine accent.

Ground clearance, particularly at the van’s rear, where its long overhang works against it, is still not huge by local caravan standards, so you need to angle the van when entering some service stations and crossing Queensland spoon drains.

It’s not yet on par with the ground clearance offered on the Australian versions of the latest Bailey, Swift and Elddis British vans, but it’s something most travelers can live with on major routes. Elsewhere, care is needed.

Like most European and British vans fitted with Al-Ko’s independent suspension, the central beam axle housing the rubber torsion spring forms a structural cross-member of the chassis and as the Adria’s twin 50-litre fresh water tanks are housed under the island rear queen bed and its spare wheel mounts vertically alongside twin 4.5kg gas bottles in its lockable front boot, there are few protrusions underneath to snag.  

The exceptions are the twin hand-brake cables and you wonder whether with a bit more thought these could have passed over, rather than under, the axle?

However, as with previous Australian-spec Adria caravans, the latest models have a stronger Al-Ko chassis and thicker side walls and window supports.

All 2015 Adria models also benefit from a new ‘i-shape’ modular design, which includes flush-mounted grab handles and separate front and rear body mouldings for easier repairs, while all now come standard with a Thule Omnistor roll-out awning.?

With the front boot, exterior storage on the Altea is quite good, rather than exceptional for a caravan of its size.

Despite the inroads of the spare wheel and gas bottles, the front boot swallows most of the daily set-up stuff, such as wheel chocks, hoses, power cables, some tools and the like, while the semi-tunnel boot that passes beneath the front lounge behind it is stymied by the intrusion of the footwell for the dinette.

Don’t look under the ‘bat wing’ slatted flaps beneath the rear queen bed either, as one side is filled with the twin 50-litre fresh water tanks (with two slightly disconcerting octopus straps seemingly holding them in place), while the other is dedicated to the latest Truma Saphir under-bunk reverse cycle air conditioner, that is a standard feature on Altea models.

Happily, the water tanks fill externally.

Personally, I’d rather have under-floor water tanks either side of the axle line, so that ball weight doesn’t vary between full and empty, while a roof-mounted air conditioner would be slightly heavier, but more efficient and would free up some additional interior storage space.

A series of overhead and hanging cupboards in the bedroom take care of clothing needs, although I would like some shelves in the lower bedside cupboards.

On the downside, some of the cupboards along the van’s upper sides and lounge share space with the air-con ducting.

There were a number of things that I did like about the Altea’s interior though.

One was the minimalistic, but very tasteful timber decor throughout, with touch release cupboards and drawers and no visible hardware.

Space management was also good, with the rear bedroom able to be shut off from the forward section of the van via its concertina curtain.

The central, right hand side bathroom with its combined shower and toilet has a clever drop down mirror that reveals a hidden hand basin and mixer tap, but then you have no mirror...

The front lounge is spacious, with seating room for up to six around the rectangular drop-down table, which with the re-arrangement of cushions can form another double bed for guests who refuse to leave – or for other travelling companions.

A better option for those travelling with children though would be the Altea 552PK, which is the same overall size, but has a different layout with a transverse front double bed and two rear, vertically-stacked single bunks.

Fortunately, the Altea’s kitchen can cater for them all quite well, with reasonable bench space thanks to the location of the three-burner cooktop at the rear, next to the large stainless steel sink and its overhanging mixer tap.

There’s also a grill and oven, but relative little storage space for kitchen utensils and food supplies.

If this sounds like I have been a littler picky, then you need to read the Altea 552UP's specifications and price again.

This is a largish, 20ft-plus caravan with a built-in shower and toilet, reverse cycle air conditioning, and sleeping room for up to four, that’s capable of being towed by an average large sedan and costs less than $50,000.

That makes it excellent value and all my comments should be viewed through that filter.

WE LIKED: ?
>> Euro style
>> Big but light
>> Sharp price

NOT SO MUCH
>> Limited interior storage space
>> Under-bed water tanks
>> No gas central heating like other Euro vans

VERDICT

The Altea 552UP is an appealing, stylish and well-priced touring caravan that could be the perfect solution for many travelers as long as they pack light and don’t stray too far from the black top.

ADRIA ALTEA 552UP

Travel (overall) length: 7.61m
External body length: 6.312m
External body width: 2.356m
Travel height: 2.580m
Interior height: 1.95m
Tare weight: 1370kg
ATM: 1700kg
Ball weight: 100kg
Body: Polyester sides and roof and ABS walls
Chassis: Al-Ko steel
Suspension: Single axle Al-Ko rubber torsion
Brakes: 10-inch electric
Wheels/tyres: 14in alloy with 1875R14 C102 tyres
Fresh water: 2 x 50-litre tanks
Battery: Single 95Ah deep cycle
Gas: 1 x 4.5kg
Cooking: Thetford Duplex three gas burner cook top with gas grill and oven
Microwave: Camec microwave standard
Fridge: 190-litre Dometic three-way
Toilet: Thetford cassette
Shower: Combination shower/toilet
Lighting: LED
Air Conditioning: Truma Saphir Comfort reverse cycle
Price: $49,990
Supplied by: Melbourne &  European RVs, Seaford, Vic
More info: Adria Australia