Avida Escape 2021 Review

A sparkly new Aussie-made campervan isn’t exactly cheap, and doesn’t always make financial sense if sitting unused in your driveway for much of the year while you’re busy working or running a household.

But what if you could maximize your investment by using your holiday-house-on wheels as a daily driver or family runabout?

That’s the question we pondered during a recent test of Avida’s smallest, cheapest and arguably cleverest motorhome, the Escape. For starters, the 6.3m long, Sydney-built, four-berth campervan is based on the latest Fiat Ducato commercial van, so straight up it ticks the box for driver-friendly features…

Daily commuter

Forget about noisy, bare-boned ‘old-school’ delivery vans; the latest ‘Series 7’ Fiat Ducato with its punchy 130kW/450Nm, 2.3-litre turbo-diesel Multijet engine and slick-shifting ZF nine-speed torque-convertor automatic transmission, delivers a close to car-like experience on the road.

While bigger and bulkier than your average family runaround (it’s about 12cm wider and 130cm longer than a 200 Series LandCruiser), the Fiat Ducato is easy to get comfortable in behind the wheel, with an elevated driving position and panoramic windscreen delivering excellent forward vision, and comfy cloth-covered seats that like the steering wheel are multi-adjustable.

Many of the comfort, safety and technology features found in modern passenger vehicles are fitted as standard, including driver and front passenger airbags, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, reversing camera, parking sensors, stability control, anti-lock brakes, roll-over mitigation, hill-hold assist and cruise control.

Then there’s a 5.0-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity, leather steering wheel with audio controls, manual air-conditioning, and power-assisted windows and side mirrors.

About the only thing we’d add is Fiat's optional Comfort and Tech pack which includes a bigger 7.0-inch infotainment screen with smart phone mirroring and digital radio, LED daytime running lights, automatic climate control and tyre pressure monitoring for an extra $2190.

Peak hour performance

The Fiat’s torquey turbo-diesel combines well with the nine-speed auto to deliver smooth, zippy performance from the lights and in peak hour city traffic, making light work of its three tonne-plus kerb weight.

It’s also quiet and refined out on the highway, with the engine ticking over at 1750rpm at 110km/h and only some minor wind noise and a few cupboard rattles to disturb the ambience.

It feels stable in the corners at suburban speeds, and parking and reversing into tight spots is made easier with light steering, big side mirrors, a relatively tight turning circle and decent reversing camera.

Recorded fuel economy was close to 12L/100km during mostly stop-start traffic, which translates to around 750km from the 90 litre fuel tank.

A forgiving front coil/rear leaf spring suspension set-up also means it handles the bumps well, at least on patchy bitumen, although its front-wheel drivetrain and minimal ground clearance make it unsuitable for extended dirt road driving.

The biggest issue in a suburban setting is the 2.8m overall height, which restricts movement through underground car parks and larger shopping centres.

Family transport

The Avida Escape is unique for a campervan of this size in not only providing an ensuite and internal bedding for four 'full-size' people, but on-the-move seating for them too, with two bucket seats joined by a bench seat with three-point seatbelts up front that’s wide enough for two lanky teenagers.

You couldn’t get a more practical vehicle for carting kids around either, with the fridge, sink and toilet all close at hand for those inevitable roadside pit-stops and other family ‘emergencies’.

Working parents can also pull-over and set up a laptop work station on the rear dinette/lounge if the boss wants that Powerpoint presentation ASAP, and getting the troops in and out is super-easy through the big sliding side door and 270 degree rear opening ‘barn’ doors.

With the rear table removed, there’s also room to cart a bicycle or too, or perhaps a few tools if you need to get to the worksite. The front dinette table also clips to the outside of the van to create an external picnic table.

While the Fiat van can tow a trailer weighing up to 2500kg, you won’t be able to fit roof racks with the space taken up by two skylights, an air-conditioner, TV aerial and optional solar panel.

Getaway vehicle

Transitioning from dropping the kids off at soccer practice to packing up and heading away on a long week-end camping trip, is a breeze with the Avida Escape.

Whether pulled over for the night or just a roadside coffee break, it’s super-quick to settle into camping mode with the front seats swiveling around to form a four-person reading or boardgame area at the front, with another family lounging zone down back on the bench seats separated by another removable table.

Then wind out the side awning and flip on the electrics including internal and external LED lights, before kicking back with a coldie...

The kitchenette is missing a rangehood so you’ll need to open a window or door when cooking, but there’s just about everything else you’ll need for a family cook-up including a 90 litre compressor fridge/freezer, microwave, three-burner gas cooktop and sink with mixer tap.

The combination shower/toilet is a tight squeeze through the twin doors but also well equipped with a showerhead and flexible hose, corner sink, ceiling light, mirror and fan hatch, while the fibreglass cubicle also features a drain hole, shower curtain and plastic toilet cassette to help keep the splashing water under control.

Switching to sleeping mode

When you’re ready for bed, the electric, chain-driven bed takes about 20 seconds to lower from the ceiling to a suitable height using the wall-mounted switch, with sufficient room above the two single beds below which are created by removing the Velcro-secured backrests. 

As long as family members’ legs aren’t too long, you can look forward to a restful snooze on the thick foam bases for both the drop-down double bed and two singles.

For ventilation and privacy, there are two opening windows on both sides of the van with in-built fly screens and blinds, along with two rear ‘porthole’ windows and roof hatches. 

Other camping conveniences include three different mounting and connection points for the 24in Smart TV, which can be set up for viewing at the front or rear of the layout or mounted externally behind the kitchen, so you can watch the State of Origin under the stars.

LED lighting includes four reading lights at the rear and there are a few 240/12V sockets scattered throughout the van. There are also two rear speakers that run off the van radio and a user-friendly touchscreen display mounted inside the side door, for monitoring the 100Ah battery system and 80 litre freshwater and 100 litre grey water tanks.

Inside room and storage

Given the jam-packed interior layout it’s no surprise there’s less storage and floor space than bigger vans, but Avida has maximized available space with some clever features like two-way kitchen drawers accessible from inside and outside the van, and by fitting a double-hinged fridge door that opens both ways and cooktop and sink with hinged glass lids for additional benchspace.

The shower/toilet also gets a double door to help prevent a mid-van traffic jam, and the toilet seat swivels around to make room for longer legs.

Interior storage options include a few drawers and cupboards around the kitchen including a half wardrobe above the fridge, nine overhead cupboards, an overhead storage ‘bin’ above the driver's cab and an under-floor hidey-hole behind the driver’s seat.

There are no external lockers for storing camp chairs and other outside gear, but there's a place for water hoses and electrical cords in one of the rear under-seat lockers not taken up by fixed items like the hot water unit and water pump.

Our test vehicle was fitted with the optional rooftop air-conditioner, but we’d also consider ticking the options boxes for the diesel space heater and an external gas bayonet to hook up a portable BBQ.

The Avida camper is wired up for solar panels but you’ll pay extra for the optional 160W rooftop panel and regulator that would come in handy for off-grid camping.

The Escape comes standard with a windshield privacy screen, but flyscreens for the rear and side entrances to keep the bugs out at night are other extra-cost options.

We’d also like a fold-out kitchen bench extension added to the Escape, like you see on some of its rivals and bigger Avida motorhomes.

Work ‘n play all-rounder

At around $137,000, the Avida Escape is a pricey family runaround for most people, but could pay off in holiday savings and with a work ‘n play vehicle that in theory could be used 365 days of the year.

While there are cheaper ensuite campervans on the market, you'll struggle to find one that can sleep, shower and transport four family members in such a neat package.

The icing on the cake is the Escape’s trendy grey metallic paintwork with silver/black decals, that not only ensures it blends in with the SUV crowd but should prevent neighbours from thinking a backpacker is stealth-camping out the front of your house!

Price: $136,998 (drive-away Victoria with optional rooftop air-conditioner)
Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato XLWB MR
Licence: Car
GVM: 4005kg
GCM: 6400kg
Towing capacity: 2500kg
Occupants: Four seatbelts, four berth
Travel length: 6363mm (21ft)
External body width: 2100mm
Travel height: 2772mm (with air-con)
Interior height: 1932mm
Engine: 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Power/torque: 130kW/450Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel tank: 90 litres
Wheels: 17in steel
Brakes: Discs (fr and rr), ABS and ESP
Cooktop: Dometic three-burner gas stove
Fridge/freezer: Dometic 10 Series 90L compressor
Microwave: NCE
Lighting: 12V LED
Battery: 100A/h AGM and 16A charger
Solar: Optional
TV: 24in NCE with antenna
Air-conditioner: Dometic Ibis 4
Shower: Fibreglass cubicle combined
Toilet: Thetford cassette
Fresh water: 80L (grey water: 100L)
Gas: 2 x 4kg
Hot water: Truma Ultra Rapid gas/electric
Supplied by: Roberts RV, Campbellfield, Victoria
More info: Avida RV