Coromal Lifestyle 600/Pioneer Princeton 60 2005 Review

By Tom Olthoff

At the Adelaide Caravan Show earlier in the year we spotted a Coromal Lifestyle 600 and a Coromal Pioneer Princeton 60 near each other. Both measured 19ft 8in (6m) in length and were 7ft 10in (2.4m) wide. Interior height – at 6ft 8in (1.93m) – was also the same, but that’s where most similarities stopped. When we noticed that the tare weight of the Pioneer was 275kg more than that of the Lifestyle, we thought we’d take a closer look.

So what do two caravans with the same dimensions, one priced at $35,000 and the other at $55,000, have in common? If you’re thinking that one must be a cheapie or the other overpriced, then you’re wrong on all counts. Both units are quality products from Coromal Caravans, one of Australia’s major manufacturers. What sets the two vans apart is that they’re aimed at two entirely different segments of the market.

The Princeton, with its high stance and big wheels, looks purposeful and gives the impression that it can’t wait to venture off the bitumen. The Lifestyle, on the other hand, is a more sedate touring van. With its sleek, low lines it appears longer than the Princeton.

Each van is attractive in its own way and will make any owner proud.

The Coromal Lifestyle 600 is specifically designed for the family market and offers an opportunity for families to explore Australia in complete comfort. Priced at about $35,000, the Lifestyle is great value considering its spaciousness and many features. While some might consider that a family van should be compact, having nearly 5.5m of interior space means not falling over one another when everyone needs to be inside.

The front bedroom has a queen size bed and three children can be accommodated in bunks along the rear. For privacy, a solid timber sliding door separates the main bedroom from the rest of the van. There is ample storage space for a family of five, with the large fridge being a real plus. A two-bunk model is also available.

Coromal’s Pioneer range is designed to take the rough stuff. The Princeton offers luxury accommodation for two while at the same time being able to travel in areas not suitable for normal touring vans. In addition to extra ground clearance and a cutaway rear, the body has reinforcements in all the strategic places and furniture is bolted and screwed to enhance offroad capabilities.

The Pioneer range has rear bedrooms. A front kitchen is standard in the shower and non-shower models while the bunk model has a side kitchen. The Princeton 60 model is also available with a shower or bunks, but these options mean doing without the lounge and cocktail cabinet.

Built to last
From their early days, Coromals have always been known for their strong structure. The more rugged Princeton uses bigger drawbar and chassis members than the Lifestyle, but the chassis of both the Lifestyle and Princeton are hot-dipped galvanised for corrosion protection. Suspension is with the patented positive-tracking and low-maintenance Knee system. Capacity is 2600kg for the Lifestyle and 2800kg for the Princeton. Electric brakes are fitted to all wheels. On the Princeton Al-Ko offroad electric magnets are used.

On the Lifestyle the Bridgestone 185 14LT tyres are fitted to 14in Sunraysia-style wheels where the Princeton uses LT 265/75 R16 tyres on 16in LandCruiser wheels. Both units have large mudflaps fitted.

The floors consist of waterproof ply that is glued and fastened to the chassis. Framing is constructed from extruded aluminium with the internal wall lining and external aluminium sheeting glued and riveted to the frame.

Both the Lifestyle and the Pioneer are fully insulated.

All windows are wind-out except for the ones on the door-side of the Lifestyle van. The Lifestyle’s door-side windows are sliding so that they don’t interfere with the door when it’s opened. This also means that when the family relaxes under the awning, there is nothing to knock one’s head on if the windows are open. If you’re wondering why the same sliding windows aren’t found on the Princeton, it’s because wind-out windows – with their twin locks – provide better dust-proofing.

Share alike
The Lifestyle and the Pioneer are packed with features. Externally, both include a front boot with gas struts on the lid, bumper bar with spare tyre, pebble guard and stone shield, outside powerpoint, lockable water filler, mains pressure tap, corner stabilisers, battery storage compartment with slide-out cradle, 8in jockey wheel and grab handles. There’s a water heater on the Princeton, and an optional external shower.

There are a host of internal features in both vans. The queen size double bed in each has an innerspring mattress with a 150mm pull-out section to make the bed nearly 2m long at night. The base can be raised and supported on gas struts to access storage below.

There is an LG microwave in both vans, but the Lifestyle has a cooker and grill where the Princeton has an oven. Both models have rangehoods and cooktops with three gas burners and one electric hotplate. A large RM2553 Dometic refrigerator is a welcome addition to both Coromals.

Entertainment is taken care of by a Panasonic radio/CD player and there are facilities for a TV. Lighting is 12V throughout. Both vans have a large Remis Clearview hatch to let in extra daylight and provide ventilation. In the Lifestyle there is also a smaller Fiamma hatch, and the Princeton has an Aircommand Wren rooftop air-conditioner. The latter is optional on the Lifestyle.

Although the fully-optioned Pioneer Princeton that CW checked out costs around $20,000 more than the Lifestyle, the base model Princeton starts at around $48,000. Once you experience the luxurious offroad Princeton however, it is hard to imagine how you’d ‘rough it’ without air-conditioning, wind-out Galaxy windows, oven, innerspring mattress, vanity and external shower, to mention just a few from the long list of features and available options.

The bottom line
Considering that both the family-oriented Lifestyle and the offroad Pioneer caravans are aimed at entirely different markets, each has a considerable amount of appeal in its own right.

Anyone who wants to accommodate two adults and two or three children can’t go wrong with the Coromal Lifestyle. Sure, there are cheaper family vans, but for space and features, the 19ft 8in (6m) tandem Lifestyle at $35,000 would have to win in the value-for-money stakes.

Coromal’s Princeton is the type of van that is ideal for long-term, extended travel. Its high rating comes down to the fact that you don’t have to think about turning back when the bitumen runs out. While the asking price of $55,000 for a fully-optioned Princeton may not be within everyone’s budget, there are more expensive vans about that don’t necessarily offer any more than the sought-after features found in this desirable package.

So what do the two vans with similar dimensions and a $20,000 difference in the price tag have in common? Apart from being quality-built caravans and meeting the needs of two completely different sections of the market, they both represent excellent value for money. You can’t ask for more than that.