Coromal Princeton P635XC

WHAT WE LIKED

Galvanised underbody protection
Large ensuite
Exterior dining features

NOT SO MUCH
Limited exterior storage
Bulky interior wall joins

As the morning’s first rays of sun peeked over the horizon of the Blue Mountains, NSW, we were struck by two things: the stunning beauty of a sunrise in one of Australia’s most picturesque places, and how good our Coromal Princeton caravan looked. Its unique grey cladding and new blue decals were particularly attractive in the dawn’s soft light.

This rig had made the long and winding trip from Coromal Caravans Central Coast as the ‘control van’ on a tow vehicle test. As much fun as it was driving four different 4WDs for three days, it’s fair to say I would have liked an extra few days away with the Princeton.

As Coromal’s top-of-the-line offroad luxury van, the Princeton P635XC has a lot going for it.

IN CONTROL

First off, the 2130kg (Tare) Princeton tows very well, sitting consistently steady and true behind all four of our heavy-duty tow vehicles.

Appearance wise, the non-white colour of the cladding is different, but what immediately catches the eye is the V-shape of the van’s structure.

The Princeton’s offroad-going frame is higher at the front and back, which means each end declines towards the dual axles. The result is a striking setup that gives the van a distinctive and innovative aesthetic.

Chunky tyres and 16in alloys, plus checker plating all-round, contribute nicely to the look and add an air of ruggedness.         

One other exterior feature that warrants a mention is the van’s raised silver ‘Coromal’ badging, rather than a simple series of decals. This may seem a small thing, but it’s the kind of classy detail that helps make top-of-the-line vans exactly that. 

ROUGH RIDING

The Princeton’s aluminium frame sits on a 6in SupaGal chassis and independent suspension. A look underneath revealed that all taps and valves, as well as the van’s two 86 litre water tanks, are well protected by galvanised plates.

According to Coromal Central Coast’s Scott Irvine, the aluminium frame helps keep the van’s weight (2720kg ATM) to a reasonable level, which in turn helps its offroad abilities.

The van’s two 9kg gas cylinders are kept in the large front boot rather than on the drawbar, which is largely bare except for a tap and separate Anderson plug.

Given the front boot is the only space for external storage, this may seem an odd choice, but the space is so huge it hardly makes a difference. Also, the van’s battery has its own offside storage compartment, so it doesn’t take any space and is a little more easily accessible.

As should be the case with any luxury van designed for some free camping, the Princeton has quite a few extra features to make life under the (Carefree) awning more enjoyable.

A slide-out barbecue and fold-down picnic table make al fresco dining a nightly option, as do external speakers, a handful of 12V lights and a TV plug. And a pull out Techno Step will help you at the triple-lock rear entry door.

The van is also wired for solar, so relying on batteries is not the only option.

CLASSIC DESIGN

The Princeton’s interior layout falls in line with many Australian vans: rear ensuite, front bedroom, and kitchen/dinette in between.

One small criticism with the interior is the appearance of the off-white walls, which feature exposed rivets at the joins throughout the van. While this is not a design flaw or a reason to question the structure, it contributes to an uneven and messy look and something I would prefer not to see on a top-of-the-line van.

The Princeton’s full ensuite is a highlight. The separate shower has plenty of room, housing a built-in moulded sink with water fountain spout, plus a handy mirror and nifty remote controlled lights and exhaust fan.

The vanity’s floating porcelain sink is a classy-looking touch that also leaves a little more room on the bench. A 2.2kg washing machine is hidden at the nearside end.

There’s plenty of room when sitting at the 12V Thetford toilet, and a long towel rack is another simple, but much appreciated, feature. Several good size cupboards offer more than adequate storage.

CLASSY KITCHEN

Situated in the middle, the offside kitchen fits with the classy design of the rest of the van.

Both the stainless steel sink and four-burner stove have covers to increase bench space – although the sink cover is raised and made of chunky plastic, which does help with weight, but isn’t ideal for food preparation.

A stainless steel rangehood sits over the stove to help keep cooking odours to a minimum and a two-door 186 litre fridge (with microwave on top) sits between the bench and the ensuite.

Kitchen storage is very good, with a good number of lockers and cupboards above and a number of drawers below. I liked the easy-to-use “pull” style openers in place of push buttons, and the smooth ball bearing runners for all of the drawers.

While not huge, the nearside L-shape dinette is a comfortable and inviting place. It will comfortably sit three adults and its blue upholstery contrasts well with the rest of the interior.

Each side of the ‘L’ features standard under-seat storage compartments. A rear skylight adds to the natural light coming in from the large windows on either side.    

Up front, the bedroom would be a great place to crash after a long day of offroad vanning, and the bed’s ability to extend 6in to a queen size is a real winner.

Such an extension can often mean a loss of walking room, but the Princeton features a clever design that allows the bedhead to be moved and the bed’s space extended at the top, so it doesn’t ‘stick out’ once it’s lengthened.

Bedroom storage is also impressive, with overhead lockers, several corner cupboards and deep cabinets on either side of the bed – the cabinets also house double powerpoints. An extra row of shelves sits on the offside wall.

A standard 22in flatscreen TV rests on a swivel arm in the offside corner, and can be swung around and viewed from the kitchen/dinette. 

VERDICT

Just because you’re taking your van off the beaten track doesn’t necessarily mean you need to miss out on the luxuries of modern caravanning. In that regards the Coromal Princeton represents the best of both worlds.

It’s a relatively large and heavy-ish van that requires a solid tow vehicle, but features such as a lightweight frame, solid suspension, underbody protection and triple-hinge secured furniture mean that this rig can handle some rough stuff in ample comfort and style.

COROMAL PRINCETON P635XC

Overall length: 8.16m (26ft 9in)
External body length: 6.3m (20ft 8in)
External width: 2.4m (7ft 10in)
Internal height: 1.98m (6ft 6in)
Travel height: 2.98m (9ft 9in)
Tare: 2130kg
ATM: 2720kg
Ball weight: 115kg
Frame: Aluminium
Chassis: 6in SupaGal
Suspension: Independent
Cooktop: Four-burner/grill/oven (three gas, one electric)
Fridge: Two-door 186 litre
Microwave: LG
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Fresh water: 2 x 82L
Price as shown: $81,830 (tow-away, NSW)
Supplied by: Coromal Caravans Central Coast
More info: Coromal Caravans