EV-friendly caravan going cheap

Australian RV retailer Apollo has turned the clock back to 2017, with pricing for one of Australia's most EV-friendly caravans reduced as low as $40,000 tow-away -- or the same price when it was introduced to Australia almost 10 years ago!

It's big news for two reasons: first, you can save many thousands of dollars on a lightweight European caravan at a time when cost of living pressures and soaring fuel costs are hitting bank balances' hard.

Second, the 3.6 metre (internal length) Adria Action 361LT is possibly the only couple's ensuite hardtop caravan on the market for the price that can be sensibly towed by an array of EV 'daily drivers', including the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Mercedes-Benz EQC 400.

Not to mention some of the more wallet-friendly new Chinese EVs such as the Zeekr 7X and some mid-size hybrids like the Toyota RAV4.

That's because the little Adria 'van boasts an unloaded (Tare) weight of 1000kg Tare and a 1400kg ATM, along with a ball weight of just 100kg; figures you'd normally associate with a camper trailer rather than a full height caravan with internal shower and cassette toilet.

That opens up the wonderful world of caravanning to those who don't already own a bigger dual-cab ute or 4WD wagon required to tow many heavier Aussie 'vans; and perhaps never dreamt of hitching up a 'van and hitting the highway for the great Aussie getaway.

While not quite as convenient as a bigger, two tonne-plus Aussie caravan or equivalent, the little Adria has just about everything you need including a combination shower/toilet, kitchen with 106L fridge and gas cooktop, TV and stereo, ducted air-con, and a hot dipped galvanised chassis with independent rubber torsion suspension, and built-in safety features like AL-KO over-run braking and an anti-sway coupling.

If the towing capacity of your vehicle and/or budget is slightly higher, Apollo is also offloading larger but still lightweight, imported Adria caravans as part of its latest runout sale, including the 1600kg ATM, Adria Altea 402 PH Sport couple's van and even bigger 2050kg ATM, Adria Adora 542 PH Sport, both for as low as $49,990 tow-away.

That's a whopping $35,310 saving on the stylish 19ft 11in Adora 542 PH Sport, down from its peak $85,300 drive-away price in early-2023.

The heavily discounted lightweight Adria 'vans are largely 2023-24-plated 'new' dealer 'vans and are currently on display at Apollo Retail Centres around the country, including in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane.

You can check out some of the Adria runout deals on caravancampingsales here.

Once the final run-out 'vans are snapped up, it could be the last Adria caravans we see for a while, following a 20-year run of local distribution of the tougher-than-they-look Slovenian 'vans.

Apollo picked up the brand back in 2014; at a time before 3500kg tow-rated dual-cab utes went gangbusters, and lightweight, full composite British and Euro 'vans held as much as a five per cent share of the local RV market.

A spokesperson for THL Australia, which took over the Apollo business down under a few years' back, said there were no plans to import any more of the super lightweight Adria 'vans to Australia this year.

However, she said the Adria Twin campervan "remains a strong performer for us", and there are plans to introduce new 2027 motorhome models at some stage.

Related: Adria Action 361LT 2018 Review

Related: Adria Adora 542 PH Sport 2023 Review