First look: Jurgens Solaris

Just about every time I visit a caravan park I spot a Jurgens caravan. Once I even spotted two, parked side by side.

They’re a popular choice for Australian caravanners, with their solid but relatively  lightweight construction, and distinctive off-white/grey exterior look you can’t mistake for anything else.

However, the Pakenham, Victoria-based manufacturer has thrown a spanner in the works by introducing the first of a new Solaris range of dirt road-capable caravans, that look unlike anything Jurgens has built before, but stand out just the same.

The new Solaris is in response to buyers' demands for a more off-road capable caravan, including a bigger payload and increased ground clearance. It also follows the industry trend towards glossy smooth surfaces -- both inside and out -- and caravans offering plenty of ‘bling’…

Different but the same

Jurgens are renowned for producing vans a bit lighter than most, and the Solaris follows this trend although at 2750kg fully loaded, it’s a bit heavier than a similar sized Bailey Rangefinder. You'll need something with at least three tonne towing capacity to tow it, like the Ford Everest we used; or if you want to do it really easy, a LandCruiser.

Bright and glossy, the 22ft Solaris is built using locally-sourced fibreglass composite panels (25mm thick walls, 29mm thick roof and 38mm floor), rather than the aluminium composite panels sourced from Jurgens' South African factory.

The full height front and rear moulded panels are made from ABS, rather than fibreglass, but the Solaris uses a similar galvanized and bolted chassis to other Jurgens' models. To help ride the bumps better it rides on tandem axle Cruisemaster GT trailing arm coil suspension  with 10in brakes and 16in alloys with all-terrain tyres.

Together with more road clearance (Jurgens says it can withstand a 650mm deep creek crossing), the Solaris is designed to tackle light off-road tracks. However, you won't be able to push it too far with only a standard 50mm ball coupling fitted, and little in the way of underbody or frontal protection to prevent damage from loose or uneven terrain.

Free camping potential

It's set up for some free camping, with two 80 litre freshwater tanks, 125W solar panels, 100Ah battery, and a 4.5kg gas bottle fitted as standard, with the option to add an extra water tank, battery and gas bottle as well as an 80 litre grey water tank.

The stand-out, grey gloss front fascia features two top-hinged covers – one for front window protection while the other opens to a boot that holds the gas bottles, as well as a compartment for cords and hoses.

However, there are limited external storage options aside from the front boot, at least on the van we looked at, with the optional slide-out BBQ and hot water unit taking up space at the front of the van that might otherwise be used as storage compartments.

However, the underslung spare tyre does free up plenty of space on the rear wall for fitment of optional bike racks.

Other exterior highlights fitted standard on the Solaris include the Carefree roll-out awning, outside lights, electric powered step, and 12V/240V sockets and a connection point to the King Jack roof-top aerial.

Interior bling

While it’s now a common look on Aussie vans, the Solaris' interior will be another shock to existing Jurgens’ owners used to more understated European design, curved cabinetry and muted colour palettes.

To showcase the broader decor options available to Solaris owners, the review van featured eye-catching red leather upholstery, gloss black cabinet doors with silver handles, and grey ‘granite’ lino with matching colour gloss benchtops.

While they might have gone a bit too far with the five red ‘magazine pouches’ stacked on the wall near the entry door, buyers can easily tone it down to a decor level they're more comfortable with. Likewise, the extensive mood lighting along the floor and upper cabinetry can easily be switched off.

Real world testing prompts changes

Jurgens' real world ‘torture testing’ of the Solaris has already exposed some weaknesses in the new ‘flat pack’ style furniture, as well as the front window cover, so expect production versions to have a few tweaks including side-hinged overhead locker doors replaced by sturdier top-hinged versions.

One of three layouts currently available, the review van featured a north-south queen bed at the front, kitchen and café dinette in the middle and a full width rear ensuite including separate shower and toilet.

It all feels bright and airy, thanks to good window coverage throughout plus two big roof hatches in the living area. There's also a good-sized walkway through the van, although using the slide-out footrests in the dinette blocks access.

The Solaris' kitchen is above-average in size, including a big stainless steel sink and dedicated bench space for food preparation. There's also a microwave, four burner cooktop and grille, rangehood, and an 185 litre three-way fridge fitted as standard. Kitchen storage space is excellent too, and about the only thing missing was a pull-out pantry.

In fact, interior storage overall is a strong point of the Solaris, with plenty of options under and around the bed including a tall but narrow cupboard facing the bed, which houses on one shelf some of the electronics including a BMPro battery display, fuse box, 12V socket and switches for the hot water system.

The comfy, leather-lined dinette is ideal for two people, with a fixed tri-fold table and twin reading lights, while standard features in the bedroom include an 18.5in TV/DVD on an adjustable arm that stores neatly up against the wall when not in use, and a stereo unit with two internal speakers.

Seating for two in the bathroom

Along with a solid, sliding privacy door, the rear bathroom has two features you don’t always find in an Aussie caravan: a fibreglass shower with standing room as well as a sit-down bench, and a pull-out, dirty laundry drawer close to the swivel cassette toilet.

Otherwise, there's everything you expect to find in a modern caravan ensuite including vanity, mirror, toilet roll, towel holders, exhaust fans, wall-mounted washing machine, and an array of electrical sockets.

The Solaris retails from $70,000, but budget on a bit more once you add a few desirable options like a second gas bottle, Sirrocco fan,  external speakers, and perhaps a second solar panel or third water tank.

Verdict

It's clear Jurgens is targetting the likes of Jayco’s range-topping Silverline and the Bailey Rangefinder with the Solaris, which will be available in various configurations including bunk bed and single axle versions.

A solid, roomy, well equipped, and eye-catching caravan, the Solaris is bound to find more buyers than Jurgens’ previous rough-road attempt: the bigger, heavier and more expensive Travado.

Jurgens Solaris C66

Travel length: 7726mm
External body length: 6622mm
External body width: 2480mm
Interior head room: 1950mm
Travel height: 2875mm
Tare: 2250kg
ATM: 2750kg
Ball weight (tare): 205kg
Body: Fibreglass composite
Chassis: Galvanised steel
Suspension: Cruisemaster GT independent trailing arm coil, single shock
Brakes: 10in electric drums
Wheels: 16in alloy with 225/75 AT tyres
ESC: Al-Ko
Fresh water: 2 x 80L
Battery: 1 x 100Ah
Solar: 125W roof-top
Air conditioner: Houghton Belaire 3200, roof-mounted
Hot water: 22L gas/electric
Gas: 1 x 4.5kg
Cooking: Thetford Minigrill MkIII gas/electric
Microwave: Camec
Fridge: 185L Thetford 3-way gas/electric
Bathroom: Separate shower and toilet
Washing machine: Daewoo Mini wall-mounted
Lighting: LED throughout
Options fitted: Bike rack, slide-out BBQ, second 4.5kg gas bottle
Price: $69,990 plus ORC (As reviewed: $71,930)
Supplied by: Jurgens Australia, Pakenham, Victoria