Jayco Conquest

WE LIKED:
>> Ample interior storage
>> Kitchen bench space
>> Value for money

NOT SO MUCH:
>> External storage
>> Bathroom space
>> Fit and finish in some areas

The Conquest is a familiar series in the Jayco motorhome range, having been on the market since 2010.

As Jayco doesn’t currently build campervans, it’s also the company’s entry-level motorhome model, with five cabin lengths to choose from, seven floor plans and either a high-roof Luton Peak with a double bed or a low-roof cab with storage space.

Sitting towards the top of the range with a starting price of $135,000, the 2015 Conquest MS.25-5 is Jayco’s largest Conquest four-berth Luton Peak motorhome, and the only one built on the premium priced Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 519 cab-chassis.

The rear-drive Sprinter’s 3.0-litre turbo-diesel is smooth and has a healthy mid-range response while the seven-speed automatic is a slick-shifter with a good combination of gear ratios.

The driver’s seat has plenty of adjustment available and the steering wheel is both reach and tilt-adjustable, so it’s pretty easy to find a comfy driving position. While the seats feel too hard at first they’re actually very comfortable and supportive.

There’s also large side mirrors and a rear-view camera fitted in the spot usually reserved for a rear-vision mirror to make reversing that much easier.

The door on the nearside has a convenient electric drop-down step, with the switch well located just inside the doorway on the left panel.

The entry door has a curtained window, and in this case fitted with the optional separate Crimsafe mesh security door.

To get set up for a stay is easy. Swivel the captain’s chairs, clip the light aluminium ladder into place to give bed access above the cab, and that’s about it.

The dinette seats are equipped with lap/sash seatbelts, and the dinette table slides to improve access to the seats or can be removed altogether.

Above the dinette there are two lockers, an open shelf and a storage locker for the 19-in LCD TV. The TV locker’s sliding door hides the TV from view when not being used.

The Conquest has ample LED ceiling lights, large hopper windows at the rear and a large skylight, which all help to make it feel airy and light inside.

Above the dinette are the audio player and water level and state of charge power indicator.

In the kitchen, there’s  plenty of dedicated bench space to the left of the stainless-steel sink. With the standard cutting board fitted over the sink, and the cooktop hinged lid folded down, the food preparation area increases markedly.

The walkway here is wide enough for one person to be at the kitchen and another to walk past — not always the case in motorhome layouts.

The slide-out pantry, six drawers plus cupboards below the bench and lockers provide a good range of kitchen storage options. The microwave is above the bench, and could be fitted lower down to make it easier to use.

The island bed has sufficient walk-around room when extended, and even more with the separate bed head cushion lifted out and the mattress pushed to the bed head.

There’s storage at each side at the bed head area for reading material and so on, while a small bedside table provides additional space.

Hanging wardrobe space is on each side of the bed and a set of drawers in the bedside tables below. At the foot of the bed, on the nearside and off side wall corners, are L-shape cupboard spaces and bench tops as well.

The Luton peak bed area has small hopper windows and a netted rail fitted via a clip-in arrangement. The very light aluminium step ladder, once clipped into place, feels strong and doesn’t move.

The shower/toilet combination room is a little on the small side, although the fold-up sink greatly adds to showering room or when using the facilities. A two-door mirror cupboard is above the sink, and a height-adjustable shower rose, a light and a hatch with fan above the shower cap off the bathroom amenities.

An optional 120w solar panel charges two 100Ah batteries and a Setec 240v/12v battery control system and a Redarc battery solenoid are also fitted. The state of charge and voltage inputs are displayed on a Drifter LCD monitor.

What this motorhome is not lacking inside is storage options. There are plenty of cupboards and drawers around the interior.

As for exterior storage options, there’s a generator locker with a slide-out on the off-side rear, and two small lockable storage recesses on the nearside.

Two 4.5kg gas bottles, which slide out on a platform for easy removal, are also fitted in a locker on the nearside. A small hatch at the rear gives access to the underbed storage area, although this opening could really be a lot larger.

VERDICT

Like most Jayco products, the Conquest MS.25-5 provides excellent value, especially for a coach-built B-class motorhome built on a sophisticated cab-chassis.

The exterior storage and some areas of fit and finish could be improved, but the generous kitchen space, good interior storage and indeed the overall sense of spaciousness inside make the Conquest an enticing proposition.

JAYCO CONQUEST MS 25-5

Base vehicle: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Tare weight: 3600kg
GVM: 4490kg
Licence: Car
Passengers: Four
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel
Power: 140kW/440Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Brakes: ABS discs with ESP
External length: 7.92m
External width: 2.39 (incl. awning)
External height: 3.19
Internal height: 2.0m (6ft 6in)
Rear bed size: 1.9 x 1.3m (6ft 2in x 4ft 3in)
Cooktop: Dometic gas/electric burner
Fridge: Dometic 184-litre fridge/freezer
Microwave: Sphere
Lighting: 12V LED
Batteries: 2 x 100A/h
Air-conditioner: Coleman
Toilet: Thetford Cassette
Shower: Combined cubicle
Hot water heater: Suburban 22.6 litre
Fresh water: 150 litres
Grey water: 80 litres
Gas cylinders 2 x 4.5kg
Price (drive-away, NSW): $135,000
As tested: $152,260
Options fitted: Leather seating, 120w solar panel, Crimsafe door, towbar, chrome wheel covers, side steps, 184 litre fridge upgrade
Supplied by: Jayco Australia, Dandenong South, Victoria