Jayco Discovery Outback 2025 Review

After displaying prototypes of its new '50th Anniversary' Discovery models at Melbourne Leisurefest, Jayco has now unveiled the first production versions in both hardtop and pop-top layouts. In all, Jayco says there are around 30 changes for its 2025 Discovery, which includes a new Dune exterior colour and 'Jayco 50' decals and replaces its top-selling Journey model. The new Discovery also benefits from a full exterior and interior makeover, and the addition of upgraded features including some from Jayco's top-spec Silverline range.

For this exclusive 'first peek' we're looking at the 'four-berth' 21ft Discovery Outback hardtop model which features a spacious new couple's layout that incorporates a capacious slide-out club-lounge and a kitchen with the largest benchtop ever fitted to a Jayco caravan...

Related: 50th Anniversary Jayco Discovery Pop Tops revealed

Related: Old-school Jayco Discovery returns in 2025

Related: Jayco All-Terrain Pop Top 2024 Review

Standing out from the pack with its new Dune exterior colour and golden 'Jayco 50' anniversary decals, the latest Discovery range goes on sale in December 2024 and will be available in 24 different variants. It will also replace the popular 10-year old Journey range in Jayco's 2025 line-up.

Body lengths for the new Discovery span 16ft to 22ft, with both Touring and Outback versions and couple and family bunk floorplans available (most with a separate shower and toilet). There are also now two slide-out options available for the hardtop caravan variant.

As far as RRP pricing goes, the MY25 Discovery Pop-top ranges from $55,990 to $67,790, while MY25 Discovery hardtop caravans are priced from $78,990 to $92,990. While prices are up marginally across the line-up, Jayco said it's added extra value with an updated and expanded list of standard features that includes a new single wireless reversing camera, continuous hot water unit, stereo unit with both internal and external speakers, a pillowtop mattress, lithium battery system, and a Starlink Mini-ready external socket.

Plus, all hardtop versions get a bigger 224L compressor fridge and 27in Smart TV with soundbar.

Also available with a queen bed slide-out, the 21ft Jayco Discovery review van with its slide-out lounge/dinette and Outback suspension is the priciest Discovery hard-top on offer, at RRP$92,990. That also makes it just over $2000 dearer than the 2024-spec 21ft Journey slide-out van it replaces.

Jayco might be late to the caravan party with its 'desert sand' exterior, but the fresh hue for the smooth fibreglass panels on the Discovery look the goods in our opinion, while adding an appropriate old-school feel for the 50th anniversary model. If you're not a fan there's a grey exterior option for an additional $1500. Other retro touches on the prototype show vans including the golden alloys and blue cabinetry didn't make the cut for the production models, with Jayco sticking with blander black alloy wheels in either 15in or 16in sizes.

The MY25 Discovery also borrows some exterior highlights from Jayco's range-topping 2024 Silverline, including a gloss black spoiler and rear mould with 'smoked' LED-style black taillights, a shiny black front window cover, and a matte black front mould with gas bottle cover.

As the extra-cost Outback variant, the review van gets some additional black side checkerplate and a galvanised chassis with the JTECH 2.0 independent coil suspension and 50mm ball coupling (a Cruisemaster DO-35 coupling is optional).

Following the 'timber free' trend, the 2025 Discovery is also the latest Jayco model to get the 20mm thick PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) composite floor in lieu of a more traditional sheet of ply. Otherwise, there are Jayco's regular fibreglass sandwich panels and aluminium framing for the walls, together with a one-piece fibreglass roof.

Like other MY25 Discovery vans, the new 21ft model also gets a more accessible, side-mounted gas bayonet, colour-coded picnic table, dual-doorside annexe lights, manual entry steps, a triple security door, external electrical sockets, chassis-mounted tap and a powered awning.

Like the Discovery's exterior, the interior refresh isn't a radical re-design but Jayco has done enough to differentiate it from the current Journey model, while adding some practical improvements and keeping it looking fresh and up-to-date compared to rivals.

Among key changes is a new Euro-inspired furniture fascia design, updated cupboard door handles and new positive fixing ball bearing runners for the drawers. There's also a new Silverline-inspired colour palette that includes the trendy Reed Green and Braun cupboard doors in the review van.

To enhance the clean, contemporary look, Jayco also removed all interior curtains (except on the door window), added new one-piece fibreglass wall and ceiling liners and subway tile splashbacks, and has given the kitchen sink and matching bathroom and kitchen accessories a brushed, gun metal finish.

The Lola Galaxy fabric upholstery and bed linen and scatter cushions are included, but you'll pay extra for the two leatherette colour options available. It feels quite light and airy inside too, with two large roof hatches and some bigger side-wall windows added to the mix.

Otherwise, there's a mix of LED mood, ceiling and reading lights, and more electrical sockets with new USB and USB-C outlets. Appliance-wise, the Discovery caravan also gets a bigger 27in Smart TV with soundbar and larger 224L 12V compressor fridge with drawer freezer, a four-burner cooktop and oven with rangehood, a microwave, rooftop air conditioner and 3.3kg top-load washing machine.

Being a hardtop model, the 21ft Jayco Discovery slider should be relatively easy to set up, with just a central jockey wheel and four corner stabilisers to fiddle around with at the campsite. The powered slide out in the offside wall takes around 15 seconds to move in or out, and there's also a powered awning, with switches for both in an internal, head-high cupboard.

While you'll require a wider campsite, the benefits of the slide-out wall are easy to see once you enter the van from the rear-side door. The inviting club lounge looks big enough to squeeze in eight adults, although trying to fit all their dinner plates and glasses on the adjustable table might be a stretch. It also sets up as a great work station for digital nomads, while the lounge converts to another sleeping area for a teenager, or couple of grand-kids perhaps.

The kitchen directly opposite boasts acres of bench space; enough for a drainer, cutting board, portable coffee machine, toaster and mini-bar, without intruding on the large, square sink with mixer and filtered water taps, and large cooktop with oven.

Adding to the homey feel is the domestic-style fridge and adjoining pantry for all your food and drinks, while you won't have to strain your eyes or ears while kicking back on the queen-sized pillowtop mattress, viewing the latest blockbuster on the 27in TV with soundbar.

Otherwise, the bedroom and bathroom areas are pretty standard fare, although very nicely presented with handy storage options at all four corners of the walkaround queen bed. The rear ensuite looks straight out of a Silverline catalogue, with its bigger mirror with LED lighting, overhead cupboards and vanity with ceramic bowl sink, and cassette toilet adjoining the enclosed washing machine. There's even a floor to ceiling 'linen press' cupboard next to the large shower cubicle!

Jayco said it has tried to enhance storage space wherever possible inside the van, including relocating some sink plumbing to free up more drawer and cupboard space in the kitchen, which also includes a handy pull-out condiments' rack next to the oven.

On the other hand, storage for external gear is largely restricted to a forward tunnel boot, with some of that space taken up by the new instant hot water unit.

The Discovery also has improved off-grid capabilities if you need to camp for a few nights unplugged, with twin 95L fresh water tanks and a single 100Ah lithium battery fed by a 200W rooftop solar panel, managed by a new low-profile Projecta 30A DC-DC charger and wall-mounted digital control panel. It also comes Starlink Mini-ready, with a 100W external socket included.

Our Jayco review van was just off the production line so didn't yet have a build plate with any weights listed. However, we were told the slide-out wall with Lippert Schwintek mechanism adds about 120kg to the dry weight, so expect a Tare of around 2500kg, judging by a similar 21ft Jayco slide-out model.

That might provide a payload of around 500kg, given an expected 3000-odd kilogram ATM, and make it towable behind a number of popular dual-cab utes and 4WD wagons.

Despite its 'Outback' spec the review van isn't really designed for off-the-bitumen travel, with its ball coupling and limited front, side and underbody protection. If you're planning on spending a bit of time on the dirt, best to check out one of Jayco's more off-road ready All Terrain models.

Jayco says its Melbourne-built Journey range is "Australia's best-selling caravan", and with all the worthwhile 'Jayco 50' changes there's no reason why the Aussie RV giant's re-badged and re-styled Discovery shouldn't hold on to that esteemed title. The new range will need to better than ever though, competing in a crowded sub-$100K caravan market that's evolving rapidly as a growing number of sharply-priced Chinese-built models enter the arena.

Loaded up with more kit and character, the new 21ft Discovery slider also presents as a cut-price Silverline, while delivering the sort of creature comforts you won't get in a fixed-wall caravan of the same size.

Price: RRP $92,990
Travel length: 8429mm (est.)
Body length: 6735mm (21ft 6in)
External body width: 2470mm
Travel height: 3030mm (est.)
Internal height: 1975mm (est.)
Tare weight: 2500kg (est.)
ATM: 3000kg (est.)
Ball weight (Tare): NA
Body: Fibreglass composite cladding over aluminium frame with one-piece fibreglass roof and PET composite floor
Chassis: Hot dipped galvanised steel
Suspension: JTECH 2.0 independent coil, 50mm ball coupling
Brakes: 10in electric drums
Stability control: Lippert Sway Command
Wheels: 16in alloy with all-terrain tyres
Water: 2 x 95L (fresh)
Battery: 1 x 100Ah lithium
Solar: 1 x 200watt rooftop panel
Air-conditioner: Dometic 240V rooftop
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Hot water: Suburban Nautilus continuous gas
Cooking: Thetford Triplex Plus four-burner gas cooktop, oven
Fridge: Thetford 224L compressor fridge/freezer
Microwave: Sphere 240v
Toilet: Thetford cassette
Shower: Separate fibreglass cubicle
Washing machine: Sphere 3.3kg top-load
Lighting: 12V LED
TV: Furrion 27in LED Smart TV with soundbar
Audio: Furrion with internal/external speakers
Supplied by: Jayco Australia, Dandenong South, Victoria