Nova Caravans Vita

WE LIKED
>> Generous kitchen bench
>> Gas heater and air-con as standard
>> Reversing camera

NOT SO MUCH
>> Needs better light and mirror design in bathroom
>> Limited space with bed extended

Looking at so many caravans every year, I often consider the advantages and disadvantages of different designs. But I have come to the conclusion that, like so many things in the RV world, it ultimately comes down to personal preference.

And while the front bedroom, rear bathroom layout may be in almost every new van at the moment, that’s because people love it.

Although the Nova Vita 21679-SP comes with this seemingly ubiquitous layout, complete with offside dinette and nearside kitchen, it does have quite a few distinctive Nova touches, including a non-rectangular bathroom.

The interior timber look has been kept to a minimum and large Jupiter hopper windows, especially up front, provide a great feeling of space, not that there's anything particularly cramped about the roomy interior.

DESIGN QUIRKS

The non-rectangular shape of the bathroom – with the offside wider than the nearside – is of particular interest because the offside accommodates the shower and the cassette toilet, leaving the vanity in the middle, and space on the nearside for a top-loading washing machine.

There's also a cupboard tucked in the corner above the bench. This design takes up a little more space, but is a (welcome) different take on normal bathroom design. Windows on both sides and a vent above the shower ensure a reasonable air flow.

This different shape for the bathroom allows for a larger kitchen bench that’s home to all the usual appliances – four-burner cooktop and grill, stainless steel sink and drainer – and offers plenty of work space, too.

A 175 litre three-way fridge is located between the bathroom and the dinette. In terms of storage, there are several cupboards, one with wire drawers, five more drawers and several overhead lockers. There's also another cupboard above the fridge.

Leather upholstery has been used for the dinette, which includes footrests and some always-welcome wall cushions. The tri-fold table can be lifted in and out as required, but leg room is slightly restricted by the wheel arch, though not uncomfortably so.

Overhead lockers and a full-length shelf sit above the dinette, and the under-seat storage is accessible by lifting the seat cushions, though much of the space under the front seat is taken by the Truma gas space heater.

The wall above the rear seat is home to the control panel for the hot water, space heater, battery and water tank gauges. It's better than having them all over the van.

Anyone looking for good cross-flow ventilation in the bedroom will have no concerns here, with windows all-round and a Four Seasons hatch above.

Wall-mounted shelves above the windows on both sides offer space for stashing small items, as do the corner cupboards, though these can limit space a little when bed is extended to its full length of 1.98m (6ft 6in).

The flatscreen TV is fitted to the nearside and can be swivelled around to be viewed from either the bed or the dinette.

Very stylish LED lighting is fitted throughout the van and two 100Ah deep-cycle batteries are kept up to charge by either a three-stage charger, roof-mounted solar panels or the van’s Anderson plug. The batteries supply everything except the powerpoints, air-conditioner and microwave.

TRUSTED STRUCTURE

The Vita 21 is built in what I would consider a conventional manner, with an aluminium-clad and fully insulated body over a meranti timber frame.

Black checkerplate covers the lower half of the front wall, and the bottom of the side walls.

In addition to the front boot, there’s a front nearside bin containing a slide-out barbecue and a larger bin on the same side at the rear, making use of what would otherwise be dead space in the bathroom.

The batteries, charger and electrical controls take up part of the boot space, and the 12V fuses are labeled, which isn't something seen in every van. Speakers, an antenna connection, and 240V and 12V sockets are kept mid-nearside under the awning essentials.

Between the body and the chassis, the 12mm plywood floor is polyurethane coated for water protection.

The chassis is made from SupaGal steel with 6in rails and drawbar, and a pair of 80 litre water tanks sits between the chassis rails.

With an external length of 6.99m (22ft 11in), ATM of 2681kg and Tare of 2281kg, the Vita is not a particularly small van. Our Nissan Navara tow vehicle, with a maximum tow rating of 3000kg, comfortably handled the load and showed no problems under tow as we travelled the highways and byways around Sydney.

VERDICT

On first glance this Nova Vita looks like many of its contemporaries, but a few extra inclusions – gas heater, reversing camera, solar panels, large bathroom – mark it out as a little different.

This is a very well-appointed van, yet not overly heavy for easy towing, which helps to make it just about right for that around Australia trip... or just a quiet little campsite by a good fishing spot.

NOVA CARAVANS VITA 21679

Overall length: 8.74m (28ft 8in)
External length: 6.99m (22ft 11in)
External width: 2.35m (7ft 8in)
Interior height: 1.95m (6ft 5in)
Travel height: 2.6m (8ft 6in)
Tare: 2281kg
ATM: 2681kg
Ball weight: (advised) 239kg
Frame: Meranti timber
Chassis: SupaGal
Suspension: Al-Ko leaf spring
Cooktop: Swift four-burner/grill/oven
Fridge: Dometic 175 litre
Microwave: Sharp Carousel
Shower: Separate cubicle
Toilet: Thetford cassette
Lighting: 12V LED
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Fresh water: 2 x 80 litre
Price: $76,990 (on-road, NSW) 
Supplied by:
Sydney RV Centre, Narrabeen NSW
More info: Nova Caravans