Roma Elegance 2007 Review

Roma Caravans is an old name in the Australian caravan scene. In fact it has been around for more than 50 years, which is a long time by anyone’s standards in the RV industry.

The company currently manufactures a wide range of caravans – everything from the expandable pop-top Spyder to the partly moulded fibreglass Opulence. There are even several bunk models available.

Custom building is also a Roma speciality and CW was able to borrow an aptly named Elegance from NSW dealer Victory Motors.

Victory Motors, under the direction of Alan Williams, is based at Oak Flats (about one hour south of Sydney) and although it hasn’t been around quite as long as Roma, the team do know a thing or two about caravans.

Indeed, Alan spoke very enthusiastically about the Elegance. “This is a very popular layout,” he told CW, “we find quite a few customers want a setup generally like this and then we add a few refinements. Items like the full timber cabinetwork are standard of course, but then we add things like a washing machine and good sized bathroom to make it even better.”

Big pleaser

At 21ft 6in (6.6m) long and with an ATM of 2510kg, the Elegance is a fair bit of caravan. It’s not described as an offroad van but has enough characteristics to be called ‘off highway’.

On the road, the Elegance tracked along well enough around the byways and highways of the Wollongong area – vehicle requirements will definitely be that of a mid to large sized 4WD, especially if planning some lengthy travel around Australia.

Built on that perennial favourite of many a caravan builder, a hot dipped galvanised chassis with 6in x 2in main rails, the Elegance has a timber frame and aluminium cladding all round.

For the tandem axles, Simplicity independent suspension is fitted and keeping things very decorative, magnesium wheels adorn the wheel hubs. A spare is mounted on the bumper bar at the rear.

Anyone doing precise storage measurements needs to note that the spare wheel mount adds about 19in (480mm) to the van’s length. In each corner are quick-drop jacks – we noted that the ones at the rear seemed to stick out further than they should but that should be changed on later models.

On the drawbar, in addition to the usual items, ie, coupling and dual clamped jockey wheel, are two 9kg gas cylinders and a mesh rack for carrying items like hoses and firewood. Underneath the van, the 4in x 2in frame of the drawbar runs right back to the front suspension mount.

In addition to the front boot, which contains the 12V power supply, there is almost a right-through storage area behind the boot, except that the offside end is taken by the gas fired hot water heater. There’s enough room for poles and other gear though.

Other external features include a hot/cold shower at the rear, hinged table mid-nearside and the roof-mounted air-conditioner. There are two external lights – one mid wall and the other a grab handle by the door.

Internal elegance

As Alan Williams mentioned, the timber look is quite predominant inside the Elegance both with the cabinetwork and the timber veneer on the walls. All the doors have timber frames and the bench and table tops have roll-formed edges.

Full curtains and nets are used on all the windows including the kitchen and for extra ventilation there are two Four Seasons hatches in the main area plus two smaller hatches in the bathroom. When the going gets hot, the roof-mounted air-conditioner can be used.

One of the features of the Elegance is that is has quite a large bathroom. It’s complete with separate shower cubicle, Thetford cassette toilet and a vanity cabinet of very generous proportions.

Our review van shower cubicle had a clear glass door but translucent ones are also available.

There’s quite an amazing amount of storage with a cupboard behind the shower cubicle, two in the vanity cabinet and an overhead locker above the toilet.

Extras include a wall mirror, towel rail, towel ring and corner powerpoint, so it is a fully fitted out bathroom. We should also mention the other extra hiding in the corner cupboard – a top loading Lemair washing machine – just the thing for the totally self-contained traveller.

Almost on the same scale size as the bathroom is the kitchen. There is no shortage of locker, cupboard and drawer space with room for just about everything a kitchen might need.

The only oddity was the soap container under the sink – it was better than some we have seen but didn’t have any straps fitted so that if opened fully, everything would tip out!

Along the well sized benchtop sits a stainless steel sink/drainer plus a Swift cooktop and full oven. The latter is set low enough for a flush lid to be fitted, thus not only giving more benchtop area when needed but looking very neat as well.

Set in the overhead locker cabinet, the microwave is lower than it often is in many caravans, making it at a practical height for most people.

At the end of the bench, the 150L Dometic fridge is set off the floor, again making it a practical height for most users. Above the fridge, the shelf area can easily be used for a television, as there is both a powerpoint and Winegard antenna connection there.

Opposite the kitchen is the dinette. Being friendly, four people could probably fit on the contoured foam cushions, although the table might be tad small. Halogen reading lights are fitted on either side of the window behind the dinette.

Underneath the seat is the usual storage area with a floor locker at the door end and a drawer at the other. Lifting the under-seat ply hatch does mean removing the seat cushion. The dinette seat is long enough to be used as a single bed if needed – the back cushions are attached to the wall using Velcro and can be easily moved out of the way.

Occupying the front of the Elegance is the north-south 6ft x 5ft (1.82m x 1.52m) double bed. Sitting on a timber and steel frame, the innerspring mattress can be lifted up to get to the compartmented storage area underneath.

On either side are mirrored wardrobe, bedside shelf, drawer and floor locker. Above the bed are two overhead lockers and in each corner at the foot of the bed are practical rectangular cupboards as opposed to the usual diagonal design.

Lighting throughout the Elegance is a mixture of energy efficient fluorescents and halogen fittings.

Powerpoints are fitted in most of the appropriate locations – kitchen, bathroom and beside the bed but there isn’t one near the dinette.

There are no solar panels fitted but if planning some long-term self-contained travel, they are not too hard to install.

The bottom line

In many ways this Elegance is a fairly standard layout. What it does have that makes it different is the bigger than usual bathroom that has a washing machine as well.

It’s designed for the traveller who likes to use onboard facilities.

In addition, there are quite a number of extra features fitted into the Elegance  that will make the van attractive for someone planning some serious long-term travel in style.

Contact Victory Motors, 130 Industrial Road, Oak Flats, Wollongong NSW, (02) 4256 3266, www.victoryvans.com.au 

For your nearest Roma dealer visit

We liked

• I’m not a fan of an onboard bathroom but if you are then this is a winner

• Good sized kitchen with just about everything you might want

• Nice looking timber cabinet and benchtop laminate finish

• Rack on the drawbar and storage bin behind the front boot

We would have liked

• A small window in the bathroom

• Kitchen ‘soap container’ with straps to prevent tipping out

• More sandpaper used around some of the locker edges