Sunliner first with Renault motorhome

Renault is back in the motorhome business in Australia.

Melbourne’s Sunliner is believed to be the first Australian RV manufacturer to offer a range of motorhomes based on the latest, rear-wheel drive Renault Master commercial vehicles just released in Australia.

Offering a substantial 4.5-tonne GVM, the Master cab/chassis motorhomes can be driven on a regular car licence and are powered by a 112kW/350Nm, 2.3-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine mated to a six-speed automated manual transmission.

Sunliner general manager, Nick Hunter said the Melbourne motorhome specialist last offered Renault-based motorhomes around 10 years ago, but was enticed back to the French brand by a number of factors including the recent availability of rear-drive models, more competitive pricing and Renault’s expanded nationwide dealer network.

Modified for the Australian market including the fitment of swivel seats, the Master X62 is currently undergoing second stage compliance for use as a motorhome in Australia, before going on sale in around two months’ time.

It will initially be available with eight different layouts on Sunliner’s second-biggest motorhome offering, the Holiday, which ranges in length from 7.3-8.5m.

Hunter said the dual-wheel, rear-drive Renault will offer significant cost savings to buyers looking for a rear-drive motorhome.  

Priced at $145,499 drive-away, the Renault-based Holiday on display at the Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow, was between $5000-$10,000 less than the equivalent motorhome based on the rear-drive Iveco Daily or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

It’s also around $1500 cheaper than the same model based on the front-drive Fiat Ducato.

Currently, around 70 per cent of all Sunliner motorhomes sold are based on the 125kW/400Nm Iveco.

Hunter said the only perceived negative of the new Renault option could be its ground-hugging chassis, offering around the same ground clearance as the Fiat but less than the Iveco.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2014, the family-owned Sunliner also released a new, compact, entry-level motorhome at the Melbourne show. ??

Aimed at first motorhome buyers, the Ducato-based Vibe costs $110,000 but offers the same construction and many of the features of its more expensive siblings including kitchen, shower/toilet, air-con, awning, LED lighting, as well as a king-sized electric drop down bed that stores in the roof during the day so the lounge/dinette can be used.

“Based on our research we believe there is a growing market of younger RV owners who love the lifestyle and need a compact vehicle like the Vibe that is quick and wasy to set up and is positioned at an entry level price without compromising on quality,” Hunter said.