Vista RV launches baby Crossover

Called the Touring Van Kompact (TVK), the ‘baby’ Vista RV is built on the same hardcore, go-anywhere platform as its bigger brother, and retains most of the Crossover's offroad-oriented specifications and standard features.

The main change is to the curved, aerodynamic body, which has been 'chopped' by 40cm at the rear, resulting in the loss of the internal kitchenette with its sink, fridge and cabinets.

With less benchspace, the TVK's stainless steel, slide-out external kitchen is half the size of the Crossover's, but still includes a two gas burner cooktop, sink and tap.

"From the door forward it's the same (as the Crossover); you've got
your queen size bed, and swivel table, but you've lost all your
cupboard space on the inside so we’ve put some carry bags on the rear
wall instead," explained Vista RV's Louie Cretella.

"It's got all the same goodies in it; basically the back kitchen has been removed, and to give you a bit more storage we've made it a half-size (external) kitchen to create a void at the front there for your pots and pans."

The new TVK comes with the latest upgrades on the Crossover, including a new, more streamlined roof which now has room for an optional skylight hatch.  

The pop-top roof also has larger windows for extra ventilation, plus increased headroom for taller people.

The TVK is 4.5m long, 1.9m wide and 2.08m high, and has a 1055kg Tare, 1455kg ATM and 170kg ball weight. In comparison, the Crossover has a Tare of 1150kg, 1600kg ATM and 120kg ball weight.

The TVK is priced from $50,800, while the Crossover now starts at $56,390.

Speaking at the Leisurefest show, Cretella said he'd already sold one TVK, but had had plenty of interest particularly from people with smaller garages or who don’t want to pay for all of the bells and whistles available on the larger Crossover.

"For some the (lower) price is the lure; others are already set up with fridges, etc in their tow vehicles, so don’t need the internal kitchen," he said.

Cretella also suggested the TVK is even more capable offroad than its big brother, with less rear overhang resulting in a better departure angle.

"It will go to more rugged places, and rutty areas, because it hasn’t got as much overhang at the back, so it's for people who are really extremists off-road."

While there are no firm plans yet, Vista RV is also considering producing a 'family' Crossover, with a slightly longer body to allow room for four berths.

"We're actually talking about, maybe in a year or two year's time, extending (the Crossover) out another foot and putting little bunks in there," Cretella said.

For more see the Vista RV website.