Has the All-New Merc Made the Horizon Experience Better? Words and Pics Brendan Horizonsbatty

Motorhome review Horizon Wattle Has the all-new Merc made the Horizon experience better? Words and pics Brendan horizonsBatty n so many ways, a motorhome or or campervan has meant driving a rolling out its motorhomes, particularly four. In some respects, it’s the simplest money, buy a Fiat-based model; if you Horizon factory – it’s more like a hospital campervan makes more sense than truckish vehicle, rather than riding in the Wattle, in the new Benz, I was very of the floorplans, but there’s more want a bit more space and a better drive it’s that clean and tidy in there. Ia caravan – there’s no towing, no the plush comfort of a modern SUV. keen to try it all out. length in the beds and more space to (or the option of 4X4), buy a Merc. No All the vans (except for the Melaleuca hitching and unhitching and reversing The vans and light trucks used have The Wattle is one of Horizion’s four relax inside, as a result. matter what, though, they’re all built in Appeal) are insulated in the upper walls is a far cry easier. You don’t have to go been less comfortable, less safe and Merc-based campers and distinct In specification, all 2WD Horizon a similar way, beginning with a full strip- and ceiling with Earthwool, a recycled outside and do anything if it’s raining – harder to drive. But the latest Mercedes because it has the largest ensuite of the Motorhomes are the same, which back in Horizon’s Ballina factory and all glass product, and all the wiring is you just walk through to the living area Benz Sprinter has largely changed that, range, the most storage space and only means the biggest decisions are based of the windows, hatches and electrical run to where it’s needed. All the rear – and fuel economy is usually better. because it is unlike anything before has capacity to seat two people while around budget, floorplan and driving entry points to the vehicles are cut out windows are double glazed – even But traditionally, driving a motorhome it. And now that Horizon has started driving. All the others can have up to experience. If you want to spend less then rust proofed. I’ve been through the the ones on the back doors (many 44 timetoroam.com.au ISSUE 38 APR/MAY 2019 45 Motorhome review Horizon Wattle conversions leave the standard, single Previous page: Through the rear barn doors you can access the largest storage area in the van – pane glass in, which can’t be opened the large boot under the bed. Doors into the main THE BASICS and don’t insulate well). Once that’s cabin mean this space can be accessed from HORIZON MOTORHOMES WATTLE done the cabinetry and furniture can inside or out. Below left: Both the Merc and Horizon tech go in and presto, a motorhome is born. packages are sophisticated. The Merc has Sound’s too easy, but considering keyless start, and the Wattle's control centre is Horizon uses CNC cutting machines, comprehensive. CHASSIS Below: It's narrow through the kitchen, but the everything is picture perfect. It’s actually Vehicle – Mercedes Benz Sprinter drawers mean you don't have trouble accessing the Engine – 2.1-litre, four-cylinder, turbo a real credit to Horizon – there’s a lower storage areas. The sink even has a dedicated tap for filtered water. diesel sense its conversion is really part of the Transmission – Seven-speed automatic original van, rather than an addition to it. Power – 120kW Completed, the Wattle is great for Torque – 470Nm two people. There are three floorplan Fuel Economy – Around 11L/100km on options available, too – I tested the road single-bed version, but there’s also a double (the bed runs east west) with a rear dinette, and a daybed version, DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTS which has a mattress infill between (CAMPER ONLY) the two beds so it’s a quasi-double, Length – 6961mm in some respects. The latter would be Width – 1993mm my choice, were I doing the choosing. Height – 2915mm with aircon I found the single beds a little narrow GVM – 4100kg to sleep overnight (they are 26cm narrower than a standard single), but the double isn’t quite long enough and there’s obvious disadvantages to east- west configurations. The daybed’s infill, though, means your torso can spread out without feeling like you’ll roll off. It also makes one of marriage’s benefits a little less risky, if you know what I CAPACITIES mean… (there is no stabiliser legs on Water – 100L the van, though, so consider getting Grey Water – 95L one of those ‘if this van’s a rockin’ Gas – 2 x 4.5kg stickers, just to be safe). Fridge – 136L The mattresses are good quality, Battery – 1 x 210ah AGM Fuel – 93L though and quite comfortable. In both the single options, this area doubles as the day-use space where you can prop up some pillows and laze around WARRANTY reading or napping. Optional Sirocco Three year plus three year fans each side mean keeping cool roadside assistance doesn’t require 240-volts of electricity, and there’s plenty of overhead storage for clothes. PRICE Although there’s no dinette in the after every drive. designed. There’s a three-burner stove of it – it’s the biggest internally accessed keeping assist, so it’ll actively steer the From $146,000. drive away single bed variants, the front seats As I mentioned earlier, the ensuite’s and stainless sink, but a grill or oven storage space in any Horizon. car to help you stay in your lane and a swivel to face into the living area, and the largest in the Horizon range, are options, sorry. Under the bench all Underneath the beds is the van’s crosswind function to help prevent big because they recline, adjust, have mostly thanks to some extra width in the storage is drawers, which are much largest single storage space, and winds blowing it around. Neither are lumbar support and armrests, they’re the shower area. It does contribute to easier to get into than cupboards in although there are doors to give some intrusive. There’s four airbags standard CONTACT Ballina Campers more comfortable than any of the the aforementioned pokey-ness, but such a narrow space (there’s no reason access from inside, it’s most easily and even a hand’s free system called ballinacampers.com.au dinette’s in Horizon’s range anyway. actually adds to the van’s overall comfort. to be on your hands and knees getting accessed from the back tailgate. It’s the ‘Hey Mercedes’ (standard in the 4X4 Tucked infront of the ensuite, the driver’s Hot water's via a Truma Ultrarapid gas anything from the back of a low shelf), space for camp chairs and surfboards models) where you can ask the van to side seat’s a little pokey, but I liked it hot-water system which has a 14-litre while opposite, the 136-litre compressor (short ones, at least), or any other bulky do something like play a certain song there because it was almost a private capacity, but as it constantly heats water fridge is elevated for the same reason. camping essentials. or call a certain person. No word yet on little getaway in a very small space. as it’s pumped through should stay hot Compressor fridges can be noisy, The new Merc is the icing on whether Horizon’s developing a ‘Hey There’s a small table that fits here, if you enough for two showers in a row – you’ll especially at night, but I don’t recall the cake, though, as so many of Horizon’ feature where you can ask it to want to eat or work here, although most, just be using less cold tap by the end. hearing it hum anytime while I stayed in the features we expect on modern, do things like make a coffee or pack up I think, will eat up the back because you Horizon also fits a SOG system to the it. Filtered water has its own tap. European vehicles have been included, the awning, but I hope it’s coming. never really have to remove the back toilet to reduce odours inside the van. It’s not really part of the kitchen, but especially in the safety department. From the driver’s seat, the Merc table, but the front one has to be set up The kitchen is simple, but quite well the large wardrobe is right in the middle The Sprinter has optional Active lane- is exceptionally comfortable on the 46 timetoroam.com.au ISSUE 38 APR/MAY 2019 47 Motorhome review road, although it’s seating position suits people with longer legs – I felt I only just reached comfortably with everything at its lowest points. But the ride is excellent and the engine and transmission a dream combination of smoothness (we had the less powerful four-cylinder engine on test). The steering is shockingly sharp – if you turn the wheel, the car turns with it without any sloppiness. It caught me out sometimes, because I thought I was driving a van, not a nippy little car… The dash and media centres have also improved – it’s a very modern look that’s nice and clean – the sort of stuff you find in upmarket SUVs. It’s not very commercial anymore. There’s also a 4x4 version, just to tempt you a little further.

Load more