I’ve only ever driven a vehicle that’s longer than seven metres once before, so my first impressions are that the KEA River M721 is a hefty beast. Based on that impression, a bunch of questions subsequently run through my head before the keys are handed over to me. Will it feel heavy to drive? How will it turn on tight city streets? Am I going to have to brake for long before I reach an intersection?
The only comparable vehicle I had driven was when I hired an RV to travel through the American southwest two years ago. I was apprehensive then too, particularly since I was navigating a left-hand drive vehicle on the opposite side of the road. Added to that complexity was the issue of local road rules that occasionally differed to ours.
But I managed to feel comfortable behind the wheel a lot quicker than I expected, and by the time I pulled into the rental depot in Henderson, Nevada 16 days later, I was sad to have to say goodbye to what had been a cosy and comfortable home on wheels in an amazingly picturesque part of the country.
This time, I collected a 2017 KEA River with 214,000 kilometres on the odometer from Tourism Holding’s RV Sales Centre in Melbourne’s western suburbs. Like almost all KEA motorhomes and campervans, it’s an ex-rental vehicle, this time with a listed sale price of $109,990.
Several days earlier, I had been sent a link to an induction video. A second practical induction took place on-site before I hit the road. I knew I’d still have problems remembering how to operate various things, but any issues I might encounter would eventually sort themselves out somewhere down the track.
For the purposes of this review, however, I was more concerned with how it handles on the road during a journey towards Cape Otway on the Great Ocean Road — I knew this route would mix straightforward highway travel with winding, mountainous roads, as well as navigation through Melbourne’s narrow industrial back streets. If you’re looking for a more thorough insight into liveability, double back to Carolyne Jasinski’s review in the April 2021 issue.
SPECIFICATIONS
First, some essentials. Like the entire KEA fleet, my River 6-berth was manufactured in New Zealand. Its Mercedes Sprinter chassis is powered by a 2.2-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine and a smooth 7-speed automatic gearbox. KEA’s website states an average fuel consumption of 16 litres per 100 kilometres.
The van measures 7.21 metres in length, explaining the M721 model branding, with a GVM of 4490 kilograms and a Tare Mass of 3560 kilograms. Safety features include Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), and Acceleration Skid Control (ASR).
The RV can accommodate six. Above the driver’s cabin is a 1.5m x 2.1m luton double bed. The rear U-shaped lounge converts into a double bed that’s marginally narrower, while the dinette can be converted into a 1.2m x 1.85m bed. There’s a compact bathroom/toilet, plenty of kitchen bench and storage space, a 130-litre fridge/freezer, gas cooking hob and grill, microwave/rangehood, radio/CD player, and an LCD TV/DVD player.
KEA can modify any of their vehicles from their Melbourne workshop. Areas they specialise in include bed conversions, upholstery, kitchen enhancements, solar panel installations, and external barbecues and kitchens.
DRIVEABILITY
Driving off the sales lot is my first obstacle. The Ford V8 monster that powered my American RV felt heavy the moment I accelerated and I quickly learned to allow more distance than I was used to when braking. Its poor turning circle was also less than ideal, and eliminated the possibility of doing U-turns at a moment’s notice whenever I missed a turn-off.
But the Sprinter/River is surprisingly manoeuvrable. It accelerates easily and the steering is amazingly light for such a large unit. I’m later assured that the steering is even better on newer models. Braking at intersections is also softly responsive.
The KEA River 6-berth is hefty to say the least
Parking on the street was a breeze
The RV performed well along the Great Ocean Road
I manage to weave through the industrial backstreets of Braybrook and Tottenham without hitting a curb, assuming at first that I’d need to allow wide berths on corners. Understanding the vehicle’s turning prowess though soon becomes an afterthought.
Before long, I’m on the Princes Highway south towards Geelong. The YouTube induction tutorial recommended by KEA before I’d collected the van suggested travelling at a maximum speed of 90km/hr. Even below that speed, I feel like we’re going quicker. I have no inclination to want to speed up. But I eventually fiddle with the cruise control facility, locking in a speed of 90km/hr. There is also a speed limiter feature, which I choose to ignore.
EXPERIENCE
My seat sits up high, enabling good visibility. My 80-year-old mother in the passenger seat can be quick to pick out faults — a rattling cooktop lid irks her, even with her hearing aid batteries fading — but even she is impressed with the seat comfort. Stepping up is a problem for her though. With its fold-down step, she finds it easier to enter and exit through the house door than directly in and out of the driver’s cabin. There’s a handle to grip onto above the passenger door, but it’s too high for her to reach. Another vertical handle alongside the front windscreen would be a handy addition.
“I expect the mountainous road to challenge the Mercedes but it cruises up some steep inclines”
There’s plenty of storage space in the driver’s cabin. Shelves for maps and paperwork are located above the sun visors, and we throw wallets and phones in the dashboard wells, activating the vehicle’s Bluetooth facility. Mum complains about there being no vanity mirror on the back of the visor. Neither of us can figure out how to charge our phones and we later find out that we should have brought a 12V adaptor. Alternatively, they can be charged through dual USB ports when the 240V power outlet is being utilised.
Each of us has a cup holder on the dashboard top, though they’re a stretch to reach. A more accessible foldout cup holder is located in the ashtray drawer.
There’s no central console, allowing for easier access to the house, though it’s still a tight squeeze thanks to the dinette backboard. The dinette table slips into a slot behind the driver’s seat. We place our bags on the cabin floor between us. Cabin seats are non-swivel.
I’m unfamiliar with the Mercedes Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, and it takes a while to work out how to use it. I eventually activate the radio, but AM reception doesn’t work. Considering how brief our time in the KEA is, it’s easier to use Google Maps than figure out how to use the Satellite Navigation System. But the reverse camera is an absolute necessity in a vehicle this size.
TRAVEL
We stop for a coffee break in Winchelsea, where I can also test the vehicle’s turning circle after doubling back towards a café. I’m genuinely amazed at how well it copes.
After lunch at a bakery in Colac, I pull out of our parking space alongside Memorial Square when the horn starts blaring. It’s warning us about something, but who knows what? No lights flash on my dashboard and all doors seem to be closed. I eventually realise I’ve left the handbrake on. How? The warning light I hadn’t seen flashing on the dashboard, of course.
The KEA River handles some tight turning circles at Winchelsea in its stride
Vivid blues and whites will ensure you stand out on the road!
From Colac, we detour away from the Princes Highway in the direction of Beech Forest. The volcanic plains we’ve been travelling through give way to lush dairy pastures and towering rainforest eucalypts. I expect the mountainous road to challenge the Mercedes but it cruises up some steep inclines and sticks to the road around bends.
I’m shocked to learn that it’s almost dark when we reach our free campsite near Beech Forest, inland from blustery Cape Otway. The day feels like it has been stolen from us, so quickly did it pass. On the plus side, there’s still plenty of fuel left in the tank and for the next two days we’ll chew into that as we visit a selection of striking waterfalls along the Great Ocean Road. But that’s another story. For now, I’m just impressed at how easy this beast is to drive.