Rimor Koala Elite 722 - Practical Motorhome

If you're searching for a six-berth motorhome for less than £40k, read Editor Niall Hampton's 2016 Rimor Koala Elite 722 review and expert verdict

Verdict

Square metre for square metre, the 2016 Rimor Koala Elite 722 is a lot of motorhome for the money – whatever currency you’re shopping in. As supplied to the UK with the specification quoted above, you’ll get £405 change from £40,000 and something that represents very good value for money in return.

Using a Renault Master base vehicle for motorhomes could catch on, as it is great to drive and comes with a raft of driver and safety aids as standard, and two engine upgrades are available as cost options. The habitation conversion feels well put together and the interior styling – while not top-end Italian décor – doesn’t look downmarket either.

Rimor doesn’t do big volumes in the UK but the Koala Elite 722 is a compelling proposition, especially in late 2015 as the weak Euro is enabling cheaper imports from the Continent. Its traditional overcab coachbuilt lines may not win it any design awards but the affordable and spec-laden Koala Elite 722 is refreshingly honest – what you see is what you get. With sleeping space tucked away in various places on board, perhaps ‘kangaroo’ would have been a more suitable name than Koala, but this cuddly-sounding Italian offering will be a good buy for a price-conscious family looking for some space and comfort on tour.

Pros

Great spec for the price
Well-equipped base vehicle
Rear-wheel drive with twin wheels
Three full-size double beds
Large rear garage, also accessible from the habitation
Good payload (460kg)

Cons

Overcab design not very aerodynamic
Habitation door on UK offside

Rimor is the number one imported Italian brand into Germany, Europe’s biggest motorhome market. In a country where the Reisemobil is part of the national fabric, and one where there is no end of successful domestic manufacturers, this is no mean feat. Success in Germany is good news for this Tuscany-based brand, which encountered financial problems in 2013 but has bounced back convincingly since then.

In March 2015 we reported that Rimor’s new coachbuilt line-up had broken cover, taking its place alongside Continental motorhome ranges familiar to many British motorcaravanners: Seal, Katamarano, Europeo and Superbrig.

The 2016 Rimor Koala Elite 722 is a lot of motorhome for the money

Living

You won’t go wanting for space in the front lounge. Six people will fit comfortably around the lounge table, with seats to choose from on both sides of the ’van in addition to the travel seats bench.

Natural light floods in from a large window on the nearside, which as elsewhere favours nets rather than curtains. There’s no corresponding window on the offside (there’s not much space between the cab and the habitation door), but a small window is mounted high in the overcab. A ceiling light provides further illumination as required. Heating is provided by a Truma unit, with warm air ducted around the vehicle.

Kitchen

The 722’s galley is located on the offside and is reasonably generous in length. A hob with three gas burners is located on the end of the kitchen unit, with a sink with mixer tap mounted at the opposite end.

To save space for storage, Rimor’s designers have favoured a 150-litre energy-control compressor fridge with built-in icebox, which is mounted under the cooker. A rooflight placed in the gangway between the fridge and the washroom will allow steam and cooking smells to exit the vehicle easily.

Washroom

The nearside washroom comprises two areas: a toilet and vanity unit greet you as you enter, while a shower compartment can be found on the left. This can be closed off from the ‘dry’ area via a bi-fold door. To the left of the swivelling toilet is a circular sink in a smart chrome finish, with a matching mixer tap to its left. A towel rail is mounted just under the sink, which itself is mounted in a shelf that extends under the frosted window; this has a pair of toothbrush holders on its right-hand side.

Beds

An out-and-out family motorhome, the six-berth Koala Elite 722 offers buyers three large double beds: a transverse one in the rear, one above the driver’s cab and another double formed by dropping the lounge table and rearranging the cushions on top.

The rear bed has a headboard on the offside, with a reading light provided, while the overcab also features an electric light, in this case on a stalk and mounted on the nearside. Access to these berths is effected via a ladder, and a curtain will provide night-time privacy. Another curtain is available for the rear transverse bed.

Storage

Up to six people on tour means carrying plenty of kit and caboodle on board, so it’s no surprise that the 722 has a good range of places in which to stow it. At the top of the list is the large rear garage, accessible from both sides of the vehicle via a pair of very tall doors. The flat section towards the rear will accommodate items like cycles or scooters; the space is heated so it can be used for drying winter gear outside of the habitation area. The garage can also be accessed from inside the living quarters, via a hatch under the rear bed.

Elsewhere, you’ll find a good selection of overhead lockers, including a pair of shallow and doorless ones above the rear transverse bed. A narrow wardrobe is located between the washroom and the rear bed; opposite that is another cupboard with shelved storage space above it.

The kitchen sports a pair of overhead lockers above the cooker and sink, while below that cooks have two cupboards and one drawer in which to store utensils, crockery, pots and pans. Three other overhead lockers are available in the front lounge. Like the ones in the kitchen, they have gloss facings.