Time to Roam Magazine Issue 9 - June/July 2014 | Page 36

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tried + tested motorhome review

IS THIS
AUSTRALIA’S
BEST-VALUE
CAMPER?

“ Technically, it’s a
B class yet Horizon
have managed to
capture the cheeky
go anywhere
attitude of the
camper van so well
either description
could fit.”

The Horizon Melaleuca is the company’s best
seller in its class and it’s easy to see why.
It bridges motorhome class boundaries,
sitting somewhere between a large camper
van and a small B class motorhome.
Technically, it’s a B class yet Horizon
have managed to capture the cheeky
go anywhere attitude of the camper van
so well either description could fit.
Of course camper vans don’t typically
have an internal shower and toilet and the
Melaleuca has both. While I love the compact
nature of a camper van, the Melaleuca offers
the extra space needed for more comfortable
touring for longer periods. Either way you look
at it, the Horizon Melaleuca is a tantalising
proposition for anyone who wants a full-featured
motorhome with a tiny sub 6m footprint.

It’s a campervan,
but not as we know it
When I bought my first camper van back
in the late 90s, there was nothing on the
market like the Melaleuca. Camper vans
were in abundant supply but if you wanted
anything bigger in Australia (without going to
a C class design that is), you would have to
fit-out something like a Toyota Coaster bus.

Since the early 2000s however, large,
economical vans have been released in
Australia by Iveco, Fiat, Mercedes and Ford but
none have been as successful in the RV space
as the new generation Fiat Ducato. Launched
in 2006, the Ducato is the darling of the RV
industry. It offers both a special RV friendly cab
chassis version as well as several van variants
including the incredibly economical 2.3 litre
version which underpins the Horizon Melaleuca.
We’ve talked quite a bit about the Fiat Ducato
in previous reviews and it is worth repeating
that the new Euro 5 compliant Fiat Ducato uses
less diesel than ever and also outputs lower
nitrogen oxide, CO2 and particulate emissions
making it best in class for eco-friendliness.
In terms of drivability, the Ducato is stable
and super easy to handle. Fuel economy is
excellent too with the Melaleuca returning
figures well under 10L/100km. The Ducato
also has an automatic shifting transmission,
cruise control, Bluetooth, air conditioning as
standard, ABS, central locking, airbags and
just as importantly for me, an auxiliary input for
the smart phone for music and audio books
on the road. While I find the seating position a
little high, I doubt anyone else will mind and

Tried and Tested Horizon Melaluca Review by Paddy McCann RRP $104,000 Price as Reviewed $108,000 Drive Away
36

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