Jayco JRV All Terrain 4×4 Review

Prefer to camp away from the crowds and go off the beaten track? The new JRV All Terrain 4×4 by Jayco could be just what you’re looking for. Bill Savidan reviews.

Four-wheel drive motorhomes are rare and are usually ‘one-off’ items built by small volume manufacturers. So it was a surprise to get the opportunity to review a 4×4 RV, especially one built by Australia’s biggest RV manufacturer. 

Jayco have taken the fitout of their 7-metre Sprinter van, the MS.22-2, and put it into the 4×4 version of the Sprinter, creating the Jayco JRV All Terrain 4×4 MS.22-2. It is an impressive and different looking RV. 

INSIDE THE CAB

This latest iteration of the Sprinter is fitted with MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience), an integrated multimedia unit developed by Mercedes-Benz. With smartphone integration, advanced 3D navigation, wireless charging, and Bluetooth connectivity for audio streaming and hands-free communication, all functions can be controlled from the either the 10.25” touchscreen, the multi-function steering wheel, or the new ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice-activated technology. 

The driver’s instrument display is quite spartan by comparison, showing just the basic information a driver needs; speedo, engine rev counter, odometer, temperature and fuel gauges, and warnings that show if doors are ajar or the vehicle strays across lane lines. 

Comfortable seats upholstered in black ‘eco-leather’ have a novel feature – both cab seats have a panel inset into the front of the seat cushion that adjusts forwards to provide longer thigh support. It worked for me and I’m not tall. The seats rotate to face the dinette table for dining, entertaining, or office work.  

KITCHEN AND DINETTE

The transition from cab to dinette is easy. The cab seats are set wide apart and rotate effortlessly. Mounted on a wall bracket, the dinette table can only move fore and aft, but that is sufficient. Below the table is a wall locker with two storage pockets and on a ledge above is a combination 12volt plug/2xUSB port unit, making the dinette an ideal spot for computer work. It is simple enough to remove the table from the wall bracket for storing while the vehicle is travelling. 

The kitchen is a decent size, consisting of a 1600x600mm bench cabinet plus an overhead locker. Alongside the three-hob Thetford cooktop and sink is room for a moderate food ‘prep’ area. Covers over the sink and cooktop provide extra benchtop space when necessary. Below the benchtop are a Vitrifrigo 85L fridge, a pair of cupboards, and three drawers. Surprisingly, the plywood hatch lids under the settees were unpainted. I found this to be at odds with the good workmanship displayed throughout the motorhome.

REAR LOUNGE

By day a lounge, at night a bedroom. The side settees can be used as seats, single beds, or converted into a large double bed (1920x1770mm) and have storage space beneath.

Overhead are two lockers, each with tambour sliding doors. Nicely finished inside, they are ideal for storing clothes and personal effects.

BATHROOM

At 1170x600mm, the bathroom is bigger than you might expect and placing the toilet is across the end leaves 740x600mm for the shower tray which is quite generous. 

The corner handbasin intrudes into that space but not seriously, so space-wise, it works well. There is a small wall mirror, a roof vent, a central light, and the shower and basin faucet have separate controls.

EXTERIOR 

Painted a dark shade of grey (Selenite Grey) and mounted high on its 4×4 suspension, the MS.22-2 is a good-looking vehicle. 

A feature of all panel vans is the kerbside sliding door, often referred to as a ‘whizzbang’ door. This one has a refinement; push button control that opens and closes the door, from both inside and out. It is a great idea, and it performs well. 

Another excellent improvement is the wide, electrically operated slide-out step below the door which improves access considerably. Beside the door are two black vents for the 12V fridge compressor. Further aft, clustered together are a TV aerial plug, a 12Vsocket and a 230V power outlet. Alongside is the 4kg LPG bottle locker. Higher up the sidewall are a pair of speakers, an LED awning light and a Fiamma awning. 

At the rear, twin rear doors give access to storage under the lounge seat. Mounted on the roof is a Winegard Connect 2.0 Wi-Fi dome. This device increases the signal strength cell-phone towers as well as improving the signal strength to public Wi-Fi systems like those found at campgrounds or around public libraries. Because it is built to handle weaker incoming signals, it provides a more reliable connection than smartphones or hotspot devices. 

There are four opening windows in the habitation section, one either side behind the cab seats and one either side at the back. Awning hung, they all open and all are fitted with blinds and insect screens. 

THE 4X4 DIFFERENCE

The most noticeable features of the JRV All Terrain are its height off the ground and the increased clearance between the top of the tyres and the bodywork, compared with the standard Sprinter. These features enable the van to traverse ground that rises and falls abruptly with-out bottoming out; an essential attribute for a four-wheel drive vehicle. 

While the four-wheel drive Sprinter has limitations, it will handle slippery conditions like snowfalls, forest roads, and most high-country creek and river fords with aplomb. The 4ETS (electronic traction system) relies on electronics rather than mechanics. It works in conjunction with the other Sprinter electronic systems: anti-skid control, anti-lock brakes, traction control, emergency brake assist and brake force distribution. 

Rear-wheel drive is the van’s usual mode for road driving. Four-wheel drive is selected by pressing a switch on the dash. Speed monitors at each wheel detect wheel slippage and the brakes are applied to those wheels to minimise this slippage while redirecting the drive to the wheels that have traction. A separate switch on the dashboard engages low range for driving in adverse off-road conditions. Note that steel wheels, not alloys are fitted because they handle the stress and strain of rough terrain driving much better than their flashier siblings. 

THE POWERHOUSE

The MS.22-2 AT is powered by a 2.2 litre turbo diesel motor (120kW/360Nm) fitted with an AdBlue emission reduction system. It drives all the wheels through a 7-speed automatic gearbox making for a very enjoyable driving experience. 

SUMMARY

Well thought out, well executed and well-presented. The 4×4 capability will appeal to those who like to go off the beaten track.

Pros

• Four-wheel drive will take you places previously denied
• Electric assist on the sliding door 
• The forward dinette means the rear can stay bed made up during the day  
• The surprisingly large kitchen benchtop work space  

Cons

•  The inside of the settee locker lids could use some paint 

Jayco JRV All Terrain 4×4 Specifications

Price as reviewed: From $184,390

Find out more at jayco.co.nz

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