Jurgens Solaris C6607 review

The latest model to hit the road bearing the Jurgens brand is the Solaris, which offers a modern new take on the Jurgens marque.

Realising a gap in their brand offering, Jurgens has listened to customer feedback by providing a bigger payload, greater ground clearance, and an elegant aesthetic all packaged together in a modern masterpiece.

A quick look through the brochure tells of a caravan that is “bold and uncompromising” and representative of “the best of premium caravanning—a dirt road-capable caravan with extra ground clearance and higher payloads”. In this review, we take a look at the Solaris C6607 to see if those claims ring true.

The first look

The Solaris is a good-looking motorhome. In fact, during our review, several passers-by stopped to have a closer look and ask more about it.

From the outside, the Solaris is sleek and striking with a glossy silver front fascia featuring two top-hinged covers, the lower opens to reveal a roomy storage boot for gas bottles, cords, and other equipment. The top is a window protector—a clever addition that protects the front window and eliminates the need for fiddly towing covers.

Offsetting the silver front and rear, the caravan’s sides are a clean white with a splash of blue and a dot of orange from the distinctive Solaris logo.

A test of endurance

Like other Jurgens caravans, the Solaris is built on a bolt-together Optima chassis, which has been through some seriously comprehensive performance testing.

And to help meet the demands for better off-road capability and an increased payload of 500kg, Jurgens has given the Solaris 16-inch alloy wheels, increased ground clearance, and a single shock trailing arm suspension system and ESC (AL-KO electronic stability control) featured as standard. For a great example of how well the Solaris can tackle off-road conditions, it’s worth taking a look at the Torture Test video at jurgens.com.au.

Rather than aluminium composite, the exterior is built using fibreglass composite walls, floor, and roof (38mm thick Integra floor, 25mm Duratherm walls, and 29mm Uniskin roof).

With a slide-out barbecue (Ziegler & Brown hooded barbeque optional) and fold down picnic table for quick and easy outdoor bench space, campsite cooking couldn’t be easier, and the roll-out awning is included as standard.

Other standard features include a 4.5kg gas bottle, 12-volt battery system, and 125 watts solar panels. A reversing camera, exterior shower, and bike racks are optional extras.

Apartment-style living

Stepping inside, the interior definitely has the ‘wow’ factor. First impressions are of modern apartment-style living.

Our review model certainly ticks the box for ‘bold’, with glossy black cabinetry nicely matched with matt silver handles. In fact, the cabinetry was so glossy and shiny that reflections made photography slightly more challenging than usual!

Black cabinetry can be a bit much in a small space, but this model is a nice example of how to do it right, balancing the black against the crisp white ceiling and walls, and several striking shades of grey within the décor, including leather upholstery in a marble-look ‘Ambassador Fumo’ and the table, benchtops, and even the fridge, in ‘Andalucian’ grey.

The addition of yellow accents shows how beautifully the décor can be enhanced with pops of your favourite colour.

Bringing it all together, LED lighting throughout—including strip lighting along the tops of the cabinetry—enhances the ultra-modern aesthetic and adds to the sense of space and openness.

The layout of the C6607 features a north-south queen bed at the rear, kitchen and lounge amidships, and a full-width bathroom at the rear. Other options, including twin single beds, bunk beds, and cafe-style or dinette seating are also available.

The bed is extendable (1900mm long by1500mm wide) and can be lifted with ease to provide storage beneath. His and hers wardrobes with a drawer and nightstand, plus overhead cabinets provide additional storage space.

Directional LED spotlights overhead provide targeted light for the late-night reader, while the addition of a sunroof allows for extra daytime light.

A second large sunroof is installed in the lounge area, plus there are two smaller ones in the en suite. In addition, a roof-mounted Belaire reverse-cycle air con unit is standard.

Kitchen essentials

Into the kitchen, a 185-litre three-way Thetford fridge holds everything needed for an extended getaway, partnered by an all-in-one Thetford Caprice MK3 oven, grill, and cooktop. A Finch rangehood sits over the cooktop, and a microwave oven is tidily tucked away alongside.

The benchtop ticks the box for space, with the sink and drainer to the right of the cooktop, and additional prep space to the left. The window running behind the stove and bench provides additional ventilation and also makes it easy to pop a tasting plate out to your off-sider.

Speaking of windows, the Solaris has plenty of them and they’re all double glazed to keep in the warmth and nice and big to bring in the light and improve ventilation.

There’s plenty of storage in the kitchen with two overhead cabinets, three cupboards and four drawers beneath the benchtop, and an additional cabinet above the fridge.

Dine in

Adjacent to the kitchen is the dining table and L-shaped sofa, which can be simply transformed into a single bed without any great effort. As mentioned earlier, the leather-lined upholstery in our review model looks striking in Ambassador Fumo (dark grey).

And if you’re looking for space to hide away extra blankets or coats, there’s plenty of storage space beneath the sofa. There is also a handy set of wall-mounted storage pouches next to the main door, possibly a good space for keeping maps and brochures, and your back issues of MCD magazine.

Bathroom

Moving into the bathroom, a good-sized fibreglass shower cubicle is to the left and features a built-in seat and exhaust fan as well as a very handy full-length mirror on the door. The Thetford swivel toilet is to the right, and running between is the vanity unit with
a central ceramic basin atop four decent-sized drawers and a cupboard.

A handy tilt-out laundry hamper has been incorporated into the vanity to the right and sitting above the hamper is a wall-mounted Daewoo mini washing machine. It is only mini, though, enough for smalls and t-shirts perhaps.

Verdict

With its modern, aesthetic, and spacious interior, the Solaris has filled a gap in the Jurgens’ range for those looking to come home to five-star luxury while travelling off the beaten track.

I see this model ticking the boxes for the modern couple looking to escape their busy work weeks, relaxing away from the crowds—picnics and tramping by day, and champagne and barbecued scallops by night.

Jurgens Solaris C6607 specifications

Jurgens Solaris C6607 price (as reviewed): $89,995

Pluses

• Ultra-modern and handsome
• Good selection of standard features
• High ground clearance

Minuses

• Exterior storage is minimal