Motorhomes

Bill Savidan flags down the impressive Benimar Perseo 591 and finds some stylish secrets cleverly stowed within the smooth exterior.

The latest addition to TRAILlite’s top-end Landmark series – the 7.8m Lowline Oakura 53 – combines a streamlined body with a slick, Euro-styled interior. Appropriately, it’s built on a Mercedes Benz chassis and will attract admiring glances wherever it goes, writes Lawrence Schäffler.

Bill Savidan drops in to KEA’s Albany plant to find out how good a second-hand motorhome can be.

Malcolm Street makes a quick pass of Arthur’s Pass and Lake Brunner while trying out the aptly named UCC Brunner.

You don’t have to be a wild-spirited maverick to enjoy Auto Trail’s Apache, though it would probably help. If you’ve got the game, it will test your zest for adventure – and at the end of the day, you can cosset yourself in its plush interior, writes Lawrence Schäffler.

Swift’s 2012 Bolero 684FB (fixed bed) offers buyers improved energy efficiency, a cosier interior and better handling. Effectively, writes Lawrence Schäffler, the UK manufacturer has made a great product even better.

What do you do when your base vehicle purchase price increases by over 50%, in just 4 years? Rob Floris – Managing Director of UCC Motorhomes in Christchurch thinks he may have just found the answer.

Auto Trail’s sumptuously-appointed 2012 Tracker will be a hit with aesthetes, but its defining feature is the power plant crammed under the bonnet – a 180hp beauty that makes short work of New Zealand’s winding, undulating topography. Lawrence Schäffler reports.

KEA Campers, one of the country’s most popular rental motorhome brands, has expanded its new Craft range. The range is designed for buyers wanting new rather than ex-rental KEA vehicles and the latest addition – the 7.35m Inspiration – will be well-received, writes Lawrence Schäffler.

Exclusivity is the guiding mantra in Trail Lite’s 8.2m Oakura 56X. This magnificently-appointed package is not the cheapest motorhome on the market but buyers do get the opportunity to forge a one-of-a-kind custom design, stamping it with their own identity. Lawrence Schäffler reports.

If you don’t have your own motorhome or caravan, renting one is a good option for short trips. It is also an excellent way to try out the lifestyle and different types of vehicles before you take the leap into buying your own.

Bill Savidan checks out the latest creation from UCC Motorhomes, the 7.4m Grassmere.