Rimor Koala Elite 722

Berths: 5 Travel seats: 5 Base vehicle: Renault Master LWB Chassis Cab Gross vehicle weight: 3,500kg Payload: 510kg

Front-drive Renaults are well-established in the Rimor line-up, but the Koala Elite is the first coachbuilt we’ve seen on rear-wheel drive version of the new Master. The 722 model is the biggest in a range of three.

The body panels are plain, albeit with high-performance Styrofoam insulation and tough GRP cladding.

Inside, one finds a very traditional layout with, at the front, a large overcab and a continental-style lounge, two front-facing travel seats and an inwards-facing side seat (which converts to rear-facing for travel). Behind, on the nearside, is the washroom, with a kitchen opposite. Across the rear is a high-level transverse bed.

Overall, the interior appears pleasantly warm, light and spacious, with a good quality of construction and no rough edges or bare screws. It all looks capable of withstanding family use.

The new Master has a range of new engines, all still displacing 2.3-litres. Rimor has chosen the more advanced Twin Turbo Eco engine, its standard power output increased from 125 to 135bhp. Renault proudly claims much improved fuel economy. We only managed 20.3mpg.

A torque output of 340Nm at 1,500rpm is strong, placing the Master between the 2.3-litre Fiat Ducato’s 320Nm and 350Nm for the 123bhp Ford Transit. The Renault feels stronger –because of the Twin Turbo effect and also because it is very low-geared. Steering is light and the Rimor handles and holds the road quite well, although one is always conscious of this being a large motorhome. The rear-wheel drive configuration and twin wheels allow a massive 450kg to be carried in the garage.

The lounge is larger than usual, providing bigger seats, more space and more foot-room, while the fixed table moves easily every way and folds over, allowing effortless access to the cab.

The lounge can accommodate five at a pinch, with no step up into the cab. But the travel seats could be more supportive.

Daytime illumination is augmented by a medium-sized Heki sunroof. For night-time there is a useful variety of LED lighting, but no provision.

Many continental motorhomes seriously lack work space. The Koala, however, has a large, uncluttered worktop containing a Smev three-burner hob and a square, stainless-steel sink with chromed mixer tap. The Isotherm compressor fridge holds an amazing 130 litres, and was mouse-quiet in operation.

As well as two overhead lockers, there’s a pull-out larder unit and a huge, shelved lower cupboard under the sink. Alongside the kitchen is a large, shelved cupboard whose top is close to the single mains socket and, being right by the rear bed, is handy for your cups, books and specs. Lighting is good for the chef, too, with ambient lights, a LED strip and two fixed spotlights, plus an ambient strip under the edge of the worktop.

The washroom contains a swivelling Thetford C200 toilet beneath the opening, translucent window. A stainless-steel basin with swivelling mixer tap is set in the vanity unit’s surface. There’s a big, high-level locker and a large wall mirror. Only the mains socket is awkwardly aligned. The shower cubicle is smooth-lined, has corner shelving and a roof vent, but only a single drain hole. Night-time lighting comes from two ceiling fittings, and there’s a heating outlet.

The rear transverse double does require clambering over your partner at night and is up a ladder. But it is very comfortable, despite having a solid plywood base - with no ventilation holes we’d be concerned about condensation forming. Headroom is adequate and there are two reading lights over the bed head.

The overcab bed is also attained via a ladder – which isn’t affected by the fixed table below as you simply fold the tabletop. This bed does have sprung slats and the mattress is split longitudinally so the bed base can be pushed back during daytime. Headroom, again, is good (67cm) and there’s a pair of reading lights. Oddly, there is no safety net.

There’s a fifth berth, too, made by lowering the tabletop – a good, flat bed for one. But a pull-out extension to the travel seat caused problems as the infill cushion tipped up when the slightest pressure was applied.

Storage is exactly what a family will need. Not only do you have a garage capable of carrying your Harley Davidson and also accessible internally, but we found the separate, external leisure battery locker very handy for the mains cable, water hoses and similar essentials.

Inside, you have plenty of lockers in the kitchen and washroom and also above the lounge – and bedding simply stays on the beds. There’s also a massive cupboard alongside the kitchen and a wardrobe between the washroom and rear bed.

In a budget motorhome there have to be compromises in equipment. Thus, there’s a paucity of sockets, and there are no lights or tie-downs in the garage.

The heater is a gas-only Combi 6. However, the large gas locker carries two 13kg cylinders and has Truma’s mono-control, so heating can be used while travelling. There’s a 100-litre internal fresh water tank and a larger-still underslung waste water tank.

This is an abridged version of the full review appearing in the February 2016 issue of What Motorhome.

If you want to carry a family with all their belongings on a long tour, the Koala is a great choice - and it still has class-leading potential.