THE MY22 ROAD OWL 18FTER DELIVERS REAL CAN-DO FOR THE CANNY BUYER
There’s no resting on your laurels at New Age Caravans. In fact, hot on the heels of its Manta Rays redesign, this Aussie manufacturer has reshaped the Road Owl line for 2022.
It’s an exciting development for seasonal holiday-makers with the Road Owls known as tidy, no-nonsense ensuite vans tailored for tarmac roads and, more recently, a bit of well-maintained gravel with options permitting.
The What’s Up Downunder team were lucky enough to take a brand new MY22 Road Owl 18ft Ensuite with the Comfort Pack on the road. Let’s see what they thought!
Staying true
The MY22 Road Owl seems like a well-targeted value-driven upgrade, building upon the strong Walkinshaw chassis, protective Raven-coated exterior, new options and layout variety introduced two years ago.
This time, New Age tweaked inclusions, homing in on styling and ergonomics. And it’s an intriguing proposition for the canny traveller. Remembering its market, New Age thoughtfully finessed the upgrade Option Packs to reflect modern caravanning life with a firm eye on the budget. And a 100Ah battery with a capacity for a second will come standard on all models.
Updated body
In some ways, the MY22s echo their predecessors on paper but their presence is more commanding, with a restyled front, fresh decals and a smooth composite alloy panel at the rear. It’s teamed with a moulded recess for the spare, saving on space and adding to its appeal.
New Age equipped our MY22 Road Owl 18ft Ensuite with a second water tank courtesy of the 2022 optional Comfort Pack, which offers a bit more than the former 2021 Comfort Plus. It comes with external storage, standard, while underneath, we find a new user-friendly water drainage system making it easier to empty the water tank–or tanks, independently. Great if you’re using your van intermittently.
Comfort Pack w. aerial
Inside is a bright interior with large, easy-to-use door latches and magazine pockets to keep things neat. The slick Holland blind on the entry door and extra USB points throughout are new, boosting the van’s appeal. Another welcome comfort for 2022 is the deeper lounge upholstery.
As a dual-axle variation, this model comes with a two-door 171L fridge with the Comfort Pack. Other treats include the reverse cycle air-conditioner, a 150W solar panel, external speakers, 28in Smart TV & DVD player, a Winegard antenna–and not forgetting the picnic table.
Wall-to-wall ensuite
New Age continues the successful Road Owl 18ft rear-door layout in this MY22 fitting in a wall-to-wall bathroom with a separate glass-door shower and toilet. It has a large mirror, a ceramic sink and plenty of cabinetry.
In the kitchen, you’ll find the microwave that’s built-in on the 2022 release. There’s plenty of storage here, too, and the sink and drainer alongside the four-burner gas cooktop and grill complete the suite.
This model (like all models in the MY22 line) will also qualify for Cruisemaster CRS2 suspension independent trailing arms with the Adventurer Pack, a great decision by New Age there.
Final word
At first glance, clever choices and styling define the MY22 Road Owl range. Although offered at a competitive price point, there is a lot you can do in these vans–including a night or two off-the-grid with a power reserve for your 12V lighting and faucets straight out of the box.
Furthermore, the Comfort Pack demonstrated here provides a welcoming extended camp indoors and out even in varying conditions. A real stylish treatment suitable for many holiday adventures.
