Essential C-Class Touring Caravan Review

The Essential C-Class Touring Caravan is one hell of a good-looking Aussie van with the integrity to match. While it's a sturdy contender, its true refinement and dependability make it an ideal travelling companion. The entire Essential range provides totally functional layouts and combines premium manufacturing with high-quality components and workmanship. The textures, materials, and finishes are superb, and their value-packed selection of components, fittings, and accessories ensures customer satisfaction. Best still, like a true-blue Aussie, you'll have a dependable mate for life!

This beautiful C-Class Touring is a real home away from home. It hits the mark with a well-proportioned van with a defined touch of class, including a rear door entry with an inviting ensuite, a luxurious Queen bed, a well-equipped kitchen, plus a very comfortable cafe-style dinette for ultimate travelling pleasure. This capable touring caravan tracks beautifully on the road, is capable of most secondary tracks, and provides a reasonable towing weight to help keep a travelling couple safe and secure.

I must compliment Essential's superb choice of colours and textures throughout their range. In my opinion, this Tourer is one of the most visually attractive caravans on the market, combining gloss black aluminium composite feature panels front and rear with soft, off-white high profile aluminium cladding, black external trims including high checker plate to front and rear with 600mm side kickers, double glazed push out European style windows & integrated blinds with ‘midge proof’ flyscreens and attractive decals that complete the alluring demeanour. The gloss black will undoubtedly show the dirt, but who cares – it looks great!

The box construction features a fully insulated roof and walls with a meranti timber frame, a 4-way lockable security mesh door, and galvanised full-width tunnel boot and wheel arches. Added features include a full-length roll-out awning, fold-out picnic table, an array of LED lighting, including the illuminated entry handle, 240/12/USB and aerial outlets, and polished grab bars on each corner.

From the Ground Up

At 21’6”, the Touring is an ideal size. It has a reasonably low Tare of 2210kg, a GTM of 2459kg, and an ATM of 2640kg, placing it in the realm of mid- and maxi 4wd towing vehicles and, in fact, some larger commuters. She rides beautifully on rocker-style tandem leaf suspension with 205/70/R15 light truck tyres, 15” alloy wheels, and 10” electric brakes.

The Touring is very well plumbed underneath, and that includes the electrical installation.  There are galvanised protection shrouds to the twin 95-litre water tanks and a handy mesh rack on the A-frame. Out back is a solid 3-arm bumper bar with a mounted spare wheel, large LED trailer lighting, and a reversing camera. The driver’s side features a large storage compartment and lockable water tank fillers. The 240-volt inlet and electrical box are at the front, including the circuit breakers. Overhead is a 170w Solar Panel with a 30Amp regulator, a digital TV Antenna, an IBIS 4 reverse cycle A/C, plus two skylights with blind & flyscreen and a further skylight to the shower with extraction fans.

The Essential C Class Touring Interior

It’s an easy step up into the van, where you will be visually pleased with the aesthetics, accessories, function, and finishes. It combines a nice combination of gloss white and light grey cabinetry and walls with brushed chrome fittings, beige leatherette upholstery, mushroom splashbacks, and faux woodgrain laminates for bench tops and floors.

The full-width ensuite has a Dometic porcelain toilet and vanity, both with plenty of elbow room. Plus, there’s a ton of cabinetry, including drawers, cupboards, and a compartment for the top-loading washing machine. You will love the large dressing mirror with suitable make-up lighting and the full-size, fully moulded shower, all with premium tapware and fittings.

The clever layout is enhanced by the 6’6” internal head clearance. It includes the café-style dinette with tri-fold table and lushly padded upholstery for total comfort. Opposite is a very complete kitchen with rolled benchtops, recessed four-burner cooktop (3 x gas, 1 x electric) with grill, oven, and microwave, 12v rangehood, and the essential tropical-rated 190-litre 3-Way fridge/freezer.

This C-class Touring has a ton of bench space and storage with premium cabinetry featuring positive locking European door latches, soft open gas struts, and smooth glide drawers on metal runners. There’s a deep stainless sink unit with a draining board, flick mixer taps and a filtered water outlet with a gas/electric hot water system. Both sides of the Essential Tourer have overhead cupboards, and the unit closest to the entry houses a BM Pro Plus 35 battery management system, plus the Enerdrive solar controller/regulator, digital tank gauges, and switch gear.

The forward bedding area is lush, attractive, inviting, and supremely comfortable. Plus, the large side windows allow you to wake up to the sounds of nature and have superb views. The Queen innerspring bed lifts easily, revealing plenty of storage to combine with the large drawer, wardrobe, and cabinetry that surrounds it. There are storage nooks on either side for your knick-knacks, inbuilt phone chargers, independent reading lamps, a padded bedhead, and plenty of access from the island-style layout.

The entire unit has a terrific array of LED lighting options, including my favourite, the bulkhead strip lights. You can watch the 24” TV from the bed, the dinette, take it outside, or perhaps rock along to the premium sound system with internal and external speakers. There are plenty of power points for all your gadgets and even an external gas bayonet for your outdoor BBQ.

Get out on the open road and notice the number of people enjoying their Essential Caravans experience—you will be amazed! Essential presents a range of premium caravans at very pleasing prices. This Touring model is a wonderful van for the travelling couple, but there are models available for every family and style. Be sure to inspect them for your next caravan purchase—and probably your last!

Specifications (Snapshot)

Tare: 2210kg (as displayed)

ATM: 2640

Body: Insulated composite aluminium panel

Chassis: 100 x 50mm box section

Ball Weight: 181kg

Suspension: rocker-style tandem leaf suspension

Tyres: (Size & Type) 205/70/R15 light truck tyres & 15” alloy wheels

Sleeps: 2

Water Capacity: 2 x 95l with electric water pump

Battery & Charger: 170w Solar and 100Amp DC Battery

Fridge: 190lt 3 Way Fridge/Freezer.

Cooktop: 4 burner cooktop (3 x gas, 1 x electric) with grill, oven and microwave, 12V Rangehood

The Verdict

Hits

• Reasonable towing weight

• Sensible range of accessories

• Terrific aesthetics

• Comfortable flow and head height

• Great price

Misses

• Not sure about external circuit breakers?

• Perhaps opt for another battery

• No grey water as standard

Still Shopping for the Perfect Van?

Find your dream van online at OnlyVans.com.au!  Check out our current selection of Essential caravans for more, or our available touring caravans for more options similar to the Essential C-Class Touring.

And if you're still in research mode, we have many other great deals on caravans for sale, including used caravans and caravans from private sellers. You can also find motorhomes for sale, camper trailers, and pop top caravans. No matter how you like to travel, we've got you covered. 

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