What do you think of when someone mentions the word Manhattan? Wall Street, Sex in the City, perhaps? Well, it’s known for these things and a lot more, but the essence of this metropolis is class, style and sophistication – and that’s exactly what springs to mind when you step into The Manhattan from Crusader.

Crusader was established under the Dreamhaven name in the Vic suburb of Epping back in 2001, and its latest model, The Manhattan, is all about giving customers a bit of luxury without the mega-buck price tag.

Fortunately, once you’ve stepped through The Manhattan’s door and gotten yourself acquainted with its many niceties, you’ll find this high-life-on-a-budget theme isn’t a euphemism for cutting corners.

This addition to Crusader’s line-up comes with an impressive list of standard features – a list that grows exponentially when you’re considering the 21ft (6.4m) shower toilet model we’re looking at here. However, Crusader dealer Gary Maroney of Caravan City in the eastern Melbourne suburb of Croydon, says it’s important to note The Manhattan is basically a bespoke caravan, and buyers can sit down and modify pretty much any aspect of the van they like, from appliance specs to the layout and dimensions of The Manhattan itself.

FINE LOOKS

CW’s test example looked impressive from the outset, with understated graphics adorning its traditional aluminium cladding, a checkerplate stoneguard and skirting, twin 15in alloy rims and LED indicators and taillights.

Outside, you’ll find all the boxes ticked – two lights, a drop-down picnic table, illuminated grab handle, sizeable Dometic A&E 8300 awning and an external power outlet.

The 6in drawbar is fitted with a Breaksafe Breakaway switch, twin 9kg gas cylinders and a tap. There’s a metal basket too, and the railing, which runs along the width of the van just below the front boot, provides a handy spot to dry your towels once you’re back from the beach or showers.

The gal-lined boot offers good space and houses the single deep-cycle battery and Smartcharger. There’s also a very handy tunnel boot, accessed via locking doors at either side of the front of the van, for stowing longer items like brooms, fishing rods and so on.

There are quick-drop stabilisers at all four corners and a galvanised loop bumper with spare wheel at the rear.

Stepping through the mid Camec triple-locker door, you’ll find The Manhattan instantly has an intimate and cosy feel its city namesake can’t match. Warm wood tones and dark, timber-edged benchtops contrast nicely with the white textured ceiling and pine-look vinyl floor. The eye is immediately drawn to the luxurious leather-upholstered dinette opposite the entrance – and perhaps to the Waeco wine chiller, located just next door.

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PRACTICAL LAYOUT

It’s a front bedroom, mid kitchen, rear bathroom layout, and everything you may ever need here appears to be within easy reach. The bedroom in particular is a pleasant space, surrounded on three sides by sizeable Galaxy windows, with a generous Seitz Midi Heki hatch overhead.

The larger side windows come with timber pelmets with tiny railings – perfect for displaying your photos or knick-knacks – and slimline venetian blinds.

There are deep hanging wardrobes either side of the bed, along with small bedside tables. There are overhead lockers above – in that frosted leadlight style that will either push your buttons or not – while the bed itself lifts on gas struts to reveal plenty of storage. It’s divided into one huge compartment towards the head of the bed, and two smaller drawers that roll out on either side at its foot.

There are twin halogen reading lights on each side and more cupboards off each foot too, while a 17in Conia LCD television behind the bulkhead just forward of the entrance completes the picture. It’s on an articulated arm, so it can easily swivel around for viewing from the dinette or kitchen.

The dinette is really only big enough for two, as even though the larger of the two facing seats is significantly wider, you can’t really utilise the extra width because of the wheel arch below. The tri-fold table extends to give you a decent eating area when you need it, and folds back to increase your space when you don’t.

The leather seating is a classy touch, and not one I was expecting at this van’s price point. The seats are super comfortable too – full marks. A Waeco wine cooler is just aft of the dinette – a nice touch for when happy hour rolls around.

CHEF’S DELIGHT

Beyond that, between the wine cooler and the rear bathroom, is a sizeable 186L Dometic three-way fridge. For the market at which this particular example is aimed – i.e., couples sans kids – it would be ample.

Everything is close by in the kitchen, which is appointed with all the mod cons. There’s a Stoves cooktop (three gas, one electric), grill and oven with rangehood overhead, while you’ll find an Ultimate microwave at head height nearby.

Rather unusually, the benchtop and sink drainer – and the cupboard space underneath – is angled out away from the wall. If you look at the floorplan you’ll see this creates a line which complements that formed by the wider dinette chair to the shorter one. While it looks classy and modern, it won’t be for everyone.

At 6ft 2in (1.88m), I had no trouble accessing the rear of the cupboard space below, the rear bench space or the overhead locker (against the bathroom bulkhead) above, but for photographer Ellen – who’s a good foot shorter than I – it wasn’t exactly ideal. It’ll depend on your own situation, and of course The Manhattan can be designed in any number of ways to suit your preference.

There’s a double powerpoint right where you want it, and our test van had a JVC entertainment system – with CD/DVD/MP3/radio – located at head height between the microwave and the rangehood.

A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING

There’s ample storage space, especially in the under-sink area, with a slide-out pantry near the entrance, more drawers under the dinette seating, and overhead lockers either side. The cabinetry itself – a polyply exterior with veneered timber edging – is perhaps one area where the bean counters have made their presence felt.

Most of the drawers simply pull out, i.e., without the smoother action of rollers, and I found a couple of the pushbuttons on cupboard doors were prone to sticking, although this would no doubt improve with a bit of use.

At the rear of The Manhattan is a bathroom/laundry, which can be sealed off for privacy by a sliding polyply-finished door. A Thetford loo is on the left, an enclosed shower cubicle on the right, with a basin and yet more cupboard space along the rear between the two. There isn’t an abundance of space here, although you should still be able to dry off and get changed behind the sliding door should the need arise.

Just aft of the loo is a Dometic washing machine – another nice touch for a van in this price range, and just one less thing to have to think about while you’re on the road or in a park.

CW’s test van also came with a Dometic air-conditioner, a Winegard antenna and a padded stoneguard above the front checkerplate, right to the top of the front window.

This van had an ATM of 2678kg, but behind Caravan City’s Toyota LandCruiser, the weight certainly didn’t appear to pose any problems.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Crusader touts The Manhattan as a luxury van without the luxury price tag. With a price as shown of $59,990 for the test model seen here, I think they’ve hit the nail on the head.

That’s not a small order for a shower and toilet model with a washer, especially when you consider all the other niceties thrown in. Best of all, despite its generous spec, the overall build quality and finish hasn’t appeared to suffer, and with the experience of the Crusader personnel behind it, I’m sure this van will stand the test of time well.

If you’re a couple looking for a bit of extra comfort, The Manhattan is well worth a look.

Liked

• The light-filled bedroom
• The compact kitchen – everything’s within easy reach
• The convenience of a bathroom and laundry

Would have liked

•  More drawers on rollers

Caravan City, 83 Maroondah Highway, Croydon, Vic 3136, www.caravancity.com, (03) 9725 5144. For more information, including your nearest dealer, contact Crusader on (03) 9408 0166.

By Rod Chapman and Ellen Dewar, as featured in Caravan World issue 458, October 2008.