Best Aussie Vans 2013: Paramount Utility

Innovation, luxury, comfort – the Paramount Utility is a big, beautiful van with unparalleled storage options and a stylish interior.

PARAMOUNT UTILITY RATING CARD

VALUE FOR MONEY

You get a lot of bling for your buck in this van. The number of features is extraordinary for the money.

TOWABILITY

The Utility felt surprisingly planted on the road, given its high ball weight of 310kg. Once all the boots and storage spaces are filled with gear, the excess weight may be an issue under tow though.

SETTING UP AND HITCHING UP

Although the van has a standard drawbar/coupling set-up, its length of 7.72m might make it a little more difficult than normal to park.

SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING

The Utility is designed for a couple who want to travel long-term in perfect luxury – and that’s exactly what they get. The storage space is fantastic and you could live in this van very comfortably.

LAYOUT

The familiar front bedroom/rear bathroom layout is employed here, but it’s a very spacious version with an angled kitchen bench and heaps of room to move.

QUALITY OF FINISH

The Utility is well finished-off, apart from a few areas with very minor flaws but, overall, this is a very well-made van.

BUILD QUALITY

It appears very well-built, although the underside is not especially well-protected. But, given this is an on-road tourer, that’s not too much of an issue.

CREATURE COMFORTS

This van is wanting for nothing – every possible feature is included.

INNOVATION

The Utility has innovation in spades: from the exclusive Infinity feature light to the external slide-out kitchen and 86cm rear boot, it’s clear the Paramount team has put time and thought into developing a unique caravan to appeal to a certain sector of the market.

X-FACTOR

The Utility has great X-factor. The mahogany cabinetry, Infinity light and angled kitchen all make a huge difference and add a real touch of class. It’s a very impressive van.

THE CARAVAN WORLD VERDICT

While some may baulk at the size of this luxury van, others will fall over themselves in their rush to snap it up. It doesn’t have serious offroad ability, and there’s no doubt this is a monster rig, at nearly 9m long and 3.5t fully-loaded. However, for those who want room to relax and absolute luxury at their fingertips every minute of the day, the Paramount Utility skyrockets to the top of the list.

To discover the Paramount Utility final score be sure to check out Caravan World Issue 521. Why not subscribe today!