Caravan review: New Age Caravans Manta Ray 18ft Ensuite

New Age Caravans adds a welcome safety feature with a Bosch Trailer Safety Control (TSC) system and it’s the first builder to make these standard across the 2024 range. 

The New Age brand has been building innovative vans since 2008 when it revolutionised interior design by bringing apartment like ambience to the local scene. The Walkinshaw Group took over in 2019, and it’s a name familiar to followers of local car racing with its successful team in the V8 Supercar category. With the new ownership came access to engineering experience and testing facilities rare in the local caravan scene that include test facilities and deep engineering knowledge.

As with all builders, the past few years have been challenging for finding and keeping staff and maintaining a reliable component supply. Happily, recent months have seen staff levels stabilise around 320 people. At the same time, production geared up to an annual output of 2000 vans and campers. Wait times have come down to more normal expectations. 

With the latest releases, the brand has simplified its premier touring line-up to the Manta Ray range of caravans as the couple’s choice and the Road Owl models catering to families. Our review van is the 18ft Ensuite which sits in the middle of the couples van range with a single axle 16ft and a slightly roomier 19ft version. The Ensuite is classified as a touring van but can be configured as an Adventurer version with a more robust suspension. All up there are around 20 various models across the New Age line-up of caravans, pop-tops and campers.

The build

At the base of all New Age vans is the Walkinshaw engineered chassis produced by Hilton Manufacturing in Melbourne from Australian steel. For accuracy and greater structural integrity, most of the process is robot welded with the single section 6in main rails and 5in A-frame mandrel bent into shape rather than joined together. The chassis is then hot dip galvanised for maximum durability. The suspension is a tandem AL-KO roller rocker leaf spring setup without shock absorbers. Centara Adventure all-terrain 235x75 tyres mount on smart-looking, brand-identified spoked 15in alloy wheels. Brakes are 10in electric drums. 

As we mentioned, brakes are now controlled through a Bosch Trailer Safety Control system. Sway mitigation and lane change control detect unusual swerving and bring things under control through independent braking to each wheel using anti-lock braking — ABS — similar to your tow vehicle. Most caravanners will have experienced brake lock up on the van at some time and the New Age system is a game changer for its added safety margins.

The frame is meranti timber clad in raised profile aluminium exterior sections and a ply interior. I’m told that 2024 spec vans will come with smooth composite aluminium panels as a standard feature. 

The exterior

Flat black texture trimming along the sides give the van a lean and long impression, while bright blue composite panels at each end lend a distinctive look. The New Age logos are understated but the back features a large Manta Ray logo.

A 3500kg rated 50mm ball hitch connects to the tow vehicle and the drawbar has a tap with a metal guard and a centrally located jockey wheel that has loads of room to wind. On the driver’s side a full-width locker is a dedicated place with a vent for a pair of 9kg gas bottles while the passenger side will be a handy storage bin for mats and hoses.

As we head back along the outside living space there are thoughtful touches that make a difference. A light shows the way over the tunnel boot and three LEDs up high should brighten the space when entertaining. I also like the picnic table with a fold-out extension and handy bins that clip on either side to make it more useful. Power and TV points add to relaxing options and connect to a quality Fusion surround sound speaker while a 15ft Sunburst awning brings shade and weather protection.

The rear end features the signature New Age lower skirt — the unusually named ‘nappy mould kit’ — that incorporates the tyre carrier and rear traffic lights into a neat ABS moulding. Twin battery boxes bolt to the chassis on the driver side and meet the latest compliance regulations to separate these electronics from the internal living space. 

Liveability

Housing a fire extinguisher in a recessed nook at the entryway seems like a smart place to store one, and there’s a storage pocket for smaller items although it may not be the best place from a security perspective for car keys. 

The spacious layout design places the ensuite to the right as you enter and the bed away from the door. This floorplan works for most couples as a mix of practicality and privacy. The immediate impact of the interior design is that its clean and uncluttered and it took me a while to spot that the main difference is the strip lighting at the roofline. Gone are the rows of downlights found in most caravans that always seem to overwhelm the space. It might be a subtle change but it’s an inspired move that no doubt we will see across the board pretty quickly. Recessed catches on the overhead cupboards also contribute to the tidy and contemporary style.

A large roof hatch, oversized windows at the bedroom and wide ones in the living space allow ample light and there are quality block outs on all openings for privacy and a sleep-in.

The furniture is all CNC produced in-house and the finish is high quality with a minimalist sense helped by the conservative light and dark greys on white and the now common black features at the fridge door and kitchenware. I liked the rounded edges of the cupboards and benches, both for the smooth look and less chance of banging your head or hip on a sharp edge. 

A compact kitchen runs along the kerb side and while bench space isn’t extensive, there is preparation room on a fold-down section over the new-style cooktop and a bit more on the sink drainer at the other end. Three ample drawers and bench and overhead cupboards on both sides offer reasonable food and utensil storage and there’s plenty of room under the bed.

There is more than expected foot room at the cafe dinette for an 18ft van and I suspect this is down to locating the cabinet for the fridge and microwave between the dinette and the bed, rather than between the dinette and the kitchen as in most layouts I have seen. This layout takes advantage of the fridge’s narrower profile in the gap between it and the bed. There may be a slight effect on kitchen ergonomics, but I think it’s a good trade off. The dinette seats are beautifully upholstered with high backs and comfortable support. Drawers under the seats that slide out into the walkway could be fitted with cushions to allow lengthways seating when relaxing.

Access to the island queen bed is straightforward and instead of the usual complement of side tables, you have floor to ceiling wardrobes that add to the Scandi vibe. Small nooks each side of the bed have space for phones, books and such. Reading lights have three levels of brightness and USB chargers.

The rear ensuite continues the two-tone grey minimalism and surprised me with an almost retro white basin floating on the low set vanity. Mixing it even more was a driver-side shower which is most unusual in caravan design. In the case of the 18ft Manta Ray, the positioning is for optimum weight distribution. A mix of shelves and overhead cupboards adds to storage space and the shower is roomy enough at 95cm square for most folk to move around freely.

Self-sufficiency

Although the Manta Ray is essentially a main road tourer, it still needs some off-grid capability, and it comes well prepared. Standard inclusions list a 200W solar panel and twin 100Ah gel batteries. Add in 220L of fresh water across two water tanks and a pair of 9kg gas bottles and you can expect up to a week or so away from 240V power if you are careful with water use. Even as we move to more sustainable energy sources, having gas on board extends off-grid capability in vans like the New Age. Gas supplies cooking and power for the fridge and a 9kg bottle should last three to four weeks, so there’s still a place for them when travelling. Mind you, we paid $70 for a refill in remote Western Australia earlier this year, and its likely to become more expensive so you need to factor that in. 

Towability

It was fitting that our tow vehicle for the review was a Walkinshaw-tweaked Amarok, and it made a comfortable and powerful match for the Manta Ray’s 2330kg empty weight. Our course was mainly bitumen roads with some short sections of dirt, but we had enough steep hills to challenge the 190kW/580Nm from the three litre V6 engine. The van towed smoothly and without vices and while we weren’t in a position to put the sway control to its maximum, I could feel the van correct any movement when we had a chance to simulate quick changes of direction. Braking was smooth and precise.

The bottom line

New Age doesn’t break any new engineering ground with its latest Manta Ray, but it reinforces its reputation for quality build and as a leader in contemporary interior design. The 18ft Ensuite will suit couples looking for a versatile option for both long distance and short break holidays. Its 2790kg ATM will suit most mid-range tow vehicles and it will make a good match for the likes of the Isuzu MU-X. Payload is around 460kg which might be a bit light for big lappers when you consider 238kg of that will be water and gas.

At $83,990 the Manta Ray might be at the premium end of this sector. Still, it holds its own in a very competitive market with its fine finishes, sensible weight and reliable engineering. Part of the buying process is after sales service. Full credit to the customer care from the company because the three-year bumper-to-bumper warranty and one-year roadside assistance is a market leader in the category. 

HITS AND MISSES

Hits

• Well-engineered construction
• Class-leading warranty
• Sensible weight for mid-level tow vehicles

Misses

•  Meranti frame needs vigilant maintenance 

NEW AGE CARAVANS MANTA RAY 18FT ENSUITE RATINGS

VALUE FOR MONEY 
High build quality and longer warranty justify a higher price point

TOWABILITY
Sensible weight and the safety tow pack rate the van highly

SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING
All the gear and space for a touring couple

BUILD QUALITY 
Fine joinery well engineered chassis and a traditional timber frame

LIVEABILITY 
Room to move and very comfortable dinette

SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Comes with basic off-grid capability 

CUSTOMER CARE 
Three years bumper to bumper and one-year roadside assistance is commendable

INNOVATION 
Small changes to layout mean a lot

X-FACTOR
Conservative styling with a well-balanced look

NEW AGE CARAVANS MANTA RAY 18FT ENSUITE SPECS

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

EXTERNAL

INTERNAL

New Age Caravans Manta Ray 18ft Ensuite price from: $83,990

MORE INFORMATION

To enquire about this caravan:

Head to the New Age Caravans website.

THE NEXT STEP

If you need help choosing your first caravan or are considering upgrading your existing one, check out the New Age Caravans models available on TradeRVs today.

The sellers will be happy to help and answer any inquiries you may have about the products advertised for sale.

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