2015 Majestic Series 2 Sierra Extreme: Video Review

Since it was introduced as Majestic’s entry-level model in 2013, the 5.94m (19ft 6in) Sierra has established itself as a clear favourite, accounting for around half of all Majestic sales. And one in five Sierra buyers opt for the Off-Road Extreme variant we’re reviewing here.

While the Sierra is a good, honest van, it’s not an eye-catcher in the caravan park. However, the extensive silver checkerplate gives it a pleasant aesthetic, and the reasonably upright body shape pays dividends in useful interior space for a relatively compact van.

LAYOUT & DESIGN

In complete contrast with its relatively plain exterior, the interior of the Sierra Extreme is stylish and inviting; the gloss gold of its cabinetry contrasting with gloss white plywood walls and the brown imitation leather cafe-style dinette.

The huge aluminium-framed Aussie Traveller windows on either side of the queen-size bed play a major role here, letting plenty of natural light inside and giving the interior a more spacious look than its dimensions would lead you to expect.

Majestic offers three different layouts in the Sierra series – two with rear doors and one with a centre door ahead of the tandem axle – giving customers the choice of near or offside cafe-style dinette seating, or an L-shaped lounge.

BEDROOM & STORAGE

Instead of being right-hinged and opening towards the bed, as on many vans, the robe doors on the Sierra are left-hinged so you can look into the mirrors that back them without crowding into a front corner.

The cupboards themselves, like those that line the walls above the dinette and kitchen, have doors that rise effortlessly on gas struts and sit flush with the ceiling. But, more importantly, they are partitioned so that clothes and other items don’t migrate from one space to the other when the van is travelling, minimising creasing, or, in the case of grocery items, spillage.

Equally impressive is the standard ‘scupper’ hatch above the bed that will pressurise the interior to keep dust out if it’s opened when travelling on unmade roads.

There is also great storage space under the bed, which is neatly partitioned into three compartments that will avoid your wine and beer mingling with your folding chairs and linen.

KITCHEN

With a van of this size, you wouldn’t expect a huge amount of bench space in the kitchen and, unless you use the lid over the Swift 500 Series gas cooktop, you don’t get it. But it’s quite adequate and if you utilise the dinette’s large tri-fold table for plating-up, there’s not much to complain about.

There’s a grill below the cooktop for your toast in the morning, or melting cheese on lasagna at night, but no conventional oven – something I wouldn’t miss, as the standard microwave, although unfortunately high-mounted on the left-hand side of the galley, covers off this requirement.

A slide-out pantry and a huge, deep pot drawer below the latest model Thetford three-way fridge on the right of the kitchen, complete a compact, but workable layout.

The dinette on the opposite side provides very comfortable seating for two adults only, thanks to the intrusion of the wheel arches, and both the cushions and their substantial shoulder and side bolsters are upholstered in the same imitation brown leather that should be easy to clean and maintain. Cupboards below each seat provide further storage.

BATHROOM

Beyond a solid sliding entry door on the right of the Sierra as you enter, is the van’s compact, but adequate ensuite, with a cassette toilet on the left, next to a cupboard housing the van’s standard Camec 2.5kg top-loading washing machine. A separate fibreglass shower cubicle is opposite the toilet, with an island washbowl and vanity mirror on the back wall, in between.

THE BOTTOM LINE

And really, that just about sums the Sierra Extreme up: an excellent value, well-specced and very comfortable Aussie van from a trusted maker.

With solid construction and some good attention to detail, this all-roads tourer ticks all the boxes.

MEASURING UP

I liked...

• Value
• Overall packaging
• Great interior storage
• Huge windows

I would have liked...

• More cupboards in ensuite
• More kitchen bench space
• Better protection for vulnerable PVC waste pipe

The full test appears in Caravan World #538 June 2015.