Motorhome Review: Kea Discovery 2021

RV envy — we’ve probably all felt it at some stage. You can pick it a mile off when a new RV enters a caravan park. The glance that turns into a craned neck and long, wistful stare, a wander past to get a closer look, and with any luck, the casual chat will lead to “Would you like to look inside?”

Let’s face it — most new owners are just as keen to show off their new toys as we check them out.

I often suffer from RV envy. I love seeing new models with all the extra gizmos and gadgets, slick paintwork, slide-outs, clever storage compartments, and modern decor.

In my line of work, I’m lucky to be able to test drive and review them, and you can, too — by hiring one. RV rentals offer the ultimate chance to ‘try before you buy’. It’s the best way to see if these RVs are as good as they look and, more importantly, to see if they’re a good match for what you need.

Don’t you want to spend hundreds on the hire? Try a relocation deal. For as little as $1 a day, you can test an RV. You’ll have to be prepared for time and distance limits and an airfare home, but it’s a cheap way to thoroughly check out different models.

Which brings me to the Maui Cascade.

I decided to test drive this four-berth RV and simultaneously put a relocation deal to the test.

The Maui Cascade Brings Us the KEA Discovery

Britz and Maui, two of Australia’s most iconic campervan rental brands, also have a vehicle sales brand called KEA.

That means any Maui motorhome you rent is available to buy as an equivalent KEA model, and in this case, the Cascade is the same as a KEA Discovery.

“I decided to test drive this four-berth RV and put a relocation deal to the test at the same time.” 

Let’s Take a Closer Look at the KEA Discovery

Hydraulic Bed

The main thing I wanted to try in the Discovery is the hydraulic bed. There are far more important considerations, but this looks nifty.

At the flick of a switch, it drops from the ceiling above the lounge/dining setup, which winds right around the entire RV rear.

Brilliant! You can make the bed disappear again—back to the roof lining—and use the table and seats well. That makes for a lot of living room inside.

At night, flick the switch again, and the bed lowers to whatever level you like — just above the lounge room.

A light-up top sits flush on the wardrobe, but no windows.

The Discovery is perfect for a couple. But it’s designed for four people, so how does it rate on that front?

With four on board, things get a little squeezy. The lounge/dining area also converts to a second big bed, which looks like a double bunk.

Two bedboards create the base, and extra cushions are stored behind the two passenger seats. Knowing these cushions don’t fall apart like some other composite beds is good.

I travelled with a friend, so we had both beds permanently made up, which meant sacrificing all internal lounge and dining options.

Driving across the top of Australia, we took advantage of the balmy weather and used a table and chairs outside.

The ladder to the top bed is easy to attach, but it does block access to the bottom bed and makes it awkward to get in and out in the middle of the night.

Driveability

I haven’t found an RV I dislike driving, but the Discovery felt even more stable on the road. Without a Luton, there is less wind resistance and better fuel economy.

It’s comfortable, easy to drive, and has good visibility. The outside mirrors are great, and the reversing camera is a gem, but even better is the view straight out the back through the full-width windows.

Front Cabin

The dash looks impressive, with a sleek entertainment hub taking centre stage. It’s a radio, GPS, and Bluetooth system all in one.

Gadgets on the steering wheel are not easy to navigate, though, and the screen is so shiny it’s hard to see anything but your passenger’s reflection.

However, any technology struggle is probably just me. I like to keep things simple—or at least have a comprehensive lesson on how to use gadgets.

COVID-19 means vehicle handovers don’t exist. You are armed with an app and a series of good videos about hiring vehicles. Did we watch them? Yes. Did we remember it all? No. When we had phone reception, we had to phone the 1300 helpline to ask how to navigate the dash menu controls. Those people deserve medals for patience.

For the record, you wipe your finger over them. Don’t try to push them like a button.

There are no USB ports in the front of this hire vehicle, though they are available when you buy the KEA equivalent. We used a 12V adaptor to charge our phones, cameras, and battery packs while driving.

There are USB ports below the extra two passenger seats just behind the driver’s seat.

The seats are comfortable, with lumbar adjustments for when you’ve been driving too long. They also swivel, offering another seat facing inside.

The swivel action means no height adjustment, so shorties like me need a footstool. Of course, the other way to describe that ‘problem’ is that the seats offer plenty of legroom.

Compartments are plentiful in the Cascade — a large glovebox, room for sunnies, a lock-up compartment and an open ledge.

Door wells come in handy, but it’s a bit of a tight squeeze to try to put anything in them while driving.

Cup holders are great—large enough and well placed below all the gadgetry, so a spill means you won’t short anything out. They also come in handy for storing the keys, which must still be near the ignition button despite not having to go in an ignition switch.

Liveability

The Discovery feels spacious, thanks to lots of windows and light decor.

The two extra passenger seats are straight ahead as you enter the main cabin. Plenty of legroom here, but that space can’t be used for much else with four on board. We loaded those seats with bags, cameras, and work gear with just two of us.

More About the Kea Discovery

An extra anchor point for the table would be handy here, allowing the swivelling front seat to be used as an alternative dining/workstation and allowing guests to take advantage of it.

The Dometic 240V reverse cycle air conditioner works well, though we only needed it once because window placements offer excellent airflow.

Double power points are found under passenger seats and in the kitchen.

As with all RVs, blinds tend to block the breeze, so privacy comes at a trade-off.

The Cascade/Discovery does not have the ‘boof-head’ style luton above the front cabin. That means more head space and easier access moving inside, but also means sacrificing storage space.

The ladder fits just about above the front two seats, plus there is room on each side for shopping bargains found at op shops along the way and nets to prevent things from falling out.

Regarding privacy, the front curtain runs along the roof of the driver’s cabin, offering more living space inside and the option to swivel the front seats while still blocking prying eyes.

I love the manual step—it's one less thing that gets clogged with dust and seizes like my electric one has.

Bathroom

The bathroom in this fully self-contained RV feels roomier than some others, and I was happy with the shower test. That means not running out of hot water, not bumping elbows on the side walls, and a great shower head.

But where is the drain? The water did not drain easily, as I must have been parked at an angle. If something was blocking the drain, I couldn’t find it to fix the problem. Perhaps it’s tucked behind the swivelling loo, but it remains a mystery that was solved only by driving.

Storage

In short, there’s not enough storage for two people, let alone four.

The Cascade has one tiny wardrobe — which also houses the table — and two shelves under that, next to the bathroom, plus a cupboard just inside the main door.

With the bottom bed made u,p there is room for two bags underneath, but if you use this area for lounge and dining, there is nowhere for luggage storage.

One overhead cupboard sits above the extra passenger seats next to the control panel, and two more above the cooktop/grill beside the microwave. We used all of these for food.

Outside storage is good. A compartment on the driver’s side fits the power cord and a hose.

The larger passenger-side cubby hole fits a few chairs and buckets but not quite the outside table, which had to go inside.

Kitchen

I loved the kitchen despite the benches being too high and making me feel like a kid trying to do the dishes. They are only so high to allow for a good-sized under-bench fridge, which is a fair trade-off.

The fridge deserves a special mention—it kept ice for three days. Bought initially to help the fridge ‘get going,’ it came in extra handy for G&Ts under the stars.

A big bonus in this RV is an under-sink cupboard alongside three well-sized drawers for cutlery, crockery, and glasses.

How Does It Perform?

On a fast and furious relocation test from Cairns to Darwin in seven days, the four-berth Maui Cascade (KEA Discovery) didn’t miss a beat.

It’s a pleasure to drive, even for long stretches and on varying road conditions.

It’s an ideal RV for two people if you pack light and smart and can use the extra space behind the driver’s seat for storage.

For four people, it would be an excellent escape pod for weekends when you don’t need to take much luggage and can enjoy relaxing in the great outdoors.

You might have to fight over where the fishing rods go.

KEA Discovery Specifications:

• Overall length - 6.6m (21ft 8in)

• External width - 2.2m (7ft 3in)

• Internal height - 2.06m (6ft 9in)

• Sleeping capacity - Up to 4 people

Ready for Adventure? 

Find your dream van online at OnlyVans.com.au!  We have 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. 

Article and photos were supplied by Carolyne Jasinsk, and previously appeared at TradeRVs.com.au, now powered by OnlyVans.com.au. 

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