The latest 2019 Signature Series (SS) from Atlantic felt solid and composed hooked on the back of the Cruiser as it trundled up the highway from Campbellfield towards Seymour, despite the windy, rainy conditions.
Inside the warmth of the Cruiser, Mark Chadwick from Atlantic and I discussed the future of caravanning in Australia. When asked specifically about Atlantic’s future, Mark said the preference is to build fewer units with a high-quality finish, rather than sacrificing quality in an effort to race more vans out the door.
I have to admit, any time I see an Atlantic van I’m impressed by the overall look, so I was keen to take a closer squizz at the new Signature Series.
The 2019 Signature Series range from Atlantic offers a solid base, practicality and comfortability, with an affordable price tag to boot – but will this twenty-footer stack up to some serious scrutiny?
WORDS AND IMAGES ANTHONY KILNER
Let us take you on a tour of the Atlantic Signature Series
REVIEW Atlantic Signature Series 20ft Rear Door
The SS is perfectly capable of handling a dirt road or two
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SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
Outside
The gunmetal grey body, built around a six-inch Road Runner chassis, features black chequer plate trim and white decals, all of which add up to a very clean, smart look.
The AL-KO Enduro Cross Country suspension system with dual shockers, 10-inch electric brakes and 16-inch Trooper alloy rims shod with Adventure A/T tyres, give this van its semi-off-road ability.
Stick your head under the van and you’ll see two 95-litre water tanks and a 95-litre grey water tank, each with shields to protect against stone damage. Plus there are the usual features such as a drop-down legs, a drop-step, and twin 100Ah batteries bolted to the chassis.
LEFT Everything underneath is neatly tucked out of harm’s way
BELOW Hardly torture but the SS was unphased
ABOVE Plenty of room in there to store the big gear
RIGHT The perfect spot to place your drink while you soak up the surrounds
On the extended A-frame is an AL-KO click coupling, eight-inch jockey wheel, twin 9kg gas bottles and a toolbox with a slide-out for a generator. Optional extras include a bike rack, a stone deflector (a smart idea for dirt-road travel), and a rear camera.
There’s plenty of double-glazed windows, roof hatches above the bed, toilet and shower, a black awning, digital aerial, plus two 150W solar panels on the roof. Add to the mix a picnic table, twin external speakers, and a tunnel boot, and this SS is a well-provisioned touring van.
The greys add a very sophisticated touch
Inside
As you step into the van via the rear door drop-step, you’ll notice the full ensuite, with a shower that is roomy enough even for us bigger folk. In here you’ll also find a Sphere 3.3-litre washing machine and a Mondella square black wash basin and tap, along with a white Dometic toilet that contrasts well with the black fittings. There are cupboards throughout to store your toiletries.
On the driver’s side of the van there is café dining for two with club seating and a tri-fold table; a fairly standard layout featuring lovely charcoal leatherette. There’s ample storage in the overhead cupboards, and one cupboard at the bed end houses all the electricals, including a BMPRO unit, RV Electronics triple tank water level indicator, switches for the Ibis AC unit and Suburban hot water system, and the 240V safety fuse system.
The average-sized kitchen features a Dometic gas electric mini grill and a Mondeo deep sink and tap, both in black. Under the bench there’s a slide-out pantry and room for pots and pans. Above is a Sphere microwave and Coast to Coast rangehood, plus cupboards for plates, cups and food. The Dometic 184-litre two-door fridge sits between the ensuite and the dinette.
Moving to the bedroom, there’s an island-style queen-size bed with wardrobes on either side, which house the optional 240V and USB charging systems for phones and other tech. The area is classy-looking, trimmed in greys and whites. A 24-inch TV and stereo entertainment system, LED lighting and plenty of hatches and windows add the finishing touches to the interior.
ABOVE A lovely place to enjoy your evening meal if the mossies get too much // BELOW The bench space is adequate when the stove top is down
ABOVE No shortage of storage in here // BELOW Enough room to hold food and drinks for two
“The AL-KO Enduro Cross Country suspension system with dual shockers, 10-inch electric brakes and 16-inch Trooper alloy rims shod with Adventure A/T tyres, give this van its semi-off-road ability”
and Certified
your vehicle
Fabric
VERDICT
I appreciate the simplicity of this Signature Series van; it is neat and tidy and has all the comforts required for touring life, without going over the top. With a base price of under 70 grand, it certainly represents good value for money. Add some semi off-road suspension, and you have yourself a capable van that allows you to get to those special out-of-the-way spots.
PROS
• Semi off-road suspension
• Overall look
• Optional extras
• Storage space
• Stone guard
CONS
• No major faults found
SPECS
Atlantic Signature Series 20” Rear Door
Body length: 6.1m (20ft)
Body width: 2.4m (7ft 9in)
Tare weight: 2645kg
ATM: 3165kg
Base price: $69,990 ex Melbourne
Price as tested: $71,790 ex Melbourne
For more info: atlanticcaravans.com.au
ON (AND OFF) THE ROAD
We spent a couple of hours hauling the Atlantic van up and down the Hume Highway, as well as along some normal corrugated dirt roads and through plenty of back streets, and it handled everything with ease. It sat well on the back of the Cruiser and for a semi-off road van, it wasn’t too big to see around or reverse into parking spots.
REVIEW Atlantic Signature Series 20ft Rear Door
The 2019 Signature Series range from Atlantic offers a solid base, practicality and comfortability, with an affordable price tag to boot – but will this twenty-footer stack up to some serious scrutiny?
The latest 2019 Signature Series (SS) from Atlantic felt solid and composed hooked on the back of the Cruiser as it trundled up the highway from Campbellfield towards Seymour, despite the windy, rainy conditions.
Inside the warmth of the Cruiser, Mark Chadwick from Atlantic and I discussed the future of caravanning in Australia. When asked specifically about Atlantic’s future, Mark said the preference is to build fewer units with a high-quality finish, rather than sacrificing quality in an effort to race more vans out the door.
I have to admit, any time I see an Atlantic van I’m impressed by the overall look, so I was keen to take a closer squizz at the new Signature Series.
Let us take you on a tour of the Atlantic Signature Series
WORDS AND IMAGES ANTHONY KILNER
The SS is perfectly capable of handling a dirt road or two
Outside
The gunmetal grey body, built around a six-inch Road Runner chassis, features black chequer plate trim and white decals, all of which add up to a very clean, smart look.
The AL-KO Enduro Cross Country suspension system with dual shockers, 10-inch electric brakes and 16-inch Trooper alloy rims shod with Adventure A/T tyres, give this van its semi-off-road ability.
Stick your head under the van and you’ll see two 95-litre water tanks and a 95-litre grey water tank, each with shields to protect against stone damage. Plus there are the usual features such as a drop-down legs, a drop-step, and twin 100Ah batteries bolted to the chassis.
LEFT Everything underneath is neatly tucked out of harm’s way
BELOW Hardly torture but the SS was unphased
RIGHT The perfect spot to place your drink while you soak up the surrounds
On the extended A-frame is an AL-KO click coupling, eight-inch jockey wheel, twin 9kg gas bottles and a toolbox with a slide-out for a generator. Optional extras include a bike rack, a stone deflector (a smart idea for dirt-road travel), and a rear camera.
There’s plenty of double-glazed windows, roof hatches above the bed, toilet and shower, a black awning, digital aerial, plus two 150W solar panels on the roof. Add to the mix a picnic table, twin external speakers, and a tunnel boot, and this SS is a well-provisioned touring van.
ABOVE Plenty of room in there to store the big gear
ABOVE A lovely place to enjoy your evening meal if the mossies get too much // BELOW The bench space is adequate when the stove top is down
Inside
As you step into the van via the rear door drop-step, you’ll notice the full ensuite, with a shower that is roomy enough even for us bigger folk. In here you’ll also find a Sphere 3.3-litre washing machine and a Mondella square black wash basin and tap, along with a white Dometic toilet that contrasts well with the black fittings. There are cupboards throughout to store your toiletries.
On the driver’s side of the van there is café dining for two with club seating and a tri-fold table; a fairly standard layout featuring lovely charcoal leatherette. There’s ample storage in the overhead cupboards, and one cupboard at the bed end houses all the electricals, including a BMPRO unit, RV Electronics triple tank water level indicator, switches for the Ibis AC unit and Suburban hot water system, and the 240V safety fuse system.
The average-sized kitchen features a Dometic gas electric mini grill and a Mondeo deep sink and tap, both in black. Under the bench there’s a slide-out pantry and room for pots and pans. Above is a Sphere microwave and Coast to Coast rangehood, plus cupboards for plates, cups and food. The Dometic 184-litre two-door fridge sits between the ensuite and the dinette.
Moving to the bedroom, there’s an island-style queen-size bed with wardrobes on either side, which house the optional 240V and USB charging systems for phones and other tech. The area is classy-looking, trimmed in greys and whites. A 24-inch TV and stereo entertainment system, LED lighting and plenty of hatches and windows add the finishing touches to the interior.
The greys add a very sophisticated touch
ABOVE No shortage of storage in here // BELOW Enough room to hold food and drinks for two
“The AL-KO Enduro Cross Country suspension system with dual shockers, 10-inch electric brakes and 16-inch Trooper alloy rims shod with Adventure A/T tyres, give this van its semi-off-road ability”
and Certified
your vehicle
Fabric
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
ADVERTISEMENT
VERDICT
I appreciate the simplicity of this Signature Series van; it is neat and tidy and has all the comforts required for touring life, without going over the top. With a base price of under 70 grand, it certainly represents good value for money. Add some semi off-road suspension, and you have yourself a capable van that allows you to get to those special out-of-the-way spots.
PROS
• Semi off-road suspension
• Overall look
• Optional extras
• Storage space
• Stone guard
CONS
• No major faults found
SPECS
Atlantic Signature Series 20” Rear Door
Body length: 6.1m (20ft)
Body width: 2.4m (7ft 9in)
Tare weight: 2645kg
ATM: 3165kg
Base price: $69,990 ex Melbourne
Price as tested: $71,790 ex Melbourne
For more info: atlanticcaravans.com.au
ON (AND OFF) THE ROAD
We spent a couple of hours hauling the Atlantic van up and down the Hume Highway, as well as along some normal corrugated dirt roads and through plenty of back streets, and it handled everything with ease. It sat well on the back of the Cruiser and for a semi-off road van, it wasn’t too big to see around or reverse into parking spots.