GERMAN AND PROUD

With a proud German history, the Carado T459 has a lot to offer the discerning motorhomer. Paul Owen takes a deep dive into this luxury vehicle.

Carado sticks to a well-proven formula inside and outside the T459 when it comes to everything they mount on top of the cab-chassis. The roof and rear wall are fiberglass reinforced plywood, and the sidewalls are skinned with aluminum for extra durability, weatherproofing, and heat retention.

With twin 9kg LPG bottles, and a Truma Combi 6E boiler that can use both gas and electricity to heat the cabin and hot water, the T459 offers all the comforts of a home at your fingertips.

It’s a Germanic motorhome in more ways than just the location of the source factory, and the layout will be instantly familiar to anyone who has stepped inside any 7.4m-long motorhome bearing a Teutonic brand.

There’s a rear bedroom with a 195 x 150cm fixed island bed, the mattress located high enough to require a ladder to climb aboard it; there’s a lounge up front with face-to-face seating across the van and the ability to seat six once the front seats in the cab have been reversed to face the generously sized split-folding table. Above the lounge is a 195 x 140cm fold-down double bed that can be placed into position super easily.

Between the front lounge and rear bedroom is the kitchen followed by a bathroom divided into a shower on one side, and a toilet/wash basin on the other. A multi-tasking door provides privacy.

The kitchen comes fully equipped with three gas hobs and a stainless steel sink on one side with an oven-grille mounted below them. Above and below the bench area are plenty of generously sized overhead lockers, drawers, and side cupboards, each with soft-close operation. A nice touch is the slider track near the sink with a couple of hooks which can be located as required for towels or essential utensils. Opposite this is a 167L three-way fridge with automatic selection of source energy and a 29L freezer compartment.

The Carado T459 might cost more than $200K these days, but equally you can see, hear, and feel where your money went. It’s German and proud. Find out more at wilderness.co.nz

Specifications

Make/model CARADO T459

Chassis Fiat Ducato/AL-KO hybrid cab/chassis, front wheel drive

Engine 2.2 litre turbo-diesel, 140bhp

Gearbox Nine-speed automatic Berths 4

Length/width/ height 7400mm / 2320mm / 2900mm

Fresh/hot/grey water Fresh 122L/Hot 10L/ Grey 92L

GVW/payload 3650kg/530kg

Unladed mass

(tare) 3120kg

Price $203,900 MY2022