Maui Ultima

By: Graham Older, Photography by: Graham Older

Date: 05.01.2011

If you are new to motorhomes, renting one is a great way of “testing the waters”. Graham takes Maui’s Sprinter-based Ultima on his quest to hook the big one.

Maui Ultima

Good width and height
Reliable Maui construction and maintenance
Multi sleeping configuration
Spacious kitchen
Set up for freedom camping

In one of Maui’s Ultima two-berth motorhomes, I headed for the Rotorua Lakes district, a Mecca for the avid trout fisher.

Of course, the region also offers plenty for the avid RVer, and if, like me, you’re new to motorhomes, renting one is a great way to assess what your wants and needs are before you invest in a vehicle of your own. Maui is a great company to start with, too; my experience at the Express Service Centre included a concise yet informative walk-through of all the essentials and before long I was turning the Sprinter-based Ultima toward my first destination: The Top 10 Holiday Park at Lake Tikitapu.

On the road

During the drive the Maui impressed; its potent 2.2-litre diesel engine and well-planted chassis providing a smooth and refined run with no annoying rattles. The pleasingly quiet interior is an obvious validation of the original build quality and the company’s ongoing maintenance programmes – good news for potential buyers, as used Mauis like this start at $81,500.

Inside layout

Swapping between day and night configurations is easy in the Ultima and you’re spoilt for choice in sleeping options. The width and height of the motorhome mean that most customers can sleep east-west and benefit from Maui’s permanent bed option, while still having room for a two-person dinette, and the generous king size bed option at 2m x 1.78m is among the largest in this category of vehicle. Wide windows let in plenty of natural light, but curtains ensure the space is private at night.

The kitchen area is neatly laid out; the honey coloured veneer on the cupboards and drawers complements the white countertops and table. It is also spacious enough to allow easy navigation between the 80L fridge, cupboards, microwave and stove. The plentiful bench space was excellent for preparing food. If you happen to have fine weather you can utilise the Ultima’s external BBQ instead.

The Maui is ideal for freedom camping, with 140 litres of fresh and 80 litres of grey water and a comfortable and attractive shower area that can be closed off from the rest of the motorhome.

Summary

Practical and well-built, the Ultima is easy to live-in, with a light and refreshing décor. And even more attractive to those who haven’t done a lot of motorhoming, it is easy to drive. I had no trouble on the roads around the Rotorua Lakes district.

Specifications

Length 7000mm
Width 1990mm
Interior height 1940mm
Overall height 2750mm
Engine 2.2L turbo diesel
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Power supply 12V Battery/240V mains
Cooker Three-burner
Fresh water tank 140L approx
Grey water tank 80L approx