2020 Riviera 505 SUV review

The Riviera 505 SUV will become the third member of the growing SUV family when it hits the waters of the 2020 Miami International Boat Show in February.

Yes, it will be the smallest and most affordable member of the coupe-styled SUV range, but this family- and couples-friendly boat is packaged like nothing else you’ve seen in a Riviera.

That said, it still retains all the Riviera trademarks; think long range, great dynamics and ease of use.

The boat launches in the same year as the Aussie luxury motor yacht brand celebrates its 40th anniversary, so watch this space …

Hull No.1, which will be Riviera’s star at the Miami show, is head to the group's Chicago-based dealer following the show.

Pricing for the new boat will start from $1,599,000 for a turn-key package featuring the standard engines, a pair of Volvo Penta IPS800s.

Standard equipment includes a stainless steel Ultra anchor with 50 metres of 10mm chain; hot and cold wash-down outlets in the anchor locker (the bracket for the coiled hose is built into the mould); a 460-litre pressurised freshwater system with a 45-litre hot water heater; CZone digital control and electrical monitoring system; a 43-inch LCD TV and Fusion audio system and a smaller one for the owner’s suite; joystick docking; a freezer under the helm seat; LED strip lights and mains powerpoints with USB recharging ports; cockpit icemaker; cockpit barbecue and sink; 130-litre cockpit fridge; 12,000BTU air-conditioning unit; a pair of electric sunroofs in the mezzanine area; convection microwave oven, two-burner cooktop, twin drawer fridge, and a single-bowl sink with mixer tap in the galley.

Keen anglers aren’t overlooked, with a live bait tank – complete with a window – built into the transom, and a large draining underfloor locker that can be used as a kill tank.

A few choice options are fitted to this show boat. The biggest is a pair of 725hp Volvo Penta IPS950 D11 engines with Trim Assist, a low-speed mode, Volvo Autopilot, a 7.0-inch engine display, active corrosion protection, line cutters, twin-lever electronic helm controls; and joystick controls at the helm and cockpit.

Another big-ticket item is the hydraulic swim platform that lowers more than 400mm into the water. This particular boat also has a set of drop-in gates so the platform can be used for fishing or socialising.

Our test boat includes a highly customised “Titanium” paint on the hull that adds some visual punch.

The boat is sold with lines and fenders so that owners can take delivery beside the water, step aboard and head off on their first adventure.

The Riviera 505 SUV is built on top of an all-new hull that’s hand-laid at Riviera’s Coomera boat-building facility on the Gold Coast, Queensland. The hull is more flared at the front to throw spray away, and includes the traditional deep vee forward that gives the Riviera range its renowned sea-keeping ability.

Below the waterline the hull is solid fibreglass; above it the Riviera 505 SUV uses a cored deck and topsides. Where possible the forward compartment is foam-filled to reduce noise and add strength.

The boat will be built on the same production line as other Riviera models, and will use the same manufacturing process that precisely measures the amount of materials used in each step of the build to ensure consistency.

The Riviera 505 SUV differs significantly from the other boats in the line-up in that it uses much larger windows in the hull, and has proportionally more freeboard. At 26mm, the glass used for the windows is as thick as the hull.

Forward, it has a collision bulkhead, while the 3300-litre fuel tank sits just behind amidships to help with balanced weight distribution. Similar to other Riviera models, the Riviera 505 SUV uses Volvo Penta’s pod drive system for propulsion, linked to a joystick control system to help with low-speed maneuverability.

Engine room access was an important part of the Rivera 505 SUV’s design brief. A large hatch in the mezzanine level lifts up to provide access to an engine compartment that has plenty of working room. Draining in-floor storage bins – ideal for fender storage as you can wash them out – are built into the cockpit floor, and are removable to provide access to the top of the pod drives.

Electrical needs are provided via a 13kWh/50hz Onan generator, with a pair of shore power leads supplied for berthing.

The Riviera 505 SUV’s brief was simple; cram as much living and storage space as practically possible into a 50-foot package. The result is four separate living zones – cockpit, mezzanine, saloon and downstairs accommodations – and storage areas everywhere within its compact-for-its-size craft.

Riviera’s SUV format is a single-level entertainer. The 505 SUV pushes that even further into that format.

The new look starts at the bow, where there’s no traditional bowsprit. Instead the Rivera 505 SUV integrates the bowsprit into the bow, with the anchor concealed out of sight. However, it’s still easy to access the chain locker or snub the chain, which is exposed to the deck.

The deck, too, has some clever thinking. Moving the forward cabin’s skylights outwards has allowed the bow sun lounges to sit side by side, with a huge storage space below. The sun lounge sits forward, too, leaving a walkway along its trailing edge. It’s perfect if you’re placing the covers at the end of the trip – no stumbling over cushions.

The saloon and mezzanine are integrated onto the same level, with a large stainless steel-framed window and sliding glass door melding the space into an alfresco social zone.

The design also integrates the mezzanine and aft cockpit, creating an amphitheatre-like seating atmosphere keeping the conversation flowing between those who like conversation more than fishing, and vice versa.

Much thought has gone into an efficient use of space. For example, the master suite contains a walk-in robe – remember, this is only a 50-foot boat – and the bookshelves in the forward VIP room double as a ladder to use the hatch as an escape route.

This is also only the second Riviera to feature transom-mounted rear cleats recessed into the bulwarks.

Slip in through the stainless steel-framed sliding door that makes up the bulkhead and you’re immediately cocooned in comforts.

To starboard, the Riviera 505 SUV features a drawer freezer backing onto a large lounge with a floating ottoman – flip the cushion over and it becomes a low table. The lounge immediately opposite the galley, which features stone-look benchtops, a convection microwave oven, a two-drawer fridge and an optional dishwasher. Our test boat also has the galley’s sink up against the bulkhead; future versions of the Rivera 505 SUV will relocate it forward – that will help with setting the alfresco mood in the mezzanine.

Storage options throughout the galley are more than adequate. Crockery drawers have tabs that lock plate and bowls in place so they don’t shift around while underway.

Forward of the galley is the dinette featuring a large table with fold-out leaves that double its size. The seating is finished forward with a comfy armrest that forms one wall of the companionway to the lower accommodation. Over this area is a large electrically operated sunroof, while large sliding windows help to bring the outdoors inside.

The colour scheme in this boat looks the part. Light Sunbrella fabrics and oak-styled vinyl flooring are offset against the rich, dark walnut of the cabinetwork. Grey trim wraps around to the helm station, while a light leather headliner finishes off the coupe’s roofline.

Overhead, an oval rail recessed into the roof provides a handhold while moving around the space while underway. A similar rail is mounted into the roof of the mezzanine. Overhead LED strips mounted flush with the roofline in both areas provide an even, warm light.

The Riviera 505 SUV’s helm looks as though it was lifted straight out of a luxury car, complete with a sports steering wheel. Twin 17-inch Garmin Glass bridge touchscreen chartplotters/sounders dominate a wide and deep dash placed in front of two soft and well-bolstered leather captain’s chairs for the skipper and a companion.

The dash includes controls for the six-speaker Fusion audio system (four speakers are in the saloon, and another two are in the mezzanine), a CZone panel to balance the Riviera 505 SUV’s electrical needs, a screen dedicated to the Volvo Penta engines humming away below, autopilot, and the automatic trim tabs.

This boat is heading over to the stabiliser-centric US, so it is also fitted with a gyroscope that cancels out most of the wrinkles at rest and underway.

The helm station sits surprisingly tall for what is a 50-foot boat. Visibility out of the helm seat is excellent all around.

The mezzanine on the Riviera 505 SUV is on the same level as the saloon, creating a connected living zone once the awning window and sliding glass saloon door are opened.

The coupe’s roof and dot-matrix glass panels to either side provides good protection from the sun and weather, but our test boat also includes a fabric awning that extends right to the back of the space. The hard roof includes two electrically operated sunroofs that add light and airflow.

Another option fitted to this boat is a set of zip-in clears that integrate the mezzanine with the saloon; on a hot day you can feed cooling air throughout the entire space.

The teak-floored mezzanine includes two outboard lounges with built-in storage, the port side including a table with fold-out leafs and centrally mounted stainless steel drinkholders, and a floating ottoman. To starboard, the base of the lounge flips out to create a double-sized day bed. A hatch in the floor provides generous access to the engine room.

The mezzanine provides an amphitheatre-like view of the cockpit and swim deck.

A couple of steps on a wide walkway lead down to a spacious cockpit that anglers will instinctively gravitate towards. Four stainless steel fishing rod holders are built into the topdecks, an in-floor hatch opens up to reveal a large, drained kill tank, and a live bait tank complete with clear window is built into the transom.

Fishing doesn’t need to be hungry or thirsty work, either, with a barbecue grill, hotplate and sink with hot and cold running freshwater forward to the cockpit’s port side, and a fridge and icemaker to starboard. Hatches built into the sides of the cockpit open to a multitude of storage spaces, and underfloor bins include a drain so they can be washed out – they’re removable, too, to provide top-down maintenance access to the IPS system’s drive pods.

Swinging doors to either side of the cockpit fold backwards and flat against the transom, opening up to the wide and deep teak-lined swim deck that drops more than 400mm into the water, and is rated to carry a small tender. Our show boat has a set of drop-in gates that make it a practical space to use as a casting deck or landing space, launch a stand-up paddle board or for younger children to enjoy the water.

The Riviera 505 SUV’s accommodation covers three separate cabins sleeping six people.

A VIP cabin featuring a double bed tucked into the vee of the bow is located forward, featuring good access despite the tighter space, and plenty of storage including a cedar-lined hanging wardrobe and under-bed drawers.

The space includes two hatches with mosquito and sun block blinds, and a bit of clever thinking; instead of an escape ladder for the portside hatch, the steps have been incorporated into a bookshelf. The natural light in this space is surprising; deep windows – a signature of the Riviera 505 SUV – allow it to flood into the space.

Directly outside the forward cabin is an alcove for the optional washing machine and dryer. The doors to the cabinet swing out and slide back into an alcove so they tuck out of the way. The VIP stateroom’s door can still open normally while the washer and dryer are in use.

Opposite to starboard is a room with two bunks. Again, there’s plenty of storage available and enough standing room – and width – for someone to change comfortably. Forward of the cabin is the shared head and full standing headroom shower that also has a private access door from the VIP suite.

The entry to the amidships master suite is via a door flush with the walkway. Open it, and immediately in front of you is a walk-in hanging wardrobe – and remember, this is a 50-foot boat.

You step down past the surprisingly roomy ensuite into the full-beam space framed on one side by a chaise lounge, and the other with a set of drawers, and split in the middle by a double bed. Again, deep windows frame both sides of the space, flooding it with natural light; opaque door panels allow it to filter further while keeping spaces private. The Riviera 5050 SUV’s high freeboard has its benefits here, with good headroom throughout.

The entire accommodation space is carpeted and air-conditioned, and all rooms including the shared head have portholes to help with natural airflow.

The floor of the companionway has a hatch opening to yet another storage space, but with a difference. To one side are manifolds for the hot and cold freshwater system; they’re one of several such manifolds spread throughout the boat. It means a leak can be isolated rather than ruining a whole weekend away.

The Riviera 505 SUV sits on a hull that’s unique to this boat, so we were very interested in seeing how it performs.

The hull is more flared at the front, meaning that when combined with the deep vee hull the Riviera brand is renowned for, it should cut through the water easily and throw spray away from the boat, not over it.

Conditions outside the Gold Coast Seaway weren’t brilliant, with a tight one-metre sea in a building onshore breeze making it quite lumpy, but a good test for this new hull.

We didn’t hold back, winding the powerful 725hp Volvo Penta IPS900s up to 24 knots for the camera.

Stabiliser off, and with the trim tabs set on auto, the Riviera 505 SUV powered across the water. Despite the chop, the bow’s fine entry cut through the water with ease, providing a soft, comfortable ride.

Twirl the electrically assisted steering wheel, and the Riviera 505 SUV sits surprisingly flat through a sharp turn, maintaining power throughout the manouvre.

The optional engines make this a 33-knot boat top speed; drop down to the 600hp Volvo Penta IPS800s and the Riviera 5050 SUV is still expected to be a 30-knot plus performer.

Performance

*Both engines
Maximum range from 3300L fuel tank on 90% reserve: 390nm@2300rpm

The throttle’s response is immediate, making it an easy boat to drive. That said, it’s surprising how much this boat shrinks around you on the water; the commanding helm position and responsiveness of both the wheel and throttle make the Riviera 5050 SUV feel like a much smaller motor yacht than its dimensions would suggest.

Back at the dockside, the versatility of the Volvo Penta joystick control system comes to the fore, where berthing becomes a breeze from the cockpit.

The Riviera 505 SUV is a surprising new entry to the Riviera range that gives us some clues as to how future generations of watercraft will roll out of the Gold Coast motor yacht specialist’s shipyards.

It lacks for nothing, is great to drive, looks the business and will make owners feel special – an attribute that a lot of other boating brands will overlook in the pursuit of homogenising their products. At 17 metres overall it’s right-sized, too, making it an ideal escape vehicle for couples and families.

Riviera expects this new 505 SUV to flood the order books once potential buyers jump onboard to see what it offers, and walk away convinced. From our first taste of it, we wouldn’t be surprised.

Specifications
Model: Riviera 505 SUV
Length overall: 17.01m
Length waterline: 15.43m
Beam: 4.96m
Draft: 1.35m
Weight: 21,800kg
Engines: 2x 600hp Volvo Penta IPS800
Fuel: 3300L, diesel
Water: 460L
Holding tank: 151L
Genset: Onan EQD 13kW/50Hz
Accommodation: 6 in 3 cabins

Priced from: $1,599,000 including stainless steel Ultra anchor with 50m of 10mm chain; anchor locker hot and cold wash-down outlets; 460L pressurised freshwater system with 45L hot water heater; CZone digital control and electrical monitoring system; 2x LCD TVs; Fusion audio system; joystick docking; freezer under the helm seat; LED strip lights; mains powerpoints with USB recharging ports; cockpit icemaker; cockpit barbecue and sink; 130L cockpit fridge; 12,000BTU air-conditioning unit; convection microwave oven, two-burner cooktop, twin drawer fridge; 2-year non-structural warranty, 5-year structural warranty

Price as tested: $1,898,054 including anchor, cockpit and engine room cameras; mezzanine clears; “Euro” cockpit awning; dishwasher; walnut interior; 2x Garmin Glass Bridge touchscreens; GMR Fantom radar; Garmin AIS transceiver; satellite TV; swim platform and rails; and twin 725hp Volvo Penta IPS 950 D11 engines

Supplied by: Riviera Australia