2022 Riviera 465 SUV review

What’s the secret to Queensland-based luxury motor yacht maker Riviera’s runaway international success? It all goes back to a decision made a decade ago to introduce a new single-level luxury cruiser dubbed the 445 SUV.

It worked. Buyers liked the concept, and over time the SUV range has grown to seven models, with the latest being the Riviera 465 SUV – introduced to great surprise and delight at the 2022 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.

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The Riviera 465 SUV, priced at around $1.7 million, fills an important gap in the line-up, slotting between the 445 SUV and the 505 SUV.

A decade down the track and with 10 years of continual refinement, it’s the most technologically advanced SUV model yet.

The base price of a 15.9-metre length overall Riviera 465 SUV starts from $1,785,100, making it one of the more affordable boats that the Gold Coast-based manufacturing line builds.

For that, you get a turnkey package featuring a pair of 600hp 7.7-litre six-cylinder Volvo Penta D8-IPS800 engines driving IPS15 pods.

However, if you’re aiming to buy one today, you’ll need to join the end of a queue that stretches out to 2025.

The standard equipment list is extensive, and includes a 27kg stainless steel Ultra anchor with 50 metres of 10mm chain; hot and cold wash-down outlets in the anchor locker; a 500-litre pressurised freshwater system with a 45-litre hot water heater; pre-wiring for a full entertainment system; joystick docking; CZone digital switchboard system; LED strip lights and mains powerpoints with USB recharging ports; cockpit icemaker, barbecue and sink; 130-litre top-loading cockpit fridge; 12,000BTU reverse-cycle air-conditioning unit; a pair of electric sunroofs in the mezzanine area; convection microwave oven, two-burner cooktop, twin drawer fridge/freezer, and a single-bowl sink with mixer tap in the galley.

The Riviera 465 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 deflect spray 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 465 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 number of materials used in each step of the build to ensure consistency.

Forward, the Riviera 465 SUV has a collision bulkhead, while the 2500-litre fuel tank sits just behind amidships to help with balanced weight distribution. Similar to other Riviera models, the Riviera 465 SUV uses Volvo Penta’s pod drive system for propulsion, linked to a joystick control system to help with low-speed maneuverability.

Of note, this is the first Riviera model to be fitted with an upgraded Volvo Penta joystick control system that allows users to make small, precise adjustments to the boat’s position and heading.

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 465 SUV’s focus is on maximising living and storage space. 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 new look starts at the bow, where there’s no traditional bowsprit. Instead, the Rivera 465 SUV integrates the anchor into the stem of 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 made space for a dual-width bow sun lounge with adjustable backrests, with huge storage space below. The sun lounge has a walkway along its trailing edge, making it easy to fit 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.

Aft, the mooring cleats are recessed into the cockpit’s bulwarks to prevent them from snagging fishing lines. A large self-draining kill tank is under the cockpit floor.

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

The more compact form of the Riviera 465 gives the saloon a more conventional layout when compared with the slightly larger 505 SUV. Of note, the boat’s South America-based owner went for a harder-wearing and more practical for his needs composite floor in a timber-look finish, leaving the carpet for below decks.

A U-shaped galley, with its large lifting window opening to the mezzanine, is to starboard. It is well equipped with plenty of soft-close storage and contains an under-counter side-by-side combination fridge and freezer, twin hob induction cooktop and convection microwave oven.

This boat also has an optional CZone control panel mounted above the benchtop, making it easy to switch the boat between running and anchor mode, as well as controlling the lights around the saloon and mezzanine space.

Opposite on the portside is another small benchtop with glass storage and a drinks fridge.

Forward and to port of the galley space, and under a large electrically operated sunroof, is a U-shaped stepped dinette with a folding table top that can halve in size to make it more user-friendly while underway.

The dinette, split by the companionway down to the accommodations, faces the Riviera 465 SUV’s two-seat helm.

Riviera has honed its helm stations to become very user-friendly, familiar and intuitive, and the one in the Riviera 645 SUV is a stunning example of this.

The broad, black soft-touch trim console rises over two tiers, with the lower part dedicated to engines, batteries, an optional Seakeeper 6 gyroscope, communications and entertainment, and the upper dominated by a pair of 16-inch Garmin multifunction touchscreens integrated with Volvo Penta's Glass cockpit system.

The starboard helm features Volvo Penta’s joystick controller ahead of the standard throttle and shift controller, a bank of backlit switches, and the VHF radio controls.

Both the helm chairs feature deeply comfortable bolsters and adjustment, with enough comfort to stand at the helm if needed.

Large sliding windows beside the helm and to port allow natural airflow to cross the saloon.

A feature you don’t see too often in boats this size is a roof-mounted handrail, handy for moving aft while making passage in rough weather. Riviera, after all, prides itself on its seakeeping abilities, meaning this is a boat that isn’t shy of getting a bit of green water over the bow.

The mezzanine on the Riviera 465 SUV is on the same level as the saloon, creating a connected living zone once the awning window and sliding glass saloon door – it comes with a built-in safety system so that it cannot slam shut – are opened.

The coupe’s roof and dot-matrix glass panels to either side provide 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 and a floating ottoman. The cockpit’s port side includes a table with fold-out leaves and centrally mounted stainless steel drink holders. 

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. It also has controls for the Fusion audio system, and a second joystick for the Volvo Penta engines to help with docking. 

A companionway with a couple of steps leads down to a wide cockpit. An in-floor hatch opens up to reveal a large, drained kill tank.

Facing onto it is a barbecue grill and a wet bar, and a top-loading fridge. Mooring line lockers are to each side of the cockpit.

Swinging doors to either side of the cockpit and adopted from the 505 SUV fold backwards and flat against the transom, opening up to the optional full-beam hydraulically lowering swim deck that is on the same level as the cockpit.

Down the fully lined soft-touch companionway, the Riviera 645 SUV’s accommodations use a conventional layout of a master stateroom forward in the bow, and two guest staterooms amidships. The owner’s suite gains its own head and shower, while the other two spaces share a head and shower that also serves as the day head. 

The port stateroom can use the bathroom as an ensuite, and all bathrooms feature full-standing headroom.

These aft cabins can be specified either as a double to port and split singles to starboard, or as two split singles, and would normally feature opening portholes – because this boat is destined for tropical South America, the air conditioners will do all the work. The starboard stateroom also has space to house a washer and dryer.

The Riviera 465 SUV’s master suite has the queen-size bed built against the forward bulkhead rather than offset to one side as some designs lay it out, with skylights recessed into the deck and side windows allowing natural light to flood in.

This design yields space on either side aft of the cabin to have his-and-hers cedar-lined hanging lockers, while overhead cabinets provide even more accessible storage options.

Once again, the level of craftsmanship on display via the cabinetry is remarkable. Riviera’s skilled workforce is evident everywhere you look.

Nothing else in Riviera’s 23-model motor yacht range uses the hull that is under the Riviera 465 SUV, although it uses all the attributes that have made the brand synonymous with outstanding seakeeping ability. It doesn’t disappoint.

We took the Riviera 465 SUV for a run along the Gold Coast Broadwater shortly before it was due to load on a ship for the long trip to the 2022 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show where it will become the centrepiece of Riviera’s on-water display. Conditions weren’t in the least challenging, but it did allow us to put the new hull through its paces to assess the handling.

Roll on the throttles and the combined 1200hp from the Volvo Penta D8s will quickly lift the Riviera 465 up onto the plane, the Interceptor trim tabs helping to keep the horizon in sight at all times. It’s surprisingly quiet at the helm, the noise from the twin-turbocharged powerplants barely perceptible.

The pod drives are very sensitive to the wheel, responding almost immediately to inputs. Throw the Riviera 465 SUV into a sharp turn and the trim tabs automatically work to keep the boat flat throughout, adding to the sense of comfort.

The pace of this thing is incredible. At 80 per cent engine load we’re doing just shy of 24 knots across the water, burning a combined 140 litres an hour – all with almost a full load of water and fuel on board.

Performance

*Both engines

Maximum range based on 90% reserve for 2500L fuel tank: 325nm @ 2500rpm

At rest, the Riviera 465 SUV is easy to manage. A chain counter helps with dropping the anchor, while the CZone control switches the electrical system over from cruising mode to anchor mode at the push of a button.

There are a few notable changes with this boat visible from the helm and worth noting. 

The first is that helm alarms are integrated with the Fusion audio system so will now sound on speakers throughout the boat rather than just via the helm station. This is handy if, say, the skipper is below deck, asleep and out of earshot of the helm, and the anchor starts dragging.

The second is that the Garmin touchscreens are now even more user-friendly, with switchable modes that set the screens up for whatever the skipper happens to be doing. The defaults are for cruising, fishing, anchoring and docking, although the settings are fully customisable. 

Third, this is the first Riviera to feature an update to Volvo Penta’s joystick docking system that makes it useable at any speed, and also more controllable at low speeds. More on this one later.

And fourth, the CZone control screen now features favourite buttons that allow a synced tablet to display everything from the battery status to fuel reserves, as well as switching between entertaining, cruising, anchoring, docking – in fact, whatever electrical balance you need. It will also give the skipper a bit of help, such as reminding them to start the genset before taking in the anchor.

Another clever thing we like is that the boat comes with two years of Siren Marine's remote monitoring system that allows the boat's owner to keep watch over it via a smartphone app. If the batteries start to go flat or the bilge pump fires up, the owner will get an alert pointing them to the problem. It can also geo-fence the boat, control the lights remotely, and even detect if someone has broken into it.

The Riviera 465 SUV takes an already successful formula and turns it into yet another option for anyone who is either downsizing from a flybridge motor yacht, or growing up into the Riviera family.

It also stands as Riviera’s most user-friendly model to date, rolling out the latest technology to make this a boat that a couple could easily manage by themselves.

The price point is important, giving buyers yet another choice before they need to step up beyond a 15-metre waterline, the boat length from which the number of marina berthing options starts to shrink.

It’s also yet another option for anyone living on a canal with their own berth that would struggle to get a flybridge motor yacht under low bridges.

Yet despite its size, the Riviera 465 SUV offers a premium experience we’ve come to expect from Riviera, both at rest and on the move.

Specifications
Model: Riviera 465 SUV
Length overall: 15.9m (inc. swim platform and bowsprit)
Hull length: 14.3m
Beam: 4.76m
Draft: 1.33m (est)
Bridge clearance: 4.36m
Weight: 20,900kg (est)
Engines: 2x600hp Volvo Penta D8-IPS800 (std)/
Fuel: 2500L
Water: 500L
Holding tank: 151L
Accommodations: 6 people/3 staterooms

Priced from: $1,785,100 including 27kg stainless steel Ultra anchor with 50 metres of 10mm chain; hot and cold wash-down outlets in the anchor locker; a 500-litre pressurised freshwater system with a 45-litre hot water heater; pre-wiring for a full entertainment system; joystick docking; CZone digital switchboard system; LED strip lights and mains powerpoints with USB recharging ports; cockpit icemaker, barbecue and sink; 130-litre top-loading cockpit fridge; 12,000BTU reverse-cycle air-conditioning unit; a pair of electric sunroofs in the mezzanine area; convection microwave oven, two-burner cooktop, twin drawer fridge/freezer, and a single-bowl sink with mixer tap in the galley.

Price as tested: $POA including automated Zipwake interceptor trim tabs; upgraded airconditioning to the saloon and below decks; second CZone screen with tablet compatibility; 24-inch TV in the guest stateroom; Dyson vacuum kit; hydraulic swim platform; teak cockpit flooring; fold-down transom seat; mezzanine cool box; cockpit awning; GMR Fantom open array radar; 2x16-inch Garmin/Volvo Penta Glass Cockpit multifunction touchscreens with Garmin GSD 26 CHIRP sounder and 1kW transducer; foredeck and underwater lighting; anchor and awning camera; 21.5kW/50Hz Onan genset.