2018 Riviera 395 SUV review

Riveria, Australia's premier power cruiser and motor yacht maker, has been busy, beavering away on the design, engineering, and construction of three stunning new models, two of which have now been launched.

At the 2018 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show we saw the debut of the mammoth new Riviera flagship, the Riviera 72 Sports Motor Yacht. Also launched was the second to smallest Riviera, the new 395 SUV. The third of the new models, the 395 Sports Motor Yacht, will make its appearance at the 2018 Sydney International Boat Show on August 2.

The addition of the three new models boosts the Riviera range to 15 different craft (excluding the Belize brand), stretching in length from 11.7 metres to 23.8 metres. More than half of these craft are express-style cabin cruisers, reflecting the popularity of single-level living for cruising, entertaining and family boating.

Traditional open cockpit convertible flybridge cruisers are still well represented within the Riviera range, but there has been a shift away from this game boat-style craft in recent years to single-level cruisers and open plan multifunction day boats.

Slotting neatly into this latter category, and the subject of this review, is the new Riviera 395 SUV. Like its three larger siblings in the Riviera Sports Utility Vessel range, the 395 SUV is an elegant-looking craft with sleek styling and a spacious, versatile interior layout.

With a starting price of less than $850,000, the new Riviera 395 SUV represents excellent value for money. But for the addition of your choice of electronics gear, this price is turn-key and includes dual 370hp Volvo Penta D6 turbocharged six-cylinder diesel engines coupled to IPS 10 pod drives.

The Volvos also come with finger-tip electronic power steering and joystick control for docking and close-quarter manoeuvring, making this near-40ft boat a breeze to control, even for novice boaters.

As you would expect from a modern Riviera, the Riviera 395 SUV is superbly appointed with the finest quality hardware, fixtures, fittings and fabrics used throughout.

Visual highlights include the polished stainless steel-framed saloon entry door and awning windows; contrasting satin varnished oak panelling and cabinetry; the black and graphite leather-stitched helm chair, dash and fascia; and the neutral coloured benchtops to the galley and bathroom.

Quality Sunbrella fabrics are used throughout the boat to wrap the seat cushions and back-rests, line the padded ceilings and surrounds and to upholster the cockpit bench seat and the recliner sun-pads on the foredeck.

General features onboard the Riviera 395 SUV include two staterooms with permanent accommodation for five people; a spacious two-way bathroom with electric head, vanity and shower stall; re-configurable seating areas to the saloon, cockpit and foredeck; an L-shaped galley; a spacious rear cockpit with sub-floor and side panel storage lockers; a transom BBQ and entertaining area – and lots more.

As you might expect, our test boat was fitted with a range of options. Chief among these was the 27000 BTU reverse cycle air conditioning system to the accommodation deck; upgraded carpet to the cabins; underwater LED lighting; a cockpit ice-maker; aft cockpit washdown; rear cockpit awning and more.

Add a $13.5K Garmin electronics suite (dual 7612 touchscreen displays with fishfinder, GPS chartplotter, autopilot and radar) to the above options and the ex-factory price for the test boat rises to a manageable $883,304.

The Riviera 395 SUV is built with a hand-laid solid fibreglass hull bottom for maximum strength, combined with cored topsides, decks and superstructure to save weight and to keep the centre of gravity down low.

Vinylester resin is used in the outer layer of the hull to provide strength and to prevent osmosis

There is a watertight crash bulkhead forward and segregated compartments throughout the hull. The forward compartments are filled with flotation foam.

The 395 SUV has an ISO8666-measured hull length of 12.06m and an overall length of 13.27m. It has a wide beam of 4.26m, draws around 1.13m at rest and has an estimated dry weight of 12,500kg.

As with the larger IPS pod-driven models in the Riviera range, the Riviera 395 SUV hull is optimised to accept a pair of Volvo Penta through-hull, steerable pod drives with forward-facing, counter-rotating Duoprops.

To that end, the hull bottom is smooth with a moderate deadrise aft. From amidships forward the vee angle steepens, culminating in an entry shape at the stem that is finely angled to slice easily through wind chop and ocean swell.

With Volvo IPS pod-driven boats, the engines can mount all the way aft in the boat instead of amidships. This allows for more interior living space, but also makes it easier to access the engines for servicing.

In the Riviera 395 SUV, the centre section of the rear cockpit floor lifts to reveal the dual 370hp Volvo D6 turbocharged six-cylinder diesel engines in all their glory. There is ample space to climb down into the engine compartment and to service the engines, filters, strainers, generator, batteries, etc.

There's also a day hatch before the saloon entry door so you can duck down into the engine room without having to lift the cockpit floor.

All wiring in the 395 SUV is colour-coded and numbered for easy identification, while the white-coated finish to the engine room looks clean and will contrast against any kind of fluid spill or leak so you can quickly identify any potential problems.

There are multiple bilge pumps, along with a manual/automatic-controlled fire suppression system.

Electrically, the 395 SUV has an Onan EQD 5.6kW generator, a 2.5kW inverter (to run the entertainment system and optional ice-maker), twin battery chargers, C-Zone AC/DC digital switching and onboard systems monitoring, LED lighting throughout (where applicable) and AC double power outlets to the staterooms, head, galley, saloon and engine room.

The Riviera 395 SUV has single-level living and entertaining from the transom through to the companionway that leads down to the accommodation deck.

Upon entering the saloon through the tempered glass, stainless steel-framed doorway, you will find an L-shaped settee on the port side, adjacent to a pedestal mounted, varnished oak dinette table.

The stainless steel pedestal is height adjustable so it can be lowered to create an additional berth to boost the total sleeping capacity to six.

The settee wraps around from the saloon/cockpit bulkhead and large awning window, forward to the port side helm station.

The awning window is hinged so that it opens outward to allow fresh air to breeze into the saloon. This rear window combines with the sliding saloon side windows, and electric opening sunroof hatches, to provide ample lighting and ventilation to the interior.

If the excellent saloon and cabin ventilation is not enough to keep you cool in summer, you can switch on the included 27000 BTU air conditioning system to tackle the heat and humidity. The aircon unit is reverse cycle too, for warming you up in winter.

Our test boat was also fitted with an aircon system for the lower deck, but this option may be unnecessary. Cool air sinks, so the saloon aircon system will likely keep you cool below decks most of the time.

The L-shaped aft galley is appropriately situated opposite the lounge and dinette table. It is also within close proximity to the outdoor bench seat and cockpit dining area.

The galley is graced with a solid surface benchtop; soft-close, oak paneled cabinets and drawers; a garbage bin; sink with mixer tap; overhead LED lighting; and an under-bench two-drawer refrigerator/freezer that is adequate for day and weekend cruising.

For cooking, there is a microwave convection oven built in under the benchtop. An electric cooktop is also provided, but it has only a single element. We believe a dual-burner cooktop should be fitted to a craft of this size and calibre.

Complimenting the rear dinette lounge seating area is an extra dual-width cushioned bench seat forward of the galley area. It is directly opposite the port side helm station, allowing family or crew members to sit close by the skipper when the boat is underway.

A lift-up flat-screen TV is located forward of the starboard lounge, viewable from the saloon and cockpit.

There is also capacity for a crew person to sit directly beside the captain in the dual-width helm chair, which is mounted on an elevated platform to ensure the skipper has an unrestricted view of the surroundings.

From the helm seat, the leather-bound steering wheel, throttle and joystick controls are comfortably within reach. Your eyes are naturally drawn to the engine instruments and multifunction displays flush-fitted into the fascia, which is upholstered in quality, non-reflective UV stabilised black/graphite-coloured leather.

With the helm station offset to the port side, Riviera has positioned the throttles and joystick for left-handed operation so the skipper can operate the controls whilst peering out the window during close-quarter manoeuvring, docking, etc.

This reasoning does make sense, but we suspect it may take seasoned boaters a little time to adjust to using left-handing controls, as most will be more accustomed to shifting gears from the other side of the steering wheel.

Other helm features and equipment includes a compass and sun brow above the fascia; drink holders; an angled footrest; VHF radio; Fusion stereo head unit; C-Zone display interface; and dual windscreen wipers for the curved, tempered glass windscreen.

We also liked the chunky stainless steel ceiling handrail that extends the length of the companionway in the saloon, along with the hard-wearing commercial grade vinyl flooring to the high traffic areas, abundance of storage cabinets and lockers, and the softly padded vinyl head linings throughout.

The 395 SUV has permanent sleeping capacity for five people in two staterooms situated on the accommodation deck a few steps down from the saloon.

The master is located in the forepeak, behind a lockable timber door that has a light satin varnish finish to match the cabinetry throughout the boat.

A queen-size island bed takes pride of place in the centre of the room, allowing for walkway space on either side. There are drawers beneath the bed, cupboards and open shelves encircling the perimeter of the cabin overhead, as well as a full length hanging cupboard with shelving and automatic lighting.

The master stateroom also has reading and overhead lighting, a clear forward ventilation hatch, and fixed side windows to provide natural lighting.

A flat-screen TV with integrated sound system will likely be a popular option.

The two-way bathroom is situated adjacent and aft of the master stateroom on the starboard side, allowing it to be used as an ensuite.

Features include an electric head; vanity with solid-surface benchtop; washbasin with mixer; overhead mirror; storage cabinet; fixed window; exhaust fan; and a full-size, frameless glass shower stall with a teak timber seat.

The second or guest stateroom is situated amidships, on the port side of the boat. It lies partially beneath the saloon so it does not have a great deal of headroom, except at the cabin entry-way and above the fifth bed.

Despite the low ceiling, this second stateroom still feels quite open and spacious, due to the off-white/cream padded headlining and surrounds, the light coloured timber drawers and shelving, well-placed LED lighting, and the effective use of feature wall mirrors along the aft bulkhead.

Wide cabin windows with opening portholes (alarmed to the helm if left open when underway) also help to open up the cabin space by providing ventilation and light.

Two of the three single beds in the guest stateroom run laterally across the boat. The third bed is situated on the port side running stem to stern and appears to be slightly narrower than the other two.

The two primary guest beds look to be pretty comfortable for adults and can be joined together with an infill to create a sizeable double berth.

The Riviera SUV series cruisers are designed as crossover boats, said to combine the single-level alfresco entertaining style of the Riviera Sport Yachts with the performance and cockpit space of the company's flybridge models.

There is no questioning the benefits of blending the attributes of those two Riviera model lines. Designing the SUV models with an open rear cockpit, for example, broadens the capabilities of these craft to potentially include scuba diving and fishing.

That said, in the standard configuration, the cockpit in the Riviera 395 SUV is set up for entertaining, casual fishing and cruising. There plenty of uncluttered deck space, ample cockpit freeboard, and plenty of storage areas.

Storage lockers unfold from the cockpit side panels and open out of the transom wall. There is also an insulated sub-floor fish box with overboard drain/pump-out on the starboard side.

Beneath the large awning window to port is a handy aft-facing padded bench seat/icebox, and a folding teak table mounted on a height-adjustable stainless steel pedestal. Cup holders are included.

Dominating the cockpit, however, is a rear-facing transom BBQ/storage unit. It is mounted in the centre of the transom and accessed via the starboard side transom door and swim platform. Features include an aft-facing electric BBQ grill, sink with faucet, LED lighting, cutting board/food prep surface, and a fender/general storage locker underneath.

To use the BBQ and access the storage locker you need to be out on to the large rear boarding/swim platform. We’re not entirely convinced as to the merits of a BBQ that faces aft, but it does allow the cook to face forward to converse with family members or crew sitting in the cockpit.

Other cockpit features include LED lighting and spotlights, a handheld freshwater shower, and steps to each side of the cabin structure to access the wide side decks.

The cabin side decks are also recessed so that there is a 100mm high lip or bulwark to keep your feet from slipping off. There's also a high outer safety rail and cabin side handrails - although the latter do not extend as far aft on the cabin as we would have liked.

The side decks lead forward to the bowsprit, the dual anchor well set-up, and the optional dual-width sun-lounge mounted on the foredeck.

Pod drive propulsion systems are becoming the norm, rather than the exception for powering cruisers in the 12-16m size range, and for good reason. Pods are relatively easy to install and (with appropriate hull design) are more efficient than conventional inboard shaft drives, allowing smaller engines to be installed to achieve similar performance.

This performance benefit is evident on the water with the Riviera 395 SUV. With dual 370hp D6 turbocharged six-cylinder common-rail diesel engines coupled to Volvo IPS 10 pod drives, the Riviera 395 SUV lopes to a top speed of 31.5kt (58km/h).

Given this excellent performance, no other engine combination is offered at this stage. Frankly, none is needed.

Top speed is one thing, but we also found the test boat and quick and agile when accelerating up from displacement speeds, and responsive through the midrange.

The boat was deceptively fast in fact. Cocooned inside the saloon, perched comfortably on the leatherbound chair at the elevated helm station, we found it difficult to gauge our speed. Only when we glanced down at the engine instruments did we truly appreciate how fast we were actually travelling.

The Riviera 395 SUV's comfortable, smooth and quiet ride contributed too. Offshore with a typical 1.0-1.5m swell running, the test boat felt well planted, very solid, stable and nicely balanced.

Underway, or at rest, the Riviera 395 SUV is easy to handle and to drive. The electronic power steering is finger-tip light and the digital controls make for light and direct gear-shifts.

At docking speeds, you can use the joystick to control the thrust and direction of the pod drives to easily jockey the boat into a marina pen or alongside a jetty. It doesn't get any easier or better than this.

With regard to fuel economy, IPS pod drive boats tend to be uniformly fuel-efficient from low planing speeds through to wide open throttle. Figures supplied show this to be the case with the Riviera 395 SUV as well.

For example, at a fast cruise of 22.1kt at 3000 rpm the Riviera 395 SUV has an operating fuel range of 293nm. At wide open throttle, the hull and engine combination is actually slightly more efficient, achieving a range of 295nm on 90 per cent of the 1500L fuel capacity.

The launch of the Riviera 395 SUV is good news for Aussie boating families. This finely-crafted, beautifully appointed multipurpose cruiser is the first sub-40ft boat Riviera has produced in almost a decade, and the most affordable.

Affordable is a relative term, of course. The Riviera 395 SUV's as-tested price of close to $900K is a lot of money for most of us, but the Riviera 395 SUV is a heck of a lot of boat, too. It easily rivals its imported competitors on value for money, quality of construction, fit and finish, and handling and performance.

Make no mistake, the new Riviera 395 SUV is a world-class product, built with Aussie know-how, ingenuity and pride.

PERFORMANCE - SPEED
4.6kt (8.5km/h) @ 600rpm
6.9kt (12.8km/h) @ 1000rpm
9.0kt (16.6km/h) @ 1500rpm
10.3kt (19.0km/h) @ 2000rpm
11.0kt (20.3km/h) @ 2200rpm
12.6kt (23.3km/h) @ 2400rpm
17.0kt (31.4km/h) @ 2600rpm
19.7kt (36.4km/h) @ 2800rpm
22.1kt (40.9km/h) @ 3000rpm
25.1kt (46.4km/h) @ 3200rpm
26.7kt (49.4km/h) @ 3300rpm
29.9kt (55.3km/h) @ 3500rpm
31.5kt (58.3km/h) @ 3635rpm (WOT)

PERFORMANCE – ECONOMY (BOTH ENGINES)
2.0L/h @ 600rpm
8.0L/h @ 1000rpm
18.0L/h @ 1500rpm
46.0L/h @ 2000rpm
58.0L/h @ 2200rpm
72.0L/h @ 2400rpm
82.0L/h @ 2600rpm
94.0L/h @ 2800rpm
102.0L/h @ 3000rpm
112.0L/h @ 3200rpm
118.0L/h @ 3300rpm
132.0L/h @ 3500rpm
144.0L/h @ 3635rpm (WOT)

Maximum range on 90% of 1500L fuel tank: 306nm @ 3500rpm

Price as tested: $883,304 including twin Volvo Penta 370hp D6 IPS 500 turbocharged six-cylinder common-rail diesel engines with IPS 10 pod drive units and joystick docking controls. Key options include a Garmin electronics suite featuring dual Garmin 7612 displays combining a chirp depth sounder; GPS chartplotter; autopilot and 48-mile radar; underwater LED lighting; air conditioning; cockpit icemaker; aft cockpit washdown; rear cockpit awning; upgraded carpet to cabins; foredeck sunlounge; and more.

Priced from: $848,900.

Supplied by: Riviera Group