Buying used: 2019 Avida Birdsville review

There’s no denying that buying a brand new motorhome is a strain on the purse strings, so with this in mind, we’ve taken a relook at the 2019 Avida Birdsville as a solid option for buying used.

Avida has been manufacturing motorhomes since 1965, as well as caravans, campervans and pop-tops, to suit all touring styles. The Birdsville is one of the most often seen motorhomes on Aussie roads, so we checked out a 2019 model to discover exactly what makes it such a popular travelling companion.   

The 2019 model Avida Birdsville was sold with a three-year or one-million-kilometre warranty, as well as a five-year structural guarantee. There was also free 24-hour roadside assistance for two years if the vehicle was bought new. Buying used and now hitting the five-year mark, this warranty is now null and void. However, it was a decent warranty compared to some other motorhome manufacturers, which gives some peace of mind in regards to the quality of the build.

The outside of the 2019 Avida Birdsville

Thanks to its slide-out section, the Birdsville is quite small body-wise. Although, drivers will need to be aware of the ride height with a bed and/or storage space above the cabin. The body is manufactured from sandwich panel with aluminium underfloor protection. This construction is strong, durable and offers plenty of insulation. An electric drop-step allows easy access into the motorhome, while a Dometic awning offers plenty of cover for outdoor living.

Around the body of the 2019 Avida Birdsville are plenty of storage lockers, lighting and a rear camera, which makes reversing a whole lot easier. There’s a wide storage space on the passenger side of the Avida, which includes the electrical system. The battery and twin 4kg gas bottles are stored in other lockers. The two lockers in the slide-out can be accessed from inside the Avida as well. A spare wheel is located underneath the chassis, which might be a pain to get to, but at least it is out of the way.

Inside the 2019 Avida Birdsville

The first thing you’ll notice about the 2019 Avida Birdsville is that the main living area is quite open. This space includes the fridge, dinette, and kitchen, and you can also access the cabin from the driver’s seat, which you are able to swivel.

Hit the switch for the slide-out and watch as the space opens up before your eyes. The dinette and bedroom, including the wardrobe, push out to create an easy walkway through to the ensuite, creating an even larger living area. Something to note, though, is that access to the ensuite is blocked by the queen-size bed when the slide is in.  

The 2019 Avida Birdsville has plenty of base comforts for touring life. Starting from the front, above the vehicle cabin is a bed area that will easily sleep a couple of kids, plus there’s a mesh guard to stop them falling out and a screen for privacy. The ladder to access the bed gets in the way of the fridge, though, so it would need to be stored elsewhere when not in use. The dinette seats have integrated seat belts for two extra people, so kids are indeed catered for.

On the passenger side is a Dometic 190-litre, two-door fridge and above that is a Samsung microwave. A drop-down table, which is handy during prep time, comes off the fridge wall and locks in next to the Dometic cooker with grill, which lives beside the sink. The rest of the benchtop continues to the ensuite wall, with a neat little slide-out pantry, ample drawers and overhead cupboards, with the one opposite the bed housing the Axis flat-screen telly.  

Across the back…

Across the back of the 2019 Avida Birdsville is the ensuite. A clever use of space sees a curved cabinet with a ceramic bowl on the passenger side that also includes space for a washing machine. There are plenty of cupboards for linen and the like. A Thetford toilet is mounted on the rear wall, as is the toilet roll holder, which some may find a bit tricky to reach, and unfortunately, the shower isn’t very wide.

The slide-out includes a queen-size bed that lifts up to provide the 2019 Avida Birdsville’s only real storage space for large items like chairs. There’s plenty of cupboard space in the area, and the window provides plenty of light and ventilation. Next to the bed is a dinette that will seat four people in relative comfort. Other features include air conditioning, a hot water system, Avida’s integrated electronics system, an antenna and a USB charging system.

Check out our short YouTube clip of the inside of the 2019 Avida Birdsville:

How did the Fiat fare?

As far as vehicle platforms go, the Fiat seems pretty solid. I drove the Birdsville around the Mornington Peninsula via the highway, back roads and some dirt roads, which it handled with ease. It has plenty of grunt, and it’s surprisingly manoeuvrable even around tight carparks.

The Fiat is powered by a turbo-diesel that produces 130kW at 3500rpm and 400Nm at 1500rpm. Power is driven to the front wheels via a six-speed Comfort-Matic gearbox, which I found to be a little sloppy with gear changes if I’m being picky.

Other extras worth noting are smooth power steering, cruise control, electronic stability control, air conditioning, central locking and a five-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth. The interior is neat, with plenty of handy storage pockets, although I found the floor mats to be annoyingly slippery. Everything else, though, including the visibility, was quite good.

Pros and cons of the 2019 Avida Birdsville

Important specs

The verdict

For the money, the 2019 Avida Birdsville offers an honest, comfortable touring machine that, conveniently, you can drive on a standard car licence. I would like to see more storage for large items other than under the bed, but the general storage is excellent. There are many fabulous features packed into the Birdsville, and for a competitive price tag compared to those in its class, too. I can definitely see why this motorhome is a popular choice for travellers.

Words by Anthony Kilner and Jessica Palmer. Images by Anthony Kilner.

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