A long, wide tourer packed with features including unique-design bolster cushions – and mini shelves that you can move around to suit your needs
Words: Val Chapman Photography: Richard Chapman
Few in Britain had heard of the River Isonzo until the Slovenian manufacturer, Adria, named a caravan after it. The Isonzo flows a spectacular course through both Slovenia and Italy, to reach the Adriatic Sea. It’s a river of waterfalls and cascades – and is famous for its turquoise colour.
Adria unveiled the Adora Isonzo in 2014, before the eight-foot revolution gathered pace among the British manufacturers. The Isonzo was a trendsetter; spectacular, like its river namesake. In its eight years, this model has received changes in style and equipment as it has evolved and matured, but the layout has remained largely the same – because it’s stunningly practical, and super-spacious.
The Adora Isonzo is not only among the widest caravans on the market, it’s one of the longest, too, at 8.24m from hitch-head to tail lights.
It started its life with Truma heating. Then Alde heating was introduced for the second generation of Isonzos – and the model became a hit among year-round caravanners.
The Isonzo earned a special place in our hearts early in its career. Shortly after the first models were unveiled, one arrived with Caravan magazine as a long-term-test caravan. And, when the heating system changed to Alde, Adria sent us another for evaluation. We towed these caravans over many hundreds of miles from our base in south Lincolnshire in the course of work and pleasure and proved, if proof were needed, that this monster of a caravan, on a mere single axle, was a stable companion and a pleasure to tow. The Isonzo rides on Al-Ko’s Delta axle, specifically designed for extra stability on long caravans. The Delta axle tube is cranked, rather than straight, which changes the angle at which the tyres touch the road. Each wheel has independent suspension, being mounted on a swing arm that allows it to move. This counteracts the normal centrifugal force brought about when the wheel on the outside of the corner is subject to a higher load, causing reduced pressure to the road on the inside wheel. The result, as we can vouch for, over all those miles, is stable and positive cornering.
Towing, though, was not part of the review of the 2022 Isonzo. We spent a day at Barnsdale Leisure having a closer look.
Barnsdale is Adria’s biggest retailer by volume and the Isonzo is one of its best sellers, Here’s why… The first reason is space. The wrap-around shape of the lounge
