Overview
The NOVA Terra Sportz Off-Road 196-1R is a premium caravan for adventurers seeking ample luxuries and a robust, timber-free body. Its dynamic design is geared for discerning travellers who demand high-end features for tough adventures.
Enjoying a big year on the drawing board—including aluminium frameless construction—NOVA launched this beauty along with impressive upgrades to the Terra Sportz spec at Tough Tested 2024. And with the front boot removed, this portable Terra Sportz Off-Road van measuring 8.3m bumper to hitch offers ample luxuries in a racing theme with 6.46m of living space indoors.
Up against capable rivals in the Zone RV Peregrine and the JB Caravans Scorpion Sting, the NOVA Terra Sportz carves its own niche with a unique combination of features.
Terrain Tested
| 🏜️ Sand Dunes | ⛰️ Rocky Climbs | 〰️ Corrugations | 💦 Water Crossings |
📍 Test Location: Loveday 4×4 Adventure Park, South Australia.
Is the NOVA Terra Sportz Off-Road right for me?
This caravan is designed for off-roading couples who prioritise robust engineering and self-sufficient comforts. Those on tour will also appreciate this Terra Sportz off-road capabilities, refined interiors and modern connectivity wherever they roam.
Layout, Comfort & Liveability – Will it fit my lifestyle?
NOVA’s new spacious, motorsport-inspired design with a stunning club lounge delivers ultimate off-road comfort.
Interior layout
This layout has a front island bed sleeping configuration and a central kitchen setup opposite a bold club lounge in the living and dining area and a full-width rear bathroom layout with a separate shower and ensuite.
Indoors, that beautiful Formula One-inspired orange club lounge sets the scene. While grand panelling in the bedroom adds continuity to this functional space, comprising nooks and robes plus large windows and fans for airflow.
Comfort & practicality
Mid-ship, NOVA continues the sporty interpretation with silver-trimmed charcoal panels on the curved, glossy white overhead lockers, light benchtops, charcoal-fronted cabinets and a grey floor. There is a full oven and grill in the kitchen, a four-hob cooktop, microwave and a chic black matt sink.
It feels surprisingly spacious given this Terra Sportz audacious flair, with diffused LEDs, perimeter lighting and a stylish matt white ceiling. Up top, a new generation Houghton Belaire air-conditioner sits alongside a Sahara dust reduction unit that proved its mettle on these wild tracks. There’s ample benchtop within the bathroom as well.
Storage & exterior design
To optimise towing dimensions (8.3m hitch to bumper) NOVA removed the front boot, assigning external storage to the tunnel boot and toolbox with slides.
It’s right at home in the bush with bug lighting and an external shower. Plus, there’s extensive audio-visual comforts that NOVA happily champions, like Starlink integration and a WiFi booster, multiple speakers and TV points indoors and out.
Build, Features & Off-Grid Performance – Can it handle my adventures?
A Tough Tested regular, NOVA brings a tight off-road specification to the track bundled with a swag of innovations ripe for testing.
🏕️ 💨 Sand & Corrugations Test
Objective
To the timber-free body, NOVA fits a truss chassis, tough, lightweight AL-KO airbag suspension and disc brakes standard, boosting safety and comfort on tow in variable terrain.
Observations
Behind the wheel of the Big Chev, John ‘Silsy’ Sills towed the Terra Sportz Off-Road for NOVA, “gliding around the corner of the sand moguls”. Noting the conditions, Silsy stayed the course at 25 to 30 kays, airing the tyre pressures for optimal performance.
| Sand & Corrugations Test, What We Found |
|---|
| Component Damage: No damage was observed; the “suspension unit really is working” and made it “look easy”. |
| Caravan Reaction: The caravan tracked comfortably. |
| Component Response: Thanks to the external switch, Silsy could easily activate the dust reduction before hitting the tracks and stirring up dust. |
🌊 💦 Water Crossing Test
Objective
The water crossing evaluates water resistance, clearance and the operational integrity of electric brakes.
Observations
Silsy approached the water crossing with confidence to “put on a show” with the NOVA Terra Sportz.
| Water Crossing Test, What we found |
|---|
| Component Damage: No damage to the vehicle or caravan was mentioned. |
| Caravan Reaction: The caravan performed well, with Silsy putting “on a show in the water crossing”. |
| Component Response: The disc brakes required no draining. |
🪨 Moguls & Ruts Test
Objective
The Vantec Caravan Graveyard assesses departure angles, suspension behaviour, articulation, momentum and track adherence.
Observations
Silsy towing for Nova entered “straight into” the Vantec Graveyard without backing off, using “the right pedal” for traction when needed.
| Moguls & Ruts Test, What we found: |
|---|
| Component Damage: No damage to the vehicle or caravan was mentioned. |
| Caravan Reaction: The caravan felt “really good, sat really, really nice,” and “it was floating” due to its suspension. |
| Component Response: Silsy credits the airbags and early braking for a comfortable ride. |
💨 🌀 Traction & Cornering through Bull Dust Test
Objective
The NCE Abyss rigorously assesses traction control, clearance and driver skill in challenging, low-visibility conditions.
Observations
Silsy carefully approached the NCE Abyss, lowering the tyre pressures on the van to about 32 psi and driving to the conditions. He skilfully navigated the deep ruts, with the van’s rear wheels up in the air at one point.
| Traction & Cornering through Bull Dust Test, What we found |
|---|
| Component Damage: No damage to the vehicle or caravan was mentioned. |
| Caravan Reaction: The van was “biting and fighting when it comes to traction” but was ultimately “skull-dragged” from the abyss. |
| Component Response: The caravan’s weight was not an issue; the driver confirmed it “felt really good”. |
Chassis & suspension
Sporting NOVA’s premium off-road specification, the NOVA Terra Sportz 196-1R features PRO-AL aluminium frameless construction, disc brakes, a truss chassis and AL-KO Enduro X Air four-stage airbag suspension, standard.
Power & water systems
- 300Ah lithium battery, (600Ah 2026)
- Two 200W solar panels
- Projecta 2000W inverter
- Starlink integration and WiFi booster
- 190L of freshwater storage
- 95L tank for grey waste
- External shower
Value, Warranty & Safety – Can I afford it with confidence?
Price & inclusions
The price is from $159,990, with key inclusions comprising timber-free construction and composite aluminium cladding, AL-KO Enduro-X Airbags and disc brakes standard.
Warranty & ownership
Safety & compliance
The NOVA Terra Sportz features disc brakes, AL-KO Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and a wireless reversing camera.
Verdict – Which option is best for me?
The NOVA Terra Sportz is a premium off-road caravan featuring robust, timber-free construction, a high-end truss chassis and AL-KO Enduro X Air suspension. It offers significant off-grid capability with its 300Ah lithium battery and 190L of freshwater storage. Its sporty interior packed with ample luxuries is designed for comfort in remote locations.
Rivals at a glance
The NOVA Terra Sportz is a premium off-road caravan featuring robust, timber-free construction, a high-end truss chassis and AL-KO Enduro X Air suspension. It offers significant off-grid capability with its 300Ah lithium battery and 190L of freshwater storage.
- Zone RV Peregrine 19′ – A market leader in full composite, timber-free construction.
- JB Caravans Scorpion Sting 19’6″ – A top-selling competitor known for its heavy-duty build and off-road pedigree.
