Knaus Sport 420 QD: Popular bargain
The Knaus Sport has been a sales hit for years, but for model year 2019 it receives even higher marks: it is now available as a 'Silver Selection' edition: packed with luxurious extras that save you a few thousand euros...
No less than 15 layouts are available for the Sport, Knaus' popular entry-level model. With body lengths between 4 and 7 meters, there is plenty of choice. For this test, we are looking at the compact 420QD, a layout with a dinette at the back and a fixed double bed at the front. And: with a ready-to-drive weight of just over 1,000 kilos, the 420QD is also suitable for more compact towing vehicles.
Exterior Silver Selection
In previous model years, the Knaus Sport had to make do with traditional hammered sheet metal – smooth sheet metal was an option. But that is included in the price for this model year, thanks to the 'Silver Selection' package, where all sorts of options are now part of the standard equipment. As we walk around the caravan, we see the modern, newly developed Cat Eye lighting in the rear bumper, with dynamic turn signals like those Audi introduced in its passenger cars. The Sport is equipped with AL-KO's self-adjusting brakes, we see heavy-duty corner steadies, beautiful, anthracite-colored 17-inch alloy wheels and a jockey wheel with an integrated nose weight gauge – handy!
Living, eating, sleeping
When we enter through the new, two-part exterior door, the first thing we see is the train-seat dinette for three people. It can be converted into a single bed, or with an optional accessory, into a bed for two people. At the front of the caravan, we see a comfortable fixed double bed across the full width of the caravan – with a length that tall Dutch people will appreciate: 2.07 meters. In the middle of the 420QD, we have the spacious kitchen on the 'starboard' side, with the bathroom opposite it – on the left, that is – containing a toilet, washbasin, and the possibility to shower. It's nice that the blacked-out toilet window can also be opened for ventilation. Plenty of daylight enters through the windows and the Heki-II roof hatch.
In terms of styling, the interior of the Knaus Sport has received a significant update. The white, slightly curved cabinet doors – with open compartments underneath for small items – are fitted with matte chrome handles. Together with the dark wood color and the chosen fabrics for furniture and curtains, a stylish, modern, and sleek interior is created. Also note the wood grain, which is horizontally applied to many furniture parts: optically, this creates a better sense of space than if the wood grain were vertical. LED spotlights are installed under the overhead cabinets, which can be moved as desired. Against the ceiling, the ambient mood lighting is hidden from view – in the evening, this creates a pleasant atmosphere in the caravan.
Technical installations
The Knaus Sport is equipped with Truma ring heating and boiler. Water pipes and wiring of the electrical installation are neatly concealed. The caravan is equipped with a built-in water tank and waste water tank.
Conclusion Knaus Sport caravan test
Because the Knaus Sport is now delivered as Silver Selection, many accessories are now standard on board. If you had to order them separately, you would have quickly spent a few thousand euros more. That makes the 2019 version of the Sport an attractive caravan. The standard smoke detector, the number of sockets on board, but also, for example, the combi outdoor socket - handy if you want to use an electric grill outside - and the jockey wheel with nose weight gauge show that Knaus also pays attention to details. In summary: a richly equipped top caravan for an attractive price.
PROS & CONS
+ Styling
+ Equipment level
+ Smart details
Specifications
Price € 18.092
DIMENSIONS
Body length, with drawbar 444/643 cm
Width 232 cm
Height outside/inside 257/196 cm
Berths 3/4
Bed sizes front 207 x 134 cm
Bed size rear 184 x 144/95 cm
WEIGHTS
Ready-to-drive weight: 1,020 kg
Total permissible: 1,300 kg
Payload: 280 kg
More information can be found at www.knaus.nl
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