Review: 15ft JAWA Sirocco

I picked up the new 2024 15ft JAWA Sirocco from the JAWA headquarters just out of Caloundra, Qld, and immediately I could tell it was going to be a good day. I was headed to the bush for the day, the sun was shining and there was no one around. The plan was to tackle some difficult tracks and see how JAWA’s best-selling hybrid handled rougher terrain. What I did not expect was to be halfway down a one-way track with some of the muddiest washouts I’d ever driven.

On the highway, heading out to the bush, the van performed extremely well. Unloaded, the Sirocco weighs in at 2.4 tonnes with a ball weight of 240kg, which is generally the ratio you look for when trying to find a well-balanced van. It certainly towed in a safe, stable way.

However, the Sirocco is not only designed to perform well on the highway but on offroad tracks, too, so I headed into the foothills of the Glass House Mountains. On the drone I had found a nice clearing that looked like a great spot to set-up and have a good look through this van. 

I headed down a one-way track, with no way of turning around, quietly hoping and praying that the Sirocco would perform the way JAWA had said it would. And perform it did.

MUD, GLORIOUS MUD

The van made the track look far easier than it was and this comes down to a few reasons. First and foremost was a combination of the high ground clearance and the dual shock independent Lovells suspension underneath. As I rode through the roller coaster of mud pits, I would check my mirrors to make sure the van was tracking okay. The suspension was managing to smooth out the van’s ride, making the track look easy for the Sirocco. 

Another reason for its performance is the low travel height. This is one of the main reasons people buy a hybrid. Not only does it mean there is less wind drag when driving along the highway but it creates a low centre of gravity, reducing the side-to-side movement you can find with some full-size vans.

Another key reason for its excellent offroad performance: the DO35 hitch, which did exactly as it was supposed to do – move freely and safely at all angles.

The Sirocco and I made it to the site in one piece. Now, I had a rough idea of how to set the hybrid up; however, I hadn’t been shown how. By just following a logical process, I managed to set it up easily. Even as a beginner, it would have taken me less than five minutes. All that was involved was turning on the power system, pressing one button to raise the powered roof, pulling out the awning, and then sliding out the kitchen. In minutes, you have yourself a home on wheels. 

INSIDE THE JAWA SIROCCO

Inside, the JAWA Sirocco contains an upright 110L Dometic fridge while externally there is a slide-out 95L fridge-freezer from EvaKool. Plenty of room for keeping food cool. On top of that are two different exterior pantry areas, a cutlery drawer, and more slide-out storage.

The storage story continues inside and out, with a huge boot space, tool boxes front and rear as well as slide-out storage for a generator. Inside, you’ll find a decent amount of cupboard space, too. JAWA has even allowed storage inside the spacious bathroom area. Not only is there an interior shower, but there is an exterior shower with a ‘Kickass’ shower tent that comes standard with your purchase.

This brings me to the huge list of standard features. Some of these items aren’t always included as standard in some vans so as I was looking around the van I couldn’t help but think to myself, “Yes, that should be standard in most vans!” For example, the Dometic Dust Reduction System. The Sirocco even has an 80L grey water tank, something that’s also not always a standard inclusion. Grey water storage is now essential in all national parks across Australia and is key to living off-grid.

Other features that will help the 15ft JAWA Sirocco off-grid include its huge water storage capacity, which is comprised of two 120L tanks (more than some full size vans carry), and the Enerdrive electrical system.

This van has two 200Ah Enerdrive B-Tec batteries as well as 600W of solar panels with an extra Anderson plug for the option of plugging in additional power. Alongside this is a welcome 3000W inverter. This thing is powerful enough to run your air-conditioner without being plugged, in which is a fantastic inclusion as standard. The Enerdrive system also includes a 40A DC-DC charger, a 100A mains charger, and a 40A MPPT solar regulator.  

The JAWA Sirocco also has very spacious living quarters, with a massive bed and a generous seating area. With a TV viewable from both the bed or the seating area, you’ve got your own comfortable hotel room. The TV can also be used outside with an exterior antenna plug for when you’re cooking the barbecue but don’t want to miss the game.

GORV’S VERDICT

I have been genuinely blown away not only by the performance of the new JAWA Sirocco on and offroad, but also by its liveability. This hybrid is capable of following your car through extremely difficult terrain and getting covered in mud like mine was, and it’ll then be set-up for glamping with a beer in a matter of minutes.

THE SCORE

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COMPLETE SPECS