The Australian-based Riviera family of luxury motoryachts has introduced the SUV line, essentially a hybrid of their Flybridge and Sport lines. The result is a sleek-looking product that should pull off a whirlwind weekend tour of the San Juans or an extended cruise in style. The legacy of Flybridge line is prominent in the open-water performance and open cockpit aboard the 545 SUV, while the sporty look and emphasis on entertaining and style give it an overall Sport vibe.
Life aboard a 545 SUV will largely be spent in the sumptuous cockpit with its lounging focus and which feels like the center of the action aboard. An optional hydraulic lift system can pair with the huge boarding platform where the tender (or jet ski) will live. Two large transom doors connect the swim platform to the partially covered cockpit and its mezzanine and transom lounges. Like other Rivieras, the glass bulkhead separating the cockpit from the cabin opens to make one contiguous space that leads forward (through the galley and salon) to the racecar-styled helm. Two sidedecks with railings lead to the foredeck where a padded sunlounge can be deployed.
The 545 SUV is powered by standard twin Volvo D11 950 turbo diesels (725 horsepower each). Engine access is via a floorboard in the cockpit, the engine room itself made with good access. The accommodations forward are more generous than one might expect, based upon the sleek design, for there are three staterooms with two enclosed heads. Both the master and VIP suites feature large island-style berths, while the third stateroom is a little more basic.
Overall, the Riviera 545 seems to building off previous Riviera successes, combining some of the Flybridge line’s ruggedness with the Sport line’s pizzazz. Interested? You can learn from local Riviera dealer Emerald Pacific Yachts.
