Riviera 645 SUV (2022-)

Brief Summary

Riviera Yachts’ 645 SUV is for active cruising families who want an express motoryacht that can head offshore and stay closer to home to entertain guests with equal aplomb. Her mezzanine deck is on the same level as the salon and galley, creating a spacious, luxurious gathering area.

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	69' 8" 21.23 m
Beam	19' 1" 5.80 m
Dry Weight	88,119 lbs. 39,970 kg
Tested Weight	94,852 lbs 43,024.11 kg
Draft	5' 4" 1.62 m
Person Capacity	8 (sleeping capacity)
Fuel Capacity	1,717 gallons 6,500 L
Water Capacity	198 gallons 750 L
Total Weight	94,852 lbs 43,024.11 kg

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane	9.5 seconds
0 to 30	15.2 seconds
Load	4 persons; 1/2 fuel; 1/2 water; 50 lbs. gear
Climate	72 deg.; 95 humid.; winds: 0-5

Engine Options

Tested Engine	2 x 1,550-hp MAN V12
Std. Power	2 x 1,300-hp MAN V8
Opt. Power	2 x 1,550-hp MAN V12

Captain's Report

Report by Eric Colby 

Mission Statement

The Riviera 645 SUV is intended to be a yacht that lives up to the Sport Utility Vessel acronym. She’s designed and built to head offshore even when conditions aren’t ideal and to run impressive speeds with up to 3,100 hp of diesel inboard power. Lounge areas in the bow and on the mezzanine deck offer ample seating for relaxing outdoors and her luxurious salon and galley also have practical elements. Belowdecks, she has a full-beam master stateroom and an owner can choose between three or four staterooms or a utility room or crew quarters.

Riviera Yachts 645 SUV Main Features

• Twin MAN diesel inboards with Twin Disc joystick
• CZone digital switching
• Large aft cockpit
• Hydraulic swim platform
• Optional Seakeeper gyroscopic stabilizer
• Glass dash with three Garmin MFDs
• Mezzanine deck on the same level as salon and galley
• Choice of layouts for main and accommodations decks

Riviera Yachts 645 SUV Features Inspection

The Stern. Let’s start with the swim platform that can be lowered hydraulically and it can be raised above water level as well when the 645 SUV is running. It has a lifting capacity of 992 lbs. (450 kg) for loading a tender. The cockpit on our test boat was wide open, measuring 15’4” (4.67 m) wide and 6’2” (1.88 m) fore to aft. Bulwarks are 30” (76.2 cm) tall. There’s a livewell in the center of the stern with a window to keep an eye on bait. In the aft port quarter, a locker houses the remote control for the swim platform. Forward to starboard, a hatch raises on gas struts to reveal a grill and sink. To port, the configuration is the same with two freezers under the hatch. There are docking stations in lockers on each side of the aft deck. Our test boat had the optional extended awning and aft-facing camera. Also, to store items like a boat hook or gaff, there’s a dedicated tube to starboard. Lockers in each aft corner and in compartments in the deck offer more capacity.

It’s a 9” (22.86 cm) step up to the 645 SUV’s side decks that lead forward to the bow. Our test boat had four sockets for installing the frame for the bow shade. Entry to the foredeck gathering area is via the port side. An L-shaped lounge wraps around a table to starboard and there’s a second sofa-style lounge that extends forward to port. The optional Newport edition has large sunpads forward. The stereo is installed in one of the lounges and is inaccessible, but that doesn’t matter because it’s controlled with a smartphone via Bluetooth.

On either version, the ground tackle includes a windlass with a stainless-steel Ultra anchor that deploys and retracts through the stem. The in-deck hatch to port accesses the remote control and wash-down system, while the starboard side opens the rode locker.

The Mezzanine Deck is two steps above the aft deck, which puts it on the same level as the salon and galley. It has an L-shaped lounge to starboard around a wood table on two fixed pedestals. The glossy walnut table is hinged down the middle and has stainless-steel beverage and ice-bucket slots in the center. On the starboard side, a window opens to help connect the mezzanine deck to the salon. A loveseat-sized lounge that converts to a day bed is to port. An ottoman slides out from under the table for more seating. Forward to port, there’s an end table with an ice maker in the base and a wastebasket beneath a hinged cover. Headroom in this area averages 7’9” (2.36 m), there’s an opening sunroof that’s electrically activated and a 32” (81.28 cm) TV folds down from the overhead.

Because she’s expected to head offshore in rougher conditions, Riviera retains the pillar between the salon and the mezzanine deck. A sliding door opens to provide entry to the salon. Aft to port and within easy reach from the mezzanine is the CZone digital panel that controls every electrical system on board. 

The galley has white Corian countertops in what Riviera calls a waterfall design that has them extending vertically down the sides of the cabinets. It contrasts prettily with high-gloss walnut. A satin finish is also available. There are four refrigerated drawers aft with the four-burner electric stove with pan racks. An induction hood is overhead and a microwave/convection oven and dishwasher are in the base. On our test boat, an island that separates the galley from the salon lounge is used primarily for storage and has two sinks and a faucet. There’s dedicated storage for the sink covers in the island.

The Salon

Opposite the galley, the salon lounge to starboard has a clever piece of engineering with a table that folds out of the base. Riviera said it came up with this to be used as a “last resort” for dining because it expects that most owners will dine on the mezzanine deck. A 50” (127 cm) TV is in the base of the island. Forward to starboard, our test boat had a bar with a stool that secures in place with a cable to keep it from getting knocked over when running in rough seas. Front and center in the salon is a cabinet with dedicated stemware storage and there’s a wine chiller in the base of the port-side companion seat at the helm. In keeping with Riviera’s reputation as a builder of bluewater boats, there’s a rail built into the overhead, where hinged panels can be opened to reveal extra-long compartments that could be easily customized as rod racks.

The Helm. The 645 SUV’s helm has three high-backed bucket seats and a fourth can be added in place of the bar. The actual captain’s station has a center-mounted control platform on the armrest between it and the adjacent companion’s seat. Working front to back, the platform has the Humphree Interceptor controls, Twin Disc engine levers, a Garmin autopilot, ignition switches and the toggles for the three 22” (55.88 cm) multifunction displays. These are an option. The standard electronics suite has 17” (43.18 cm) units. Two MAN engine displays are to the left of the tilt wheel as is another CZone digital screen. The stereo and VHF radio are ahead of the outboard helm seat. The Twin Disc joystick is to the right of the steering wheel so the captain can stand alongside facing aft. If the captain needs to get outside quickly, there’s a door to port that leads to the side decks.

Riviera 645 SUV Accommodations Deck

The Master

Now let’s head below to the accommodations deck. Stairs adjacent to the helm lead below and the companionway naturally leads aft to the full-beam master stateroom. The centerline berth is 77” (195.58 cm) long by 70” (177.8 cm) wide and there’s 7’5” (1.96 m) of headroom. As we’ve seen on other Rivieras, there are large hullside windows with ports that have sensors that alert the helm when they’re opened. They also have electrically operated blinds. To starboard, there is a chest of drawers and the iPad for running the CZone system has a dedicated charging spot. At the front of the cabin to starboard are full- and half-height hanging lockers. To port, there’s a sofa that can be replaced with another chest of drawers or a desk/workstation. One thing we would like to see Riviera do is to move the climate controls closer to the berth. A door to port of the fabric headboard opens the master head that has side-by-side mirrored doors on the medicine chest, a vessel sink, toilet and separate shower stall. Another door leads to the crew quarters where we found a third door to access the engine room.

Forward to port is a guest cabin has two berths measuring 73” (185.42 cm) long by 29” (73.66 cm) that can also be slid together by pushing a button in the hanging locker. There’s a hullside window and a 24” (60.96 cm) TV on the forward bulkhead above the Fusion stereo. There’s direct entry to the day head that also has a door in the companionway. The head is laid out and equipped similarly to the master except it doesn’t have a rainfall shower in the overhead. Opposite, another guest cabin has an over-under berth and can be replaced by an optional lounge area.

Moving forward to the bow, we enter the VIP cabin that has an island berth that’s 78” (198.12 cm) long and 59” (149.86 cm) wide. Headroom is 6’5” (1.96 m) and there’s 3’5” (1.04 m) above the berth. Twin deck hatches have bug screens and blackout shades and there’s storage above the hullside windows on each side. Twin-hanging lockers and four drawers in the berth base provide more storage and there’s a 32” (81.28 cm) TV on the aft bulkhead. The en suite head has all the amenities found in the master.

The Engine Compartment

A watertight door opens to the engine compartment. There is also a hatch in the mezzanine deck. At the main entry, we found two 29-kW Cummins generators on each side with the air conditioning systems above. There’s easy passage between the MAN V12 diesels that have V-drive transmissions. The optional Seakeeper gyroscopic stabilizer is aft and our test boat had the optional water-making system, too. CZone boxes are above the engines on each side within reach from the mezzanine hatch.

Riviera builds the 645 SUV with a solid-fiberglass bottom below the waterline and coring in the hullsides and deck. Foam stringers are fully encapsulated and have the steel engine bearers embedded into them. Small parts like hatches are resin-infused and the company is looking at infusion for hulls down the line. The hull and deck are mechanically fastened and bonded with fiberglass.

Riviera 645 SUV Performance

The Numbers. The 645 SUV measures 69’8” (21.23 m) long with a 19’1” (5.8 m) beam and a draft of 5’4” (1.62 m). Empty weight is listed at 88,119 lbs. (39,970.11 kg) and we tested with four people, 858.5 gallons (3,249.78 liters) of fuel and 99 gallons (374.76 liters) freshwater aboard, giving us an estimated test weight of 94,852 lbs. (43,024.14 kg).

Powered by twin 1,550-hp MAN V12 diesel inboards and pod drives, the 645 SUV hit a top speed of 35.3 knots at 2380 rpm. We recorded best cruise at 1500 rpm where she ran 18.3 knots and burned 55 gph even. This translated to .4 NMPG and a range of 513.1 nautical miles with 10% of her 1,717-gallon (4,499.56-liter) fuel capacity held in reserve.  That said, most will run her at the MAN recommended 80% load which was at 2180/2190 RPM and 31.3 knots where she runs quite comfortably.  That produced a fuel burn of 126.5 GPH and a range of 382.9 nautical miles.  Again, with a 10% fuel reserve held back.  

Test day brought calm conditions that presented no challenge to the 645 SUV. She comes up on plane with a level attitude and carved cleanly through turns. When we returned to the slip, the cockpit docking stations made backing in a non-issue.

Observations

The flagship of the series, Riviera’s 645 SUV lives up to the do-everything intentions the Australian manufacturer had in mind for her. Her large aft deck certainly has the space for fishing or diving or even hauling paddleboards or kayaks. The mezzanine deck and bow lounging area are spacious for the size and class of boat. For an owner who wants to personalize his/her yacht, Riviera offers choices of belowdecks layouts and customizable options in the salon as well.