Bayliner VR5 Review

Story by Craig Ritchie Dec. 11, 2015

The name Bayliner has long been associated with family runabouts that deliver great value. That tradition continues into 2016, with the all-new VR5.

Designed as a versatile, do-it-all family platform, the new VR5 replaces the venerable 185 BR – one of Bayliner’s most popular models. But the new boat trumps the old model in just about every imaginable way. Although both boats have the same 18-foot running surface, the new boat offers more usable cockpit space. How much more? Consider that the old 185 BR can actually fit inside the new VR5 and you get the idea.

Part of the reason for this dramatic increase in space comes from the way the boat is manufactured. The old 185 BR measured 18 feet in overall length, including its integrated two-foot long swim platform, where the new Bayliner VR5 has an 18-foot cockpit that adds the swim platform as a separate, bolt-on part. Further, the VR5 runs on a beamier hull that carries its width farther forward than the old boat did, which greatly enhances interior seating space while delivering faster planing times to boot.

The VR5 offers plenty of storage in the seat bases and in the passenger console.

The interior layout of the new VR5 follows a proven bowrider footprint, with wrap-around seating in both the bow and stern sections for maximum versatility. If you enter via the large, bolt-on swim platform you access the main cockpit through a starboard-side walkthrough. In its closed position, this access is covered by a large cushion that extends the adjacent sun pad. The cushion can be raised for entry and egress, lowered flat for sunning, or positioned on a 45 degree angle into a chaise lounge position via a flip-out support bracket on its underside. It’s a nice arrangement. In the walkthrough floor you’ll find a large compartment with an integral drain (into the bilge) that’s useful for storing wet gear.

The stern bench seat is spacious enough to seat two adults in comfort, with a cooler built into its base. The seat is L-shaped, wrapping forward along the port side. An adjustable seat back located midway along the port side allows this seat to be used in either forward-facing or rear-facing positions, or it can be laid flat to create a sun pad. A comfy cushion positioned at just the right height on the passenger console also allows this spot to serve as a snug chaise lounge.

An L-shaped lounge seat that spans the stern and continues up the port side includes an adjustable seat back for forward-facing or aft-facing seating. Or, lay it flat and stretch out in comfort.

The helm seat swivels, so when you’re not underway it can be turned to create a quiet area for conversation. Or, drop in the removable pedestal-mount table and you have the perfect lunch spot. The helm seat includes an integrated flip-up bolster for enhanced visibility when underway.

The stylish helm console has the essential gauges up front where they’re easily seen while underway, with the stereo control head mounted to the left of the main instrument cluster. The beefy black steering wheel and carbon-fiber look of the helm reflect the VR5’s more contemporary overall styling. A beverage holder, cell phone pad with charging jack, and backlit toggle switches for accessory items round out the helm.

The stylish helm keeps all the essential instruments up top in a neat cluster where they’re easily monitored, with accessory controls below. The helm seat swivels, and includes an integrated flip-up bolster.

Befitting the boat’s contemporary styling, the walk-through windshield wraps around the console but leaves the sides open for plenty of ventilation. Side panels that extend the windshield aft to offer a bit more protection are available as an optional upgrade. You might also want to spring for the optional Sports Tower while you’re at it, which includes a Bimini top and wakeboard towpoint. Board racks are also available.

An optional Sports Tower with integrated Bimini top not only provides a bit of shade on hot days, but facilitates tow sports like wakeboarding, water skiing or tubing.

The passenger console includes a glove box and beverage holder up top, and a large storage compartment beneath. There’s further storage for bulky gear like wakeboards in a large in-floor compartment located between the consoles.

Additional storage can be found in a large in-floor ski locker that’s perfect for all sorts of bulky gear.

Because of Bayliner’s “Beam Forward” design, the bow seating area in the VR5 is more spacious than one would expect in a boat of this size, and clearly roomier than that of the 185 BR model it replaces. Port and starboard forward-facing loungers with full wrap-around back cushions are very comfortable, while a central rear-facing seat up front offers more legroom.

With its beamy design, the VR5 offers a surprisingly spacious bow that can seat three adults in comfort.

The standard engine in the VR5 is MerCruiser’s 200 horsepower, 4.5L V6, introduced in 2014. Purpose-built from the oil pan up as a boat engine (rather than a marinized automotive engine), the 4.5L is a powerhouse with a ton of low-end grunt, fully capable of out-accelerating larger V8s while delivering exceptional fuel economy and low emissions. With this powerful engine, time-to-plane for the VR5 is under 2 seconds, while at full throttle the big V6 easily pushes the boat to about 45 mph. That’s even better performance than we used to see from the older 185 BR with the previous MerCruiser 4.3L V6.

Bayliner upholds its reputation for value with the new VR5. Building on the company’s V-bottom heritage, it nicely balances enhanced functionality with a fresh, contemporary design that is sure to appeal to many boating families.