Riviera 4300 Sports Express Review (2025 Edition) by NautiStyles

On Deck

The 4300 Sports Express treats the whole stern as a water-level hangout. The hydraulic platform drops well below the surface and forms a broad step into the water. In the photo you can see how it holds a tender with room left to swim or gear up. A hidden step and a bench with cup holders build the “beach club” feel into the structure, and an emergency ladder on the transom covers you if the platform stays raised.

The first outdoor galley module stands just inside the cockpit. It holds a grill, sink, trash can, and locker space. The deep locker beside it is one of the more useful spots on the boat. It handles rigid paddleboards or electric toys without any breakdown work and has the depth for Seabobs. Its position by the platform keeps weight close to the edge instead of dragging kit through the cockpit.

The cockpit forms the second level of deck life. The L-shaped settee runs to port with another bank of seats starboard, enough to handle a crowd without feeling squeezed. Cold air pours into the space from the overhead vents so the cockpit stays cool even with the aft open. A fixed awning stretches aft from the hardtop and keeps the outdoor galley usable in rain to entertain the Australian habit of grilling no matter what. The folding dining table opens into a solid surface with inbuilt cup holders, and a chilled ice box with a cooling plate stands nearby for drinks or bait.

Forward in the cockpit the wet bar pulls more weight. It brings another sink, trash can, a fridge, stemware rack, drawers, and side lockers. A slot for a Yeti cooler doubles as a jump seat at the table. There’s an ice maker to starboard and a manual drop-down TV under the hardtop. At night the up-lighting threads through the cockpit and gives it a soft glow without turning it into a stage.

Open-air control comes from the large sunroof over the helm and cockpit. Slide it back and the boat opens up with proper airflow from the forward windows and the two large side windows. The pantograph door to the side deck gives a quick path out for lines or fenders and sliding door panel hides in the coaming to close the aft when weather turns.

Side Decks & Foredeck

Storage runs through the side decks. The walk forward feels secure, with rod holders in the coamings, bulwark cubbies, and enough cup holders to make the bow run feel relaxed. Up top the radar, GPS antenna, satcom dome, and VHF antenna cluster cleanly over the hardtop. Riviera includes the night-lighting package as standard, which adds soft uplight and helps the boat stand out at anchor.

The bow forms a wide lounge with a sunpad and forward seating. The vinyl upholstery has the hand of fabric but dodges the upkeep. The small table lifts out from under the cushions and has cutouts shaped for champagne flutes. There's a drainable bin to port for bottles and a deeper hold to starboard that links toward the anchor locker.  

A short companionway leads down from the cockpit and then the space feels larger than you expect on a thirty-foot-plus platform and the staircase drops into a compact but genuinely comfortable lower deck. The door style matches the Riviera the presenters lived aboard for eight years, so the setup feels familiar to anyone who has spent time on earlier models from the yard.

The galley runs along the port side. It has a microwave oven, drawers, and a designated slot for the sink cover which prevents that usual shuffle of stray pieces. The fridge and freezer sit in a drawer arrangement, and below that is a proper dishwasher. Riviera uses strong latches and soft close hardware, and you can feel the upgrade when you pull on each handle. The two burner cooktop, sink, and built-in trash can fill the rest of the counter. Two deep cupboards hold plates, cups, and cookware with everything racked in place so nothing rattles underway. An extractor fan sits above and two unusual canyon style pot holders hang beside the cooktop. These are the first the presenters had seen on any boat and they make sense once you handle them. The CZone monitor panel and the breaker panel with generator controls finish the technical side of this corner.

Opposite the galley is a compact lounge with a sofa and an ottoman that works as a coffee table. The storage in this area is far greater than you expect. There are two pantry style lockers, a large television, drawers, a bar with bottle slots, and a deep glassware locker. It builds a small living space that feels ready for longer stays rather than quick overnights.

The main head is forward of the galley. It is a shared washroom for the two cabin layout. The electric head feels solid and the shower is a true walk-in with enough space to move without bumping an elbow. Storage lines the bathroom with medicine cabinets and lockers under the sink. The openable porthole has a sensor tied to the helm so the system alerts you if it stays open before departure. A second access panel inside the shower leads to service points.

Owner's Cabin

The forward cabin feels bigger than you expect the moment you step inside. The headroom is generous enough that you stand straight without thinking about it. The bed is a modified queen with good access on both sides, and the curved wall panels give the space a soft wrap around feel, almost like the headboard extends across the entire cabin. It reads warm and it reads inviting, especially with the light bouncing off the pale upholstery and the timber trim.

Two hanging lockers flank the bed. They look modest from the outside but open into deeper storage than you think, and the drawers under the bed add another layer for clothes or gear. An escape hatch sits overhead. On most boats this is just an emergency exit but here it also acts as a source of air when you want natural flow through the cabin. Once you know it is there you notice how much light it brings into the space.

The area stays open to the saloon by default. It feels like part of one flowing room and that works well for a couple spending nights aboard. If you want privacy, a sliding wall solves it in one move. The presenters tested it and the sound drop was better than you expect on a boat this length. It does not turn the cabin into a bunker but it gives you a space of your own without making the lower deck feel closed in.

The switches, vents, and small fittings feel in line with the rest of the Riviera build. Everything has a clean look and the air-conditioning holds the temperature steady even with the door open.

Guest Accommodation

The second cabin is set up with two beds, one full size and one XL twin, and the layout keeps the center of the room open so you are not crouching or climbing over anything. Many boats of this length push the guest space into a small crawl zone, but on the 4300 Sports Express you can stand, move, and breathe without ducking.

A simple curtain hangs at the entrance on this specific boat. Riviera also offers the same sliding wooden partition used in the forward cabin, so owners can decide how much privacy they want. 

Storage comes in stronger than you expect. The tall locker at the entry looks like a standard hanging space, then opens into a deep compartment that includes electrical access. Two openable portholes bring in daylight and both have sensors tied to the helm so the system alerts you if they stay open before you head out.

The bed sizes tell you who this cabin suits. The larger berth leans toward a single adult or teenager. The smaller upper berth works for a child or a light sleeper. If you really wanted to, you could convert the whole thing into a single wider berth because the room has enough floor space to take it, but most owners will leave the twin layout as it is.

Access to the engine room comes through a hatch in the cockpit and the space feels tidy for a boat of this length. It is compact, no surprise there, but nothing feels buried. The generator sits forward on the port side and the battery banks line up cleanly along the bulkheads. Two Volvo Penta IPS 650 D6 engines fill the centerline and there is enough space between them to move through without twisting sideways. The sea strainers sit right in the middle where you expect them and you can reach the outboard sides of the engines without a fight.

Cruising speed sits at about 25 knots and the top speed reaches roughly 33 knots. At 22 knots the boat delivers a range of about 200nm, which is plenty for day trips and short coastal runs. Owners can stay with the standard IPS650s at 480 horsepower each or opt for the larger engine package if they want a little more punch.

A Seakeeper 4.5 rests on the center saddle. The raw water pump for the air-conditioning runs close by and the system feeds individual self-contained units throughout the boat rather than a chilled water loop. The fire suppression bottle mounts at the forward bulkhead and the primary fuel filters line up in plain sight with separate filters for each main engine and the generator. All the hot and cold water lines are easy to trace, and there is even a fresh water hook-up down here for a quick rinse if you spill something.

The fuel tank forms part of the bulkhead structure. That helps with sound insulation because it acts as a solid mass between the machinery and the cabin area. Once the engines run, the quiet impression matches what we saw at the shipyard in Australia. The yard spends a lot of time on detail work that does not show up in glossy brochures but does show up once the boat is underway.

The 4300 Sports Express is built for an owner operator who wants comfort without the need for crew. The layout supports that. The aft joystick station takes the stress out of docking and the pantograph door gives a fast step onto the side deck when you need to handle a line. Sightlines from the helm stay clear, and the hull reacts the moment you lean on the IPS controls, so one person can manage the boat without a scramble.

The boat also benefits from Riviera’s build culture. The yard at Coomera supports owners long after delivery through parts supply, documentation, and advice, which is not something every builder in this size bracket offers. Riviera is unusual in that regard. The yard does not set a cutoff point at all. Owners regularly report factory help on boats that are ten, fifteen, even twenty years old. The support runs through three channels: direct factory assistance, the dealer network, and the Riviera parts and accessories shop.

That means an owner of a brand-new boat and an owner of an older 40 or 50 foot Riviera can both call the yard for guidance, documentation, wiring diagrams, part numbers, or clarification on systems. The brand has kept that policy because so many of its owners move up through the range and often return for another model.

For buyers comparing similar owner operated cruisers, the Tiara C44 and Jeanneau NC 14 sit closest in concept and price.

The Riviera 4300 Sports Express delivers the feel of a bigger yacht in a size you can run yourself. The hydraulic platform, deep storage for boards and toys, and the covered outdoor galley create a strong day boating base, while the sunroof and pantograph door give the main deck an open air helm feel without losing shelter when the weather turns.