Caravan review - Coachman Amara 450/2

THE Amara sits firmly at the bottom of Coachman’s line-up, but it is no entry-level caravan. The levels of equipment and specification mean that it should be likened more to a mid-range model from any other brand.

PROS

Lots of standard kit Well built Solid domestic-style fittings Luxurious for entry level status

But this is Coachman, and the caravans coming out of the factory are very well built and very well specified. There is a downside and that means that this, the smallest Amara is quite pricey.

Compact it may be, but it is big and heavy compared to caravans from other makes with similar layouts. The 7ft 4in wide body shell that was only introduced in the Amara range this year also gives it a spacious airy feel.

The outside has smart blue graphics, which adorn simple white sides. The graphics are neither too modern to put off traditional Coachman customers or too dated to put off new buyers. It helps that the Amara comes with striking alloy wheels as standard and a decent stabiliser. The front locker also has a gas assisted strut for opening with one hand and keeping open.

Smart, curvy front and rear panels, twinkly lights and smart side skirts make the Amara look a lot more expensive than entry-level. The door is another noticeable difference between this and last year’s model. It’s a very smart one piece style. The picture window is very tall, and slides downwards into the door. Want the window open while keeping the flies at bay? Then slide the netted concertina fly screen up and over the open window. The door liner has a spacious pocket on the inside for magazines and road atlases.

The layout is very spacious but also very standard. The extra length and width really makes a difference. There’s a comfortable and spacious lounge up front, the kitchen is in the centre and a full width washroom is at the rear.

The lighter wood with darker lower locker door sections and very functional handles tones well with the beige curtains and a very abstract but modern seat fabric. Seats are firm and not too high off the floor. Bolster cushions are very thick and supportive.

Coachman has always been thought of as a little old-fashioned, but the fittings are chrome and match well, the fabric is modern enough and the doors are curved in a very ‘now’ style, so it’s actually quite modern on the whole.

The two sofas are long and convert into the double bed at night - slats slide out and the cushions rearrange. As with any caravan with knee rolls on seats, the bed will be a bit lumpier than at home, but it’s never affected my sleep patterns.

CONS

Pricey for entry level On the heavy side

Storage is ample with spacious overhead lockers - two at the front and two at each side. They are quite deep but don’t intrude into the living space because of the extra width. One holds the standard CD player, which can be optionally upgraded to a DVD player - all the wiring has been pre-installed at the factory.

Underseat storage is fairly ample, although a lot of the services are fitted here. It’s easy to access, though, by doors or by lifting the seat cushions up and sliding the slats out of the way.

The kitchen is a big part of this caravan, taking up almost a third of the space. On the offside there is the cooker (with oven, grill and four burners, of course) and a sink that has an integrated drainer with washing up bowl and chopping board. The domestic-quality metal tap is a joy to see in an entry-level caravan. Storage space is ample - two overhead lockers (with dish and plate racks), two cupboards below, which are both roomy, and a drawer for things like cutlery - although there is no tray - which suits me as I can go out and find a really smart one that suits my needs.

There’s no worktop space, but this doesn’t matter because the dresser opposite is a perfect height for food preparation. It also holds the large 95-litre digitally-controlled fridge with electric ignition, and small freezer compartment, and the heater. Above the heater are two more drawers offering even more storage space and the worktop itself lifts up on hinges to provide easy access to the fridge and heater fuses.

The upper part of the dresser has two roomy shelves and two cupboards with thick brown plastic doors. Somehow, although these doors should remind me of the seventies, they actually look okay.

One of them has brackets for two wine bottles and six glasses. This dresser also holds the heater thermostat and a mains, 12-volt and TV aerial socket as well as those red, white and yellow sockets for video and DVD player.

There are added plug sockets throughout the caravan - one in the lounge next to the kitchen and another one in the bottom nearside corner. Usefully the power, light and water pump controls are located within easy reach just above the door.

Right at the back is a very spacious washroom. Good if you like your privacy or frequently stay on sites without facilities - there are still some out there.

SPECIFICATION

Price: tba Berths: 2 Internal length: 4.67m Overall length: 5.72m Overall width: 2.24m

Although the washroom door has a push button handle, it feels firm with no flexing. The removable carpet can just be removed in the washroom for those who don’t like carpet, but put it back in the winter when the floors might be cold. The manual flush toilet sits on the right as you walk in, the sink in the nearside corner and the shower on the left.

The washroom is where Coachman is quite brave - opting for white locker doors on the cupboards under the sink, the window and the drawers under the wardrobe. The voile curtains don’t provide any privacy - that’s why the blinds and flyscreens are there - but they do look nice.

Quality shines through with the solid metal sink tap, the decent toilet roll holder and towel holder. There are mirrors above the sink as well as one above the toilet for taller people. Storage is good with a wardrobe that’s okay for two - shelves can be found in the back corner for smalls. The shower is spacious and has its own light.

Lights are generously spread throughout the rest of the caravan, too. The new smart 12-volt lights are found in the washroom, the kitchen area and the lounge. There are also two mains lights and spotlights in the front corners. Even the kitchen gets an extra light over the sink and a spotlight illuminating the three shelves, with another spotlight illuminating the shelves opposite.

The removable carpet is in three parts, so you can just have it in the lounge or in the kitchen or in the washroom.    

OUR VERDICT

There are cheaper caravans and bigger caravans on the market, but if you don’t want something too big and prefer solidity and luxury, then you’d do worse than to opt for this Amara. I couldn’t find anything wrong with this one and it was a pre-production model for press and dealer viewings. Everything does exactly what it is supposed to do. Coachman knows its customers intimately and keeps them happy by making wellbuilt, well specified caravans for a discerning market.

CONTACT COACHMAN CARAVANS Amsterdam Road Sutton Fields Industrial Estate Hull HU7 0XF Tel: 01482 839737 Web: www.coachman.co.uk      
 






 

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