Running reports
IN A NUTSHELL This stylish five-berth is a welcome addition to our fleet
Introducing our new Coachman VIP 570 and an update on our Škoda Kodiaq
ANY NEW COACHMAN model is eagerly awaited by fans of the brand, and especially if it’s one from the top of the portfolio. The Hull-based manufacturer surprised many in the industry when it announced last autumn that it was to unveil a layout it hadn’t offered before in its premium range – the rear fixed bunks and dinette/midships washroom floorplan. In doing so, Coachman joins the likes of Bailey, which added a family friendly floorplan to the upmarket segment with the launch of the Unicorn Segovia, so it’s clear that manufacturers see this particular niche as one worth developing. Major changes were made to VIP for the 2018 season, which helped the twin-axle 620 become our reigning Best Tourer for Seasonal Pitches. In come new soft furnishings, a super-wide front sunroof and a Dometic-only ensemble of white goods and toilet. That’s in addition to the enhanced bodyshells, including a new configuration for the front lockers, which puts the gas bottles in their own compartment on the nearside – the latter a modification to facilitate a new lounge centre chest arrangement that wouldn’t look out of place in an expensive German tourer. All of these features are included in our VIP 570, which is a van that successfully blends the needs of family life with the home comforts that one associates with Coachman. Buyers can choose a pair of single beds in the lounge, the largest at 5ft 11in, or a make-up double that measures 6ft 9in by 5ft 2in. At the rear, a pair of fixed bunks of 5ft 6in by 2ft are sited opposite a make-up single berth measuring 5ft 11in by 2ft 4in. Our VIP 570 is actually the demonstrator from last month’s NEC show, so it has already welcomed a great deal of people aboard already. Unladen, with all the extras from the show removed, the van was around an 80% match for our Ford Galaxy, so the 121-mile tow from Birmingham to PC Towers was smooth and uneventful. We’re drawing up plans for the VIP 570’s first outing and are very grateful to Coachman to be able to run this van as a long-termer.