ROOM TO GROOVE

The Coachman brand has a solid reputation for its high quality build, design and craftsmanship. Paul Owen visited Whakatāne to learn about the Laser XCEL 875.

Caravan buyers naturally want the best their money can buy, and for the Coachman brand, the Lusso rules the roost. Sitting one step below the Lusso is the Laser XCEL 875. The differences between the two are minor, including the premium asked for the Lusso by the sole New Zealand Coachman dealership, Gateway Caravans, located on the northern outskirts of Whakatāne.

This wide-body Laser XCEL costs $119,995 in standard format, rising to $128,995 with an added New Zealand package of a 24” Smart TV and automatic satellite dish, 200w of solar power, full self-containment certification, and 120L onboard fresh and grey water tanks.

The front lounge of the Laser stays true to the Coachman caravan template, offering two comfy couches facing each other, served instantly by a pull-out table or more formally by erecting a larger one stashed elsewhere. It all comes together to create a spacious double bed if required.

With a large cabin accommodating four berths and the master bed mounted across the floor, the Laser feels as spacious as a downtown apartment.

The kitchen is where Coachman has upgraded the 2022 edition of the Laser XCEL 875 most, and one of the most welcome improvements is the fitting of an extractor fan above the Thetford stove. Said cooker has four hobs – one electric and three gas. Below the hobs are a proper grille/oven, and there’s also a microwave, and a 153L electronic Dometic fridge/freezer.

The transverse bed of the Laser will be a polarising feature for most prospective buyers of a Laser XCEL 875. Many will love it, as it creates more room inside the cabin, the width of the bed consuming less of the longitudinal cabin length than if mounted the other way. Others might think that the opportunity has been lost to have a permanently made master bed once they view the two-part Duvalay mattress and the way the two parts can overlap to create a more compact bed during daylight occupation of the caravan.

The fine detailing of the Coachman XCEL 875 is readily apparent upon initial encounter and it’s almost impossible to consider it a lesser choice than the more expensive Lusso. Find out more at gatewaycaravans.co.nz