Bailey Unicorn Deluxe Cabrera caravan review

The Unicorn Cabrera is Bailey’s best-selling caravan. Our review reveals why – and also reveals a splendid storage secret.

It's 15 years since the Bailey Unicorn Cabrera was unveiled. In that time it has gradually increased its popularity, and now enjoys the status of being the best-selling caravan in Bailey’s entire portfolio.

We had the company of a Cabrera at Campbells Caravans and Motorhomes to find out the reasons why.

In layout terms, the Cabrera is very similar to Bailey’s Phoenix Black Edition 640, which has a price tag of £25,649, and also the Pegasus Black Edition Portofino, at £29,799. Both of these are high up among Bailey’s best-selling models, proving the popularity of the end-bedroom, central washroom layout on a single axle and in a standard width. The key difference between the Cabrera and these two caravans is the heating system – Unicorns have Alde heating, whereas Pegasus and Phoenix models have the Truma heating system.

The Cabrera’s price and MTPLM (1,600kg) place it firmly in the centre of the market, with competition from models in almost all caravan manufacturers’ ranges.

So what’s out there outside the Bailey range to compete with the Cabrera in terms of layout on a standard width? From Coachman there’s the Acadia 545, at £32,190, and 1,550kg MTPLM, and the VIP 545, at £37,220 and 1,678kg MTPLM.

From Swift, there’s the Sprite Major 4 EB, £23,685 and 1,378kg MTPLM, and the Challenger 560, at £30,095 and 1,539kg.

When you narrow that down to those that have Alde heating you are left with the two Coachman models, the Acadia 545 and VIP 545. Both of those are very close on MTPLM figures and one is close on price; that’s the Acadia.

Equipment and specification

The Cabrera is a well-equipped caravan, easily earning the Deluxe element of its name. It has the ATC stability control system. It comes complete with an Al-Ko Secure wheel lock, a 130W solar panel, a phone charging pad with USB-A and USB-C ports (you simply swivel the top to reveal either of the ports), a gas barbecue connection point and exterior mains socket, alarm and tracker systems and a panel radiator in the washroom. And it comes 
with a Sonos portable speaker, which, having experienced one recently, we know delivers superb sound quality.

There’s more, though, about the Cabrera, that contributes to its best-seller status. And it’s all about style and ambience.

Bedroom, style and storage

We’ll start in the bedroom. Although this is not a max-width caravan, it does have a bed that is, at 1.44m, wider than a standard double bed. Bailey has made provision for the extra width by designing the wardrobes in a curved shape, narrower at the bottom than at the top. When you consider that jackets and coats take up more space at shoulder level than lower down the wardrobe, you realise you’ll not miss the width there.

There’s a definite air of elegance and luxury about the Cabrera’s bedroom, created by several elements. Notable are the long curtain panels that run from the ceiling. They’re a beautiful fabric with a lustre pattern of leaves and twigs on a dark ivory background. And the bedhead, upholstered in dark brown, has a mirrored line running across its entire width. This somehow has the effect of making the bedroom look larger than it is.

And, talking of size, this bedroom holds a hidden secret. The first clue is the construction of the bedside cabinets. There’s no door to the front of them. Instead, the top is hinged, opening to a space that measures 55cm long and 32cm wide. When you raise the bed, the whole secret is revealed. Underneath these cabinets is open space, the same size as the cabinets, and exterior hatches (74cm wide) open to the under-bed area on both sides, allowing you to easily store items that can measure anything up to the width of the caravan. It’s a cleverly designed space.

Then there’s the vast space under the rest of the bed area, of course. But the table is stowed (on four brackets) here, so you’d have to remove the table to get at anything that is stored in the central area of the under-bed space.

With the bed retracted to its day mode, floorspace is a generous 60cm deep at the foot of the bed.

We love the back-lit oval mirror on the nearside forward wall of the bedroom, above the mini dressing table (that’s a small ledge and cabinet). On the offside forward wall is a mounting point for a televison bracket, plus connections, and two coat (or dressing gown) hooks. This is a well equipped and invitingly luxurious bedroom.

Washroom and kitchen

A sliding door leads from the bedroom to the shower on the nearside and, opposite, the toilet sector, where there are four towel hooks; that’s more than you find in most washrooms. There’s a panel radiator and two cabinets; one under the basin and one large double-doored wall cabinet with concealed roll catches. Lighting runs both above and below the mirrored cabinet. And, in common with all Unicorns, alongside the shower riser bar there is an illuminated panel of frosted acrylic, adorned with a leaf design in black; a contribution to the overall sophistication level of the caravan. A shelf takes care of shampoos in the shower cubicle.

Next on our analysis list is the kitchen. The surface measures 1.4m with the hob top down and the flush-fitting sink cover in position, plus there is a hinged extension to increase the space; it’s 36cm wide and 41cm long. The suite of cabinets includes two pull-out basket-style drawers (9cm wide and 38cm long) and three drawers, each 69cm wide. The top cabinet alongside the microwave is 86cm wide. The Thetford 137-litre fridge/freezer is opposite. Alongside it are two curve-fronted cabinets, at the top and base 
of a mini dresser-style unit that houses television connections and a bracket. Two illuminatred shelves are incorporated into the lower unit.

Lounge, comfort and ambience

In terms of the Cabrera’s lounging attributes, first on the list has to be its elegant looks – and then something you can’t see. That’s the fact that the seating is of sprung construction, in the interests of both comfort and longevity. The fine, close-weave fabric is edged with dark brown piping. We love the shape of the armrests; they’re a semi cone shape that looks stylish and stays in place well.

Dark brown fabric pockets are at each front corner, designed for magazines, phones and the like. Two cushions are ivory, deeply ridged faux fur, and two more are pale cream with a weave design that catches the light. The side windows are dressed with panels and voiles of the same fabric as those in the bedroom. Front windows have no curtains, inkeeping with Bailey’s style. Lounge ambience is luxurious and its muted palette of fawns is guaranteed to suit any taste.

Our review revealed many reasons for the Cabrera’s best-seller status. The ingeniously designed under-bed storage with outside hatches at each side. The generous amount of kitchen surface and storage to match. Quality fabrics in a combination of hues that are sure to please most tastes. And, perhaps above all, the layout, with the bedroom at the back, so the caravan is divisible into two separate rooms.