Full review

Lunar Ultima 530

Robinsons Caravans has been creating special editions of Lunar models for 13 years. The Ultima is one of Britain’s longest-established dealer special brands. Robinsons, which has branches in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, has Ultima versions of both the Quasar and Lexon ranges, with more equipment than the standard models – and fabrics that make Ultimas unique. As example of the Ultima ranges, we tested the 530, based on the Lexon 530. It’s a fixed-bed layout with the shower-toilet compartment in the offside corner alongside the bed. There are several caravans that follow this immensely popular layout – but only the 530 has a space between the end of the bed and the dresser that marks the junction between bedroom and living area. This 20cm walkway transforms the bed-making task from mildly awkward to really easy, because you can walk around the end of the bed instead of reaching over from the side. Even more important, it means that the person sleeping next to the wall can get in and out of bed from the end of the bed, without the need to climb over the person sleeping on the other side. The 530 layout, thus, has a lot going for it. Add in a package of extra specification and some stunningly modern white and black fabrics and you have a model with true wow-factor. What’s really amazing is the price. The standard Lunar Lexon 530 costs £18,090 including the £495 dealer delivery fee. Robinsons’ version, the Ultima 530, costs £1591 less than that, at £16,499.

Shower
Dual function The shower shares a room with the toilet – but this dual-function little room is better equipped than most, in terms of shelving. Four shelves have metal rails to hold objects in place, there’s a smaller shelf below and, above, a wide, curved shelf. A bi-fold door shelters the toilet from the shower water. Unique fabrics Ultimas are defined by higher spec, plus unique fabrics that create a very special caravan. To make this model even more special you can buy, from Robinsons, a suite of bedding and cushions that match the Ultima’s white, grey and black fabrics. The set consists of an embroidered duvet cover, pillowcases, a square cushion and a rose-shaped circular black cushion for the centre of the bed. At £175 it might sound expensive, but if you’re going to treat yourselves to an Ultima 530, it would be a pity not to complete this amazing picture of stark modernity by dressing the bed to match the lounge. The mattress is deep and comfortable and the second double bed makes easily in the lounge, with a pull-out slatted base. The settees are long enough to form beds for children, making this model a credible four berth, even though its chief appeal will be to couples.

Storage
Great storage The 530 excels on storage, considering it’s not enormous, at only 5.6m long. Under the wardrobe, three drawers and a drop-down-front cabinet take care of the t-shirts and socks amply. Overhead lockers line two walls of the bed area; the dresser contains a lower cabinet of generous size, there’s a drawer above the Truma heater and a double-doored cabinet above the microwave. Under-lounge bedding boxes have full-width drop-down fronts and four lockers are above the settees. In addition, of course, there’s a cavern under the bed. The freestanding table is stored alongside the bed, in a slim cabinet. Above the table section is a slightly enclosed shelf – perfect for books – and a second shelf above it; that’s for your mug when you sit up in bed and start the day with a coffee. At the front, the pull-out extension to the top of the chest of drawers gives you an eating place for two. The Ultima’s black, white and grey colour scheme creates the most stunning caravan interior we’ve seen this year. The prominent white in the seating fabric ensures the lounge is bright both by day and night. The fabrics (tactile for the seating; silky-smooth for the grey curtains) contrast with each other brilliantly and the black leather lower edges to the seat backs and bases make this seating look very much like domestic settees. What’s more, it’s comfortable, with squashy bolster rear ends to each settee and firm, rounded front corners. The grey mottled pleated blinds that are part of the extras package soften the whole lounge effect compared with the plastic roller blinds of the standard Lexon. And the carpet is of a thicker pile than in standard Lexons.

Kitchen
Excellent kitchen The Ultima/Lexon 530 model is one of a small number of caravans of this length which have really good lower kitchen storage arrangements. There’s a good-sized cupboard forward of the fridge and a second cupboard opposite, in the dresser. Top storage is excellent, too. A run of five doors gives a range of accommodation. Three of the doors have frosted white Perspex inserts. The other kitchen doors are wooden. A row of LED lights spans the length of the kitchen, under the lockers, adding style as well as ample light.

There’s a mains hotplate plus three burners. The microwave is opposite, in the dresser. This is a brilliant kitchen for the length of the caravan, with enough work surface when you cover the sink with its chopping board that matches the pale cream granite effect of the rest of the kitchen.