Buccaneer Quantum F-4S motorhome

This luxury caravan brand returns to motorhomes…

If you’ve never owned a caravan, the name Buccaneer will require you to delve deeply into your memory – the last time a motorhome wearing that moniker appeared in these pages was back in 2001! But this has always been more of a caravan brand; founded in 1969 and acquired by Elddis in 1998, today it offers the most prestigious tourers in the Erwin Hymer Group portfolio at prices around £50k.

Clearly, EHG hopes that existing Buccaneer caravan owners will stay with the brand when they switch to a motorhome, so it has introduced the Quantum range initially with just two layouts, both formats that will be familiar to tourer owners. This F-4S has rear single beds but not in the continental over-garage style, instead mounted low with the washroom beyond, across the rear.

New Quantum features, prices

The Quantum is a low-profile motorhome on a Fiat Ducato chassis, with the 140hp engine, automatic gearbox and 3,650kg gross weight. It’s 7.37m long and has the same fully bonded Zip System construction as the latest Elddis Avalon models, featuring a full metal frame using marine-grade alloy under the vehicle. Its Renolit side panels are seamless, UV-resistant and claimed to be ultra-durable.

However, the Buccaneer is pitched as a more exclusive product than its closely related Avalon 285 sister. Prices start at £96,195 and there are still extra-cost options to consider beyond that. Leather upholstery adds £3,499 and a black cab (instead of the standard Artense Silver) is £848. Then there’s the Lux Edition – with 180hp motor, B-Sense Safety Pack (driver assistance systems), tyre pressure monitoring and a spare wheel – priced at another £5k.

Features that do come as standard include the XT Pack (heated windscreen, electric parking brake, full LED headlamps and 10in touchscreen), 100W solar panel, awning, alarm, tracker and on-board WiFi. The Ducato cab also comes with automatic air-con, automatic lights and wipers, alloy wheels and front fog lights.

On the outside

Despite the new Buccaneer branding, you can see the similarities with the Elddis Avalon on the outside. At this price point, the windows sitting proud of the body and the small, fiddly water drain taps look out of place, but, on the plus side, the overcab sunroof is one of the biggest and there are external TV and 230V sockets adjacent to the habitation door. With no garage, external storage is very limited.

On the inside

Inside, it’s the Narbonne Oak furniture that gives the Quantum a different feel to any Elddis, while the programmable gas/electric Alde heating (now with automotive-standard glycol antifreeze coolant) is the most practical benefit. Tank heaters are fitted, too, while habitation air-conditioning (as standard) means that both extremes of weather are catered for.

The lounge adopts en vogue parallel sofas (just a short one on the offside), with armrests and scatter cushions for comfort. Hidden below are the fold-up Aguti travel seats but, if you need four berths, you’ll have to rearrange the settees into a bed (there’s no drop-down bed option). Dining is on a free-standing table stored in its own cupboard next to the entrance.

High-end kitchen

The central kitchen is quite compact but has all the features you expect in a high-end British motorhome – a dual-fuel hob, 800W microwave and separate oven and grill. The downside is the under-counter fridge, which at 96 litres is quite small by today’s standards.

Bedroom & bathroom

With this layout the bedroom is not a separate zone but the beds are low for easy access. Check them out for length, though, as we measured the mattresses at just 1.81m long. Pity – they look welcoming with their padded headboards. Maybe the best feature then is the spacious rear washroom, which also incorporates a double-door wardrobe.

There’s loads of room to use the loo and the separate shower is a good size, but the shower door is too low, so you’ll likely send water over the top when washing your hair.

The Buccaneer name returns to motorhomes after more than two decades with a model closely related to the Elddis Avalon. Alde heating and habitation air-con are nice to have but, at over £100k with options, the Quantum’s short beds and lack of external storage are hard to overlook.