Elnagh Baron 530 motorhome

Here’s something to sing about – a surprisingly well appointed new motorhome for under £70k…

Is now the right time, with sales slowing and dealer stock levels high, to be reintroducing a motorhome marque that’s been absent from the UK since 2009? 

You might question the wisdom if it were not for Marquis Leisure’s access to sister brands from the Trigano empire and thus the ability to cherry-pick some more affordable models to strengthen its portfolio beneath the existing Benimar and Mobilvetta ranges.

We’ve already seen this approach with the introduction of the Panama campervans, starting at under £60k (see October issue). Now, Elnagh is back with a range of full-sized motorhomes, called Baron, all available for less than £70k. 

Four models will debut at the Motorhome & Caravan Show 2024 at the NEC – the twin-lounge 530 and rear transverse double bed 560, each at £67,995, and the longer (7.45m) models with twin beds (573) or an island bed (579) at £69,995. All are based on the newly facelifted Peugeot Boxer, which is now even more closely related to its Fiat sibling.

Only the front bumper/grille is different to the Ducato and there’s even an automatic option on the Peugeot for the first time. When the new Elnagh range was mentioned to me for the first time a couple of months ago, it was described as ‘entry, entry, entry-level’, so I certainly wasn’t expecting the Baron to have a large, opening overcab sunroof, remote central locking linked to the habitation door or fully framed habitation windows. 

OK, the front bumper is unpainted and a set of plastic wheel trims is less stylish than a set of alloys, but there’s nothing about the exterior of this motorhome that shouts cheap.

Looking in more detail at the exterior reveals an awning light, a flyscreen for the habitation door (which also has two-point locking, a window and bin), all-GRP external panels and glass-fibre under the floor for protection against damage. Unlike most imported rivals, the Baron is also UK-handed with the habitation door on the left-hand side.

There’s no spare wheel (just a Fix & Go kit), but that’s hardly unusual on a 3,500kg motorhome – and it does help with the generous 590kg payload (for a manual version). What you will find underneath is the 100-litre waste tank, which (surprisingly) is heated. 

This Baron 530 is the smallest model in the range – its 6.59m overall length is just 23cm more than an extra-long Fiat/Peugeot panel van – but, although it’s also the only one without a fixed bed, it still has useful exterior storage. 

Doors on either side provide access to a space beneath the rear lounge that’s up to 56cm tall and between 55cm and 80cm wide – not enough for bikes (except folders) but sufficient for some comfy outdoor chairs and the like.

There’s a light just inside the nearside hatch, while a 230V socket is here, too. Other external openings reveal the 95Ah leisure battery on the nearside and the gas locker (high over the wheelarch, so lifting heavy cylinders might be a chore) on the offside.

There are no external shower or barbecue points but the fresh water tank is both large (100 litres) and inboard for winterisation. In typical Marquis style, there’s no options list for the Baron (just choose manual or auto), but there is an Adventure Pack, which will be included free at the NEC show and priced at £2,395 thereafter. It adds a radio (with Apple CarPlay), a 100W solar panel, rear parking sensors and a TV aerial, as well as a Starter Pack that gives newbies everything they need to begin their motorhome travels – a hook-up lead with three-pin and continental adaptors, levelling blocks, anti-slip grip tracks, toilet chemical, fresh water hose, 6kg gas cylinder, fire extinguisher and spare bulbs and fuses.

Pug nose

Bar the new front styling, how new is the ‘new’ Peugeot Boxer? Well, step into the cab and it’s not moved on much since the debut of these vans way back in 2007, with the same cheap, hard plastics on the fascia. 

What has changed is that the mechanicals are the same as the Fiat, including the new eight-speed automatic transmission. We’ve waited decades for that on a Peugeot van and now it’s here – and it’s as smooth and easy to use as you’d hope. It’s pricey, though, as a £4,000 option. Under the bonnet is a 140hp, 2.2-litre diesel motor that meets the latest (Euro 6D) emissions standards and provides adequate performance but lags behind the more potent Ford motors. As ever, the ride is firm, resulting in a surefooted feel – and lots of rattles from the living area.

Bar the gaping hole in the dash’ where you’ll want a radio and the lack of a reversing camera, the rest of the spec is not as basic as you might fear. Cab air-conditioning, cruise control, electric mirrors, Traction Plus, Hill Descent Control (but not a hill holder), tyre pressure monitoring and stop/start are all present and correct.

Twin peaks

Inside, too, I was taken aback by the fact that the Baron would pass for a more expensive model. The furniture has curved top lockers with two-tone doors and gloss finish and there are details such as the two roof vents where one might suffice. There’s little to suggest that this is a back-to- basics motorhome, except for the lack of carpets.

Even the Truma Combi is the more powerful 6kW unit with both gas and 230V power. The 530 also does a good job of packing two lounges into a relatively compact vehicle and still feeling spacious. The front dinette provides the two rear travel seats, with Isofix, while the rear lounge caters better for relaxing. 

Both have an upholstery that mixes vinyl and cloth, with the cab seats adopting a less practical all-white finish that may be susceptible to blue jean stains. 

Up front, the half-dinette combines with swivel cab seats around quite a large (106cm by 63cm) fixed table. The Skydome sunroof lets in lots of daylight and a central ceiling lamp and strip light under the top locker, plus an ornamental light on the end of the bench, give plenty of artificial illumination (only cab reading lights are absent).

On site, the table can be moved easily with its single-handle operation, but, when the driver’s seat is facing forwards, the table becomes more obtrusive and space (especially for child seats) becomes quite restricted on the rear travel seat. 

There’s a much greater feeling of space and greater comfort in the stern, where the table folds in half and is much less dominant in the space. As found up front, there are Roman blinds (in addition to the flat cassette blinds and flyscreens) and both ceiling and strip lights, but again no reading lamps.

There’s plenty of room here to put your feet up, despite the offside settee being shorter than its opposite number (1.30m plays 1.50m). The whole family could dine here, too, as the expanded table measures 90cm by 68cm. Headroom (1.88m) is not impaired too much by the drop-down bed above. 

Under the rear sofas, you’ll find the boiler, internal access to the garage area and a small locker but none of this is particularly easy to access. More useful is the cabinet on the nearside, where you’ll find aerial, 12V, 230V and USB sockets as well as a useful work surface. 

Further forward, worktop is in short supply in the galley, so food preparation will undoubtedly involve the table. The sink lacks a cover and the hob has just two rings but, before you say ‘so that’s where they saved money’, spot the Thetford Duplex combined oven and grill and the super-tall 142-litre fridge with automatic energy selection.

There’s another mains socket here, too, but it’s high up above the window and directly over the sink – hmm!

The lowdown

Step into the washroom and the first thing that strikes you is the height of the basin – at just 74cm off the floor it seems to have been designed for children and taller adults may find it uncomfortably low. Alongside, at least the swivel cassette loo isn’t on a plinth, so that’s at the right height. This room is divided into two.

As you enter, the toilet and storage cupboard face you in an area where wood finish dominates. To the right it’s more cream walls and plastic in the wet zone. There’s a duckboard here – don’t stand on the edge, it can tip up. 

Remove that and unfold the shower screen and the basin’s tap becomes the showerhead with a choice of jet or spray and plenty of water pressure. It’s a really good shower with enough room, twin drains in the tray and a roof vent to let out the steam.

Alongside the washroom, the wardrobe has an 88cm drop from its rail and enough room for a family’s garments. It’s mounted over the external gas locker, so there’s no internal storage below.

Electric dreams

At night, another surprise is that there’s remarkably little cushion juggling – you don’t even need to move or lower the rear table. That’s because the end lounge only converts into a single bed; with the addition of a slot-in support (stored on the back wall of the garage) and an infill cushion, a long (2.16m) transverse bed is easy to erect.

Above it, the 530’s main bed is an electric drop-down double that narrows from 1.31m to 1.13m towards the offside (it’s shaped around the wardrobe) – heads go to the nearside where there are twin reading lights (one with USB). Keep your finger on the button and the bed lowers, but not as much as you’d expect – headroom above the mattress is only 54cm.

That leaves the bed 1.54m off the floor, so you’ll certainly need to use the ladder. Looking at the track in which the bed mechanism operates left me wondering why the mattress didn’t come down to a more easily accessible level, creating much more headroom for the double bed’s occupants.

The answer, it seems, lies in National Caravan Council regulations (the Elnagh is NCC approved) requiring a minimum of 500mm headroom for the person sleeping below. But the good news is that Marquis says that, if a customer requests it and they do not need the lower single bed, the drop-down can be adjusted to come down lower – by at least 40cm ought to be possible. Over the front dinette is another electric bed, although this one is just a single.

Again, you operate it by keeping your finger on the switch and, like the rear bed, there’s room to leave a duvet in situ when the bed is stowed. The front bed comes down to a similar height to the rear one but that’s OK because it leaves room (just) to sit underneath or, with a bit of stooping, enter or exit the motorhome through the habitation door.

This time, you’ll sleep with your head to the offside as that’s where the single spotlight is (along with recesses for books or magazines). 

Once again, the bed is on sprung staves and there’s a ladder for access but note, here, that when clipped into position the ladder blocks the washroom door.

Despite its keen price tag, the Elnagh Baron is much better spec’d than we expected, with features like a Combi 6 E heater. Add a radio (included in the Adventure Pack) and a reversing camera and you’d have everything you need.

The 530 layout also packs a lot into just 6.59m and (with the rear bed adjusted to come down lower) has lots of appeal for couples and small families.