Full review

Side settee lounges have long been popular in the UK but now the continental makers seem to be adopting them, too, though with one key bonus – the ability to adapt inward-facing benches to become forward-facing belted travel seats. The best of both worlds? Let’s find out…

Adria is offering this new-format lounge in its A-class Sonic and drop-down-bed low-profile Matrix, as well as the Coral tested here, and with single beds as an alternative. The habitation door is on the UK offside, as you’d probably expect, and it’s a now-familiar layout – front lounging around a fixed-base table, kitchen amidships opposite the door, washroom and shower opposite each other behind, then that must-have island bed.

Adria (of Slovenia and now part of Trigano), has an excellent, well-established reputation in Britain. It offers three levels of trim for most motorhomes – Axess, Plus and Supreme. This motorhome was a mid-range Plus, which costs from £61,325 but, with all the packs and options fitted, comes to over £71k, putting it squarely in the competitive upper-middle market sector. Most European motorhomes are built on Italian-made Sevel base vehicles – mainly Fiat Ducatos, rather than the Peugeot Boxer and Citroën Relay stablemates.

The cab, as expected, has all mod cons: twin airbags, air-con, cruise control, rear view camera (and rear sensors), all the safety acronyms (ESP, ESC, ABS, HDC), plus a leather steering wheel and gearknob. The fully adjustable cab seats have twin armrests and are tastefully (but impractically) finished with white leather panels.

The lounge will seat six comfortably – two on the swivelled cab seats and two each on inward-facing settees. Whilst most UK versions don’t provide rear travel seats, Adria has gone to great lengths to ensure at least one additional passenger can travel. A normal Euro lounge with a half-dinette usually incorporates two forward-facing belted seats and, here, when preparing the new-style lounge for travel, you install a headrest and extra, comfortably sculpted backrest cushion (both stored elsewhere), remove a seat cushion and fold back part of the base. 

Traditionally, the kitchen is a poor relation in some continental motorhomes. Here, although size is restricted, the design is excellent, maximising space and practicality. Adria calls it a V-kitchen, though it’s really an L-shape. At the back, the in-line, three-burner, auto-ignition hob has a darkened glass lid (which also adds to work space) and an extractor fan above. There’s a Thetford oven/grill and plenty of storage (two overhead cupboards, plus three good drawers including one for cutlery, and a pan cupboard). Opposite, the tall/slim 142-litre AES fridge has another deep cupboard above.

Ablutions are split, with an offside shower cubicle and washroom opposite. The washroom door swings across to shut off the living area and a sliding door closes off the bedroom, so there is privacy and access either side. The washroom has a Thetford swivel loo (a bit high), with a large shelved cupboard above. An oval acrylic basin is served by a swivel mixer tap, and the mirror above contains elegant lighting strips.

Island beds are popular, removing the faff of fighting with cushions and pulling out settee bases. However, they frequently have limited or awkward access. The Coral compares extremely well with its rivals: the bed is long and wide enough to compensate for the rounded-off ends, yet there’s ample space to pass around either side. The bed can also be raised electrically, increasing garage space while travelling.

Lowering the lounge table and juggling cushions, you can make a single bed up front but, if you want to take family away with you, we would suggest buying a Matrix, with its drop-down bed.

If you enjoyed this review, you can read the full version and more in the December 2018 issue of MMM magazine. You can get a digital version of this latest issue of MMM magazine here.