Coachman Pastiche 545/4

Ideal for a couple with an island bed at the top of their list

Exterior

You’ll notice the small metal plaque on the drawbar that indicates the presence of the ATC stability control system. That’s the practical, safety attribute that will enhance the Pastiche’s appeal to most buyers. But the aesthetic appeal of this range is the aspect of this caravan that will catch your eye first. High shoulder lines and a sunroof that runs the whole width of the caravan mean that these distinctive Pastiches look like few other caravans, apart from Coachman’s Lasers and VIPs. The bold, striking graphics use shades of deep, dark turquoise and pale and dark grey to attract attention.

Interior

The Pastiche 545’s island bedroom has the kind of features – two wardrobes, two drawers, two shoe cabinets and two over-bed lockers – that you’d find in a fitted bedroom in a house. There’s a dressing table, too,
and in its cabinet are mains and 12V sockets plus a TV aerial point, and a neat surprise... TV power and aerial cables can be fed up to the cabinet top via a circular aperture which is covered when not in use.

The windows, on both sides of the bedroom, have fine voile curtains as well as ones that match those in the lounge.

The shower and washing facilities are forward of the bedroom. The door of the toilet-washbasin compartment is hinged to the front, so that when it is opened, it closes across the corridor, completely dividing off the bedroom from the living area – so much better than a pleated partition. You really feel that the 545 has two distinct rooms and that welcome feature is a rarity in a single-axle caravan which, at 5.8m, is not huge.

The kitchen has a nice surprise, too, a generous 70cm- wide cupboard, although there is some intrusion into the space from the wheel arch and gas taps. There are three drawers in the unit, plus a cabinet for the freestanding table.

Kitchen spec includes a mains hotplate and an Omnivent extractor fan. The fridge is opposite the kitchen; the surface above it giving extra space when needed. The microwave is above, within this dresser-style unit. In typical Coachman style, it’s hidden away behind a door. The six top lockers in the lounge are of the same pleasantly pale woodwork used elsewhere.

The 545’s lounge isn’t long enough to make single beds. The base for the double bed draws out from under the offside settee.

Upholstery is among the Pastiche range’s distinguishing features. A tactile suede-effect fabric upholsters the tops of the backrests and top sections of the four armrests, which are removable. The pale fabrics used in the curtains and scatter cushions combine with the wide sunroof to create an airy effect.

Light is a feature of the 545’s décor after dark, too. Bright LEDs above all the top lockers send it streaming across the ceiling. Corner lights, which follow the curve of the exterior shoulder lines, each contain six bright LED units and a strip of LEDs set into the top kitchen lockers give ample light where you need it. Only the area above the fridge misses out; it is, however, the perfect place for a small table lamp!

In keeping with the general high level of spec, the 545 has a total of five power points – two in the kitchen, one above the fridge, one in the bedroom and a fifth at floor level in the lounge.

Big Pioneer speakers are set into the corner panels. The sunroof has a pleated blind which can be partially drawn down at an angle, to obscure direct sunlight which may be interfering with the image on your TV, while leaving most of the aperture free to let in as much daylight as possible.

Pastiches have the Truma Combi space and water heating system controlled, in the 545, from a simple-to-use panel
above the fridge. The main power control panel is above the door. It has electronic buttons which activate at the lightest possible touch and a screen indicates the action you’ve chosen, for example, ‘awning on’ or ‘pump on’ (or off). It’s
a pleasant refinement that contributes, in a small way, to the whole picture of finesse that you see everywhere in the 545.

At £21,495 you’d expect high quality and the Pastiche 545 delivers. Aimed at discerning caravanners, the price and the finesse stack up well.