Coachman VIP 520/4
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Description
Ideal for a family or a couple looking for a versatile layout.
Key Features
Model Year
2014
Product Class
Single Axle
Price from (£)
£23195
Berths
4
Caravan test date
Full Review
WITH the advent of each model year, new models are revealed and updates arrive to tempt you to buy the latest versions.
Sometimes mere fabric and graphics changes denote a new year. Sometimes, though, a range gets significant specification changes and additions.
So it is with the Coachman VIP range. There are no new models for 2014 – but there is a new heating system, plus a new aerial, and a television.
The VIP is a high-spec range. Equipment includes an alarm system with PIR and tilt sensors and a keyfob controller that also switches on the awning light.
It has AL-KO’s anti-snaking system, an extractor fan, an exterior power point and even an outside shower. It provide cold water only, but it’s ideal for washing muddy boots or even the mud off a dog, provided the weather is warm enough for a cold shower!
For 2014, the 520 has all of those things plus the latest heating system from Truma, which delivers 6kW of gas power for rapid warm-up of both water and space heating.
An Avtex television is now part of the package; it’s a model with an integral satellite decoder and DVD playback facility. And VIPs get the latest Avtex aerial for 2014.
It’s a high gain, single-spike design, omni-directional aerial that receives both television and radio signals. The chief advantage is that there is no need to rotate your aerial in search of optimum signal. Our test example of the VIP range, the 520/4, is the side dining area model with end shower room and settees that are long enough to make single beds.
It’s a versatile layout that will appeal both to couples who want a permanent dining area and to families who want to make bunk beds in that dining space It will also appeal to buyers for whom large shower rooms are important…
Showering
It’s not only the practicality of size of the shower room that will appeal to potential buyers. There are two style elements that are quite stunning.
When you switch on the shower room light, in addition to the three roof-mounted LED clusters, a line of LED lights illuminates around the top edge of the shiny black structure on which the shower rose is mounted.
The second style feature is a folded fabric blind, which descends over the window when you release a cord. The fabric is high quality ivory-coloured satin, with a floral design in slightly darker shades which catch the light; very classy!
The wardrobe is plenty large enough for the needs of the four people the 520 is designed to sleep. The rail is just over a metre in length; there is ample space in the base of the wardrobe for shoes, plus shelves and two large drawers for smaller items.
Three open shelves alongside the washbasin and another above the window will amply take care of the stuff you use every day.
And when it’s time to stow for towing, the two cabinets give you more than enough space to hide things away securely.
Sleeping
You transform the dining area into bunk beds by pulling up the bunk base that lies alongside the wall. A wooden guard side is provided to prevent unscheduled exits from the top bunk. The mattress for this bunk folds into two sections, so that you can store it under the seating areas. It’s only 5cm deep but is suitable for a young caravanner.
The mattress for the lower bunk is created from the dining seating, so it’s the full depth of this upholstery, as distinct from some side dining area bed mattresses which fold out to half-thickness.
Its depth makes it suitable for an adult. And it’s 1.83m long (six feet), which is longer than many side dining area beds.
The table provides the centre section of the bed base. You fold its leg inwards, parallel to the table-top, and rest the table on ledges on the edge of the seats.
The 520’s versatile appeal is enhanced by the length of the settees which can be made into single beds; at 1.93m they’re sized for tall caravanners.
Storage The space under the dining area has slatted tops which you slide towards the offside of the caravan to gain access to the space below. In the lounge, you can get into the nearside settee locker either from a front hatch or by lifting the top. On the offside you don’t get a front hatch because the base of the double bed slides out from here and the design doesn’t allow for a door.
Seven top lockers, plus two small corner lockers, take care of small, lightweight items and three drawers in the centre-front unit are there for heavier stuff.
Dining
The 520 has three dining options. Two can dine opposite the kitchen or at the pull-out table on top of the chest of drawers. The third dining option is of course the large table, which is stored in a cabinet on the fore end of the wardrobe.
Lounging
With firm, curved armrests and settees that are 1.93m long, you have home-from-home lounge comfort in the 520. This is as spacious as parallel caravan lounges get.
The television that comes with the caravan can perch on the small dresser that divides the lounge from the dining room. There are two sockets here, plus TV connection points. Lighting is a style feature of VIP lounges, with LEDs concealed in corner mouldings and lighting above the lockers.
Kitchen
Surface space is surely the most important aspect of a caravan kitchen; the big question is: Is there enough for your needs? For the great majority of potential buyers the answer has to be yes.
The surface to the right of the drainer extends 40cm, and has a depth of 70cm. There’s a 19cm-wide space to the left of the sink. And this kitchen has the advantage of having a recessed drainer.
A washing-up bowl is provided, together with a cutting board that precisely covers the sink. This also fits over the drainer, giving you lots of options about how to use the sink area to suit differing needs as you cook. Above, three cream-coloured doors hide two cupboards and the microwave.
Fitments accommodate four mugs, plates and bowls, plus two bottles and three stemmed glasses or plastic goblets. A cutlery tray is fitted into the wide kitchen drawer, leaving half of its width for other stuff.
The cupboard beneath it is 60cm wide, and has one large shelf space plus a smaller one, in front of the wheelarch frame.
Towing
When you consider a caravan of the VIP’s spec and price status you’d expect to have an electronic stability control system as standard, and you get it here.
On its test tow, without a flicker of a breeze to interrupt stability and with no unwelcome swishes of air created by large overtaking vehicles, the 520’s ATC electronics didn’t have need to activate.
The value comes, especially, when you have to tow in high winds; something detecting and correcting a snaking motion can save lives. We were chattering over the advantages of this system and how much we wish it were fitted on all caravans, as we sped along with the VIP on the hook of our Kia Sorento, enjoying the easy tow that this caravan provided.
Along narrow roads, right-angled corners, straights when you can get up to 50mph and out onto the A1 where the 520 felt fine and secure at 60, this proved to be a caravan we would choose for long cross-France tows where easy driving is as important as the comfort of the caravan when you get there.
Sometimes mere fabric and graphics changes denote a new year. Sometimes, though, a range gets significant specification changes and additions.
So it is with the Coachman VIP range. There are no new models for 2014 – but there is a new heating system, plus a new aerial, and a television.
The VIP is a high-spec range. Equipment includes an alarm system with PIR and tilt sensors and a keyfob controller that also switches on the awning light.
It has AL-KO’s anti-snaking system, an extractor fan, an exterior power point and even an outside shower. It provide cold water only, but it’s ideal for washing muddy boots or even the mud off a dog, provided the weather is warm enough for a cold shower!
For 2014, the 520 has all of those things plus the latest heating system from Truma, which delivers 6kW of gas power for rapid warm-up of both water and space heating.
An Avtex television is now part of the package; it’s a model with an integral satellite decoder and DVD playback facility. And VIPs get the latest Avtex aerial for 2014.
It’s a high gain, single-spike design, omni-directional aerial that receives both television and radio signals. The chief advantage is that there is no need to rotate your aerial in search of optimum signal. Our test example of the VIP range, the 520/4, is the side dining area model with end shower room and settees that are long enough to make single beds.
It’s a versatile layout that will appeal both to couples who want a permanent dining area and to families who want to make bunk beds in that dining space It will also appeal to buyers for whom large shower rooms are important…
Showering
It’s not only the practicality of size of the shower room that will appeal to potential buyers. There are two style elements that are quite stunning.
When you switch on the shower room light, in addition to the three roof-mounted LED clusters, a line of LED lights illuminates around the top edge of the shiny black structure on which the shower rose is mounted.
The second style feature is a folded fabric blind, which descends over the window when you release a cord. The fabric is high quality ivory-coloured satin, with a floral design in slightly darker shades which catch the light; very classy!
The wardrobe is plenty large enough for the needs of the four people the 520 is designed to sleep. The rail is just over a metre in length; there is ample space in the base of the wardrobe for shoes, plus shelves and two large drawers for smaller items.
Three open shelves alongside the washbasin and another above the window will amply take care of the stuff you use every day.
And when it’s time to stow for towing, the two cabinets give you more than enough space to hide things away securely.
Sleeping
You transform the dining area into bunk beds by pulling up the bunk base that lies alongside the wall. A wooden guard side is provided to prevent unscheduled exits from the top bunk. The mattress for this bunk folds into two sections, so that you can store it under the seating areas. It’s only 5cm deep but is suitable for a young caravanner.
The mattress for the lower bunk is created from the dining seating, so it’s the full depth of this upholstery, as distinct from some side dining area bed mattresses which fold out to half-thickness.
Its depth makes it suitable for an adult. And it’s 1.83m long (six feet), which is longer than many side dining area beds.
The table provides the centre section of the bed base. You fold its leg inwards, parallel to the table-top, and rest the table on ledges on the edge of the seats.
The 520’s versatile appeal is enhanced by the length of the settees which can be made into single beds; at 1.93m they’re sized for tall caravanners.
Storage The space under the dining area has slatted tops which you slide towards the offside of the caravan to gain access to the space below. In the lounge, you can get into the nearside settee locker either from a front hatch or by lifting the top. On the offside you don’t get a front hatch because the base of the double bed slides out from here and the design doesn’t allow for a door.
Seven top lockers, plus two small corner lockers, take care of small, lightweight items and three drawers in the centre-front unit are there for heavier stuff.
Dining
The 520 has three dining options. Two can dine opposite the kitchen or at the pull-out table on top of the chest of drawers. The third dining option is of course the large table, which is stored in a cabinet on the fore end of the wardrobe.
Lounging
With firm, curved armrests and settees that are 1.93m long, you have home-from-home lounge comfort in the 520. This is as spacious as parallel caravan lounges get.
The television that comes with the caravan can perch on the small dresser that divides the lounge from the dining room. There are two sockets here, plus TV connection points. Lighting is a style feature of VIP lounges, with LEDs concealed in corner mouldings and lighting above the lockers.
Kitchen
Surface space is surely the most important aspect of a caravan kitchen; the big question is: Is there enough for your needs? For the great majority of potential buyers the answer has to be yes.
The surface to the right of the drainer extends 40cm, and has a depth of 70cm. There’s a 19cm-wide space to the left of the sink. And this kitchen has the advantage of having a recessed drainer.
A washing-up bowl is provided, together with a cutting board that precisely covers the sink. This also fits over the drainer, giving you lots of options about how to use the sink area to suit differing needs as you cook. Above, three cream-coloured doors hide two cupboards and the microwave.
Fitments accommodate four mugs, plates and bowls, plus two bottles and three stemmed glasses or plastic goblets. A cutlery tray is fitted into the wide kitchen drawer, leaving half of its width for other stuff.
The cupboard beneath it is 60cm wide, and has one large shelf space plus a smaller one, in front of the wheelarch frame.
Towing
When you consider a caravan of the VIP’s spec and price status you’d expect to have an electronic stability control system as standard, and you get it here.
On its test tow, without a flicker of a breeze to interrupt stability and with no unwelcome swishes of air created by large overtaking vehicles, the 520’s ATC electronics didn’t have need to activate.
The value comes, especially, when you have to tow in high winds; something detecting and correcting a snaking motion can save lives. We were chattering over the advantages of this system and how much we wish it were fitted on all caravans, as we sped along with the VIP on the hook of our Kia Sorento, enjoying the easy tow that this caravan provided.
Along narrow roads, right-angled corners, straights when you can get up to 50mph and out onto the A1 where the 520 felt fine and secure at 60, this proved to be a caravan we would choose for long cross-France tows where easy driving is as important as the comfort of the caravan when you get there.
Our Verdict
For over £23,000 you expect all the trimmings as well as a stability system that’s now an industry standard in high-end caravans. The VIP 520/4 delivers amply. Little wonder that VIPs have such a strong repeat-purchase pull. And at 1600kg MTPLM, it’s suitable for a good range of towcars.
Advantages
The rapid warm-up heating system
The size of the kitchen
The versatility of the layout
The television that comers with the caravan
