Coachman VIP 575 caravan (2024 model)
Description
Coachman’s best-selling caravan, with a high level of spec, excellent kitchen surface space, and a luxurious shower room
Key Features
Full Review
Words: Val Chapman Photography: Richard Chapman
The Coachman VIP 575
Coachman’s VIP is among the longest-running ranges in any manufacturer’s portfolio; it first appeared a staggering 36 years ago.
Always a beacon of the quality and luxury for which Coachman is renowned, the VIP has carved out a substantial market for itself, with much repeat business accounting for sales.
In fact, the VIP is Coachman’s bestselling range – and the 575 is Coachman’s best-selling caravan.
The 575 arrived in 2015, in response to the rising popularity of transverse island bed models. The same year, Coachman introduced Alde heating to the VIP range.
Today, in its standard-width, single-axle, Alde-heated sector, the 575 competes with models in all manufactures’ line-ups.
From Swift, there’s the Challenger 580 SE; from Elddis, the Affinity 554; there’s the Bailey Unicorn Vigo – and, within Coachman’s portfolio, there’s the Acadia 575.
Each has its own character – and the VIP character has always won praise, in particular, for its slightly understated, classically luxurious feel.
Best Four-Berth Caravan award
When it came to the tough task of choosing one model to carry the title Best Four-Berth Caravan in the 2024 Caravan magazine awards, the judges selected the VIP 575; praise indeed in this wide-open sector.
For this award, it competed with all single axle, fixed bed caravans – and came out top, not least because of its high level of equipment.
The spec
The VIP 575 has a luxury vibe – which we were keen to explore in fine detail, along with the spec, during our day at Campbells Caravans of Lostock Hall, Preston. The spec list is a long one…
A towel warmer (part of the Alde heating system), touch-control spotlights with night-time settings, floor-level lights, heavy-duty corner steadies, a gas barbecue point, six cushions, and contoured armrests.
There is also an Omnivent extractor fan, a Whale Watermaster inlet point that enables you to connect to a tap on a pitch, an alarm system, ATC stability control, and a wireless phone charging unit.
All of this adds up to high spec.
The kitchen
And then there are the refinements. Lighting runs under the edge of the kitchen surface. The pan trivet is made of cast iron.
The circular sink is recessed, without a rim, into the kitchen surface, so that, when the cover is over it, and with the 30cm surface extension in place, you have a 1.06m length of worktop.
Even the catches on the four kitchen drawers are worthy of comment. They’re super-neat and have an ultra-smooth action.
The word ‘smooth’ is also appropriate for the gliding action of the metal drawers in the kitchen cabinet.
And, when assessing the practicality of this kitchen, it’s important to factor in the surface above the fridge, opposite; that measures 59cm by 67cm. So, in total, the 575 excels in terms of kitchen surface space.
Storage
Storage space is fine, too. There’s a cutlery drawer above the fridge. In the main kitchen area, opposite, there are three drawers, plus a cabinet that contains three pull-out shelves, with space alongside for the table to slide in and out easily.
The top cabinets are finished in white gloss, and have neat tilt catches that are the same as those on the drawers.
The bedroom
We love the 575’s bedroom for its cosy feel, combined with practicality in terms of storage – and there’s a nice touch of refinement: raising the bed base is a one-finger-flick operation.
And there’s a good-sized dressing table. It’s triangular, with the longest side measuring 65cm.
The washroom
Coachman’s reputation for creating luxurious environments is well acknowledged and nowhere is this more evident than in the way this company designs shower rooms.
The VIP 575 is a great example. It’s larger than you may expect in a caravan of 5.8m body length and standard width, and it’s stacked with refinements.
The splashback looks like real marble. There’s a strip of lighting both beneath and above the mirror.
The oval basin sits upon its cabinet, with plenty of surface space around it. And the ladder-style towel warmer (that’s part of the Alde heating system) is finished in smart gloss white.
The shower cubicle rivals many house showers for size, and it has a full-height panel clad in the same marble-effect surface as the splashback.
There are two shampoo shelves, and the showerhead flow can be adjusted to deliver a spray, or more of a jet.
The lounge
While, as you’d expect in a mid-sized caravan, the settees aren’t long enough to use as single beds for adults, making the double bed in the lounge is super-easy, with a slatted central section to slide out from within the front drawer-and-cabinet unit.
And lounge comfort is guaranteed by the sprung upholstery and curved armrests, plus the six cushions, clad in three different fabrics; one with a herringbone weave, one with a weave that cleverly resembles mottled stone and one that’s inspired by tartan.
Our Verdict
<p>In a caravan market where almost half of the models are eight feet wide, it’s good to see outstanding excellence in the standard-width sector. The award-winning VIP 575 exudes luxury alongside practicality and a high level of spec. </p>
<p>Little wonder it’s Coachman’s best-selling caravan and little wonder that, as models and layouts come and go with each model year, this one is here to stay.</p>
