Kimberley Coachman Amara 450/2 caravan

TAKE Coachman’s classic Amara, add more than £1000-worth of additional equipment for no extra cost, and you have a caravan that’s excellent value and of unique appeal.

Kimberley Coachman Amara 450/2 caravan

TAKE Coachman’s classic Amara, add more than £1000-worth of additional equipment for no extra cost, and you have a caravan that’s excellent value and of unique appeal.

Not that the standard Amara range lacks appeal. Far from it. Coachman has introduced some special touches for the 2009 model year, like locker edges of a darker wood than the rest of the cabinetry. 

Kimberley Caravans has added a package of £1000-plus extras for free, including a DVD player that would cost you an extra £290 were you to order it independently. 

You get upgraded upholstery with a listed price of £245. Possibly most importantly, you get an alarm system listed at £340 – and that will more than likely accrue you an additional saving on your caravan insurance. An awning warmer is also on the list.

This two-berth, end washroom model is cosy yet also has spacious appeal. The kitchen is the star feature. It’s a true galley, with large worktop above fridge and unit directly opposite the cooking and sink arrangements. 

Taking the fridge away from this offside area means there is space for two large cupboards, plus a drawer. And that amount of storage space tops our list of praise for this model. It’s superbly designed.

You get a proper drainer and four burners atop the Spinflo oven/grill, and the sink is a good size. At mealtimes you’ll notice just how convenient the galley configuration is; you’d never run out of room here. 

The nearside work-surface takes care of that. And you’ll never run out of shelf space. The drinks cabinet deserves your attention for its design: the doors are translucent plastic and it’s quite stunning in its simplicity and modernity. 

Conveniently there are two mains sockets atop this cabinet, plus various television sockets and DVD connections.

The armrests on the parallel settees are part of the special edition. They’re curving, solid upholstered affairs that hold you firmly.

Upholstery is part of the special-edition list, too – it’s of a higher-grade fabric than the standard Amara, and the cloth is unique to Kimberley. It’s one special pattern that gives the Kimberley Amara its distinctive appeal.

The carpet is beautiful, but its pale cream hue makes it totally impractical. 

Practicality, though, comes in spadesfull in the huge rear washroom that’s got bags of style: shower on the left, full-length wardrobe beside it with shelves to the right. 

The washbasin is set into the same slate-effect as the kitchen. There’s a wall cupboard and a smart corner shelf unit above the mirror. It’s a superbly luxurious washroom. 
Amaras are good but Kimberley Amaras are better still. 

And the 1340kg MTPLM followed steadily behind the on-test Renault Koleos, reminding us that centre kitchen two-berth models, with the heaviest equipment over the axle, are a more stable option that the traditional end kitchen layouts which have the heavy items behind the axle. 

Specification:

Axles: 1 
Berths: 2
MRO: 1181kg
MTPLM: 1340kg
Width: 2.26m (7ft 5in)
Internal length: 4.67m (15 ft 4in)
Overall height: 6.43m (21ft 1in)
Bed sizes: singles 1.83m x 0.72m (6ft x 2ft
4in); double 2.03m x 1.42m (6ft 8in x 4ft 8in)