Laser XCEL 875 Review

Room To Groove

The Coachman brand has a solid reputation for its high quality build, design and craftsmanship. Paul Owen visited Whakatāne to learn about the Laser XCEL 875.

Caravan buyers naturally want the best their money can buy, and for the Coachman brand, the Lusso rules the roost. Sitting one step below the Lusso is the Laser XCEL 875. The differences between the two are minor, including the premium asked for the Lusso by the sole New Zealand Coachman dealership, Gateway Caravans, located on the northern outskirts of Whakatāne. When we reviewed it last year, the Lusso was listing for $119,995 at the high-profile point of sale. Six months on, this wide-body Laser XCEL costs $116,995 in standard format, rising to $122,995 with an added New Zealand package of a 24” TV and automatic satellite dish, 200w of solar power, full self-containment certification, and 120L onboard fresh and grey water tanks (monitored) instead of the 30L tanks and 100w solar panel that come from the factory.

Most buyers will opt to add that package for the increased Kiwi-touring-friendliness that it enables, making for an intriguing buying decision when viewing the two Coachman models on the sales lot. Should the buyer’s budget be somewhere in the low $120K mark, you can pick between a UK-configured Lusso or a New Zealand-ready Laser XCEL 875. Adding the New Zealand pack to the Lusso cost $7,000 when the top Coachman was reviewed last year, taking the price to $126,995. So, opting for the Laser XCEL 875 gives buyers a potential saving of $4000 at the time of writing this, although with the Kiwi dollar getting its backside kicked in the international currency trading that determines most what our imported goods cost at present, that price difference isn’t set in stone. The way things are going mid-2022, the quicker you can secure the keys to your luxurious new caravan the less it will cost. So, on your marks, get ready, GO!

Lusso Vs Laser XCEL 875

The owners of Gateway Caravans, Melissa and Craig Growden, have experienced strong demand for each of the top tandem-axle Coachman models, to the point where the buyer’s decision is often determined by availability. As the exclusive New Zealand dealers for the brand, they’re allocated a certain number of caravans annually from the large Coachman factory in Hull, East Yorkshire. “We then adjust the models we select within that allocation according to demand,” says Melissa. “A lot of prospective buyers are interested in both models and are keen to compare them directly when they are here. Most are experienced caravanners, and many have owned Coachmans before, so they know what they’re getting. Once you look inside them you can see how much quality there is, how well made they are, and how well they’re fitted out.”

So, what does that extra $4K for the Lusso buy you besides the ability to brag that you’ve just purchased the United Kingdom’s most luxurious and expensive caravan? The Lusso comes with WiFi and air conditioning fitted as standard, and has more luxurious trimming, as noticed most through the longer pile carpet. Apart from these, and the way the main beds are on opposite sides, the luxury Coachman models could be twins. The kitchens, lounges and bathrooms are almost identical, and both sit atop a heavy-duty AL-KO trailer with Euro-axle suspension, AAA brakes, and an automatic trailer control-equipped coupling that’s deliberately on the stubby side to enhance towing stability. Both self-level at the push of a button.

The Coachman Factor

It’s taken almost three decades of historic caravan-building for Coachman to finally change their badge from something that looked like an untidy medieval coat of arms to a roundel-framed shield that would appear vaguely BMW-ish were it not for the red-black-silver hues. at badge upgrade occurred last year, thankfully without affecting the trio of front windows that have identified Coachman caravans ever since their inception back in 1972. In the Laser, as with the Lusso, this transparent triumvirate curves gracefully backwards, and comes topped by a similarly aerodynamic skylight that floods the lounge area with natural light. Another piece of the brand DNA was conceived back in 2014, when Coachman developed its ABC (Advanced Bonded Construction) method of caravan building in partnership with industrial adhesive maker, Bostik.

This eschewed wood in favour of advanced polyurethane (PU), resulting in stronger, lighter mobile structures that are fully insulated and highly resistant to water ingress (there’s a conditional 10-year warranty covering this). The Laser, like many UK-made caravans, is insulated to Grade 3 standard. The Coachman factor is that it is lighter than most tandem-axle caravans of this size that also meet Grade Three insulation regulations. How light? With a cabin measuring 6.7 metres in length and taking almost full spatial advantage of the maximum 2.5 metre width dimensions allowed for unhindered travel on New Zealand roads, the Laser is a similar size to the Aussie-made Roma Razorback. However, it’s over 1200kg lighter when it comes to unladen mass, weighing in at 1725kg versus the 2950kg Roma. Admittedly, that’s without the New Zealand package added to the Laser, and the Roma comes fully equipped to camp for weeks without need for other facilities, but a large part of that difference is due to the different construction methods.

Laser Lounge

The front lounge of the Laser stays true to the Coachman caravan template, offering two comfy couches facing each other beneath the generous glasshouse, served instantly by a pull-out table or more formally by erecting a larger one stashed elsewhere. There are light switches, charge points and entertainment system speakers
in either corner of the lounge, with a Pioneer audio system located in a corner above the right-side couch. It all comes together to create a spacious double bed with scatter cushions if required, and the LED spotlights fitted to the undersides of the overhead cupboards can be adjusted to suit either layout.

So far, so Coachman traditional, but look closer and you’ll notice some new touches, like the wireless charging pad for phones of the iPhone 8 and Samsung 7 generations and above. The Pioneer system can also pull in digital radio signals and connect with smartphones via Bluetooth. With its wealth of natural light and space, the Laser XCEL 875’s lounge creates a strong first impression, the wow factor just as strong as the Lusso’s. A lot of that is due to a surfeit of floor space. With a large cabin accommodating just four berths and the master bed mounted across the floor, the Laser actually feels as spacious as a downtown apartment, and is just as capable of becoming a permanent home.

Fume-Free Kitchen

The kitchen is where Coachman has upgraded the 2022 edition of the Laser XCEL 875 most, and one of the most welcome improvements is the fitting of an extractor fan above the Thetford stove. Said cooker has four hobs – one electric and three gas – and the sturdy cookware supports surrounding them are made of cast iron to handle the weight of heavy pots and pans. Below the hobs are a proper grille/oven, and if that’s not enough cooking firepower, there’s also a microwave in an overhead locker ready to go when plugged into mains supply. The composite bench tops offer plenty of space to do the mahi of preparing kai, with a decent extra pull-up work benchtop extension in reserve.

Taking advantage of the extra width, the XCEL versions of the Laser range offer deeper cupboards than the narrower models. The new ‘Palladio’ splashback behind the deep round sink has a nice marble effect finish.Spin around, and there’s more cupboard room on the other side of the van along with a 153L electronic Dometic fridge/ freezer with ambidextrous door operation and the ability to draw its energy from three sources – 240v, 12v and gas. The freezer takes top billing in the Dometic, and there’s a salad drawer at the base of the fridge area. A deep cupboard above the unit could become a handy place to keep the bread and wine, with sauces taken care of by a pull-out set of stacked racks on the other side.

Sleeping Sideways

The transverse master/mistress bed of the Laser will be a polarising feature for most prospective buyers of a Laser XCEL 875. Many will love it, as it creates more room inside the cabin, the width of the bed consuming less of the longitudinal cabin length than if mounted the other way. Others might think that the opportunity has been lost to have a permanently made master bed once they view the two-part Duvalay mattress and the way the two parts can overlap to create a more compact bed during daylight occupation of the caravan. This increases aisle space to reach the bathroom at the rear of the Coachman so that you can comfortably walk through.

However, you can have that permanently made 1.88m x 1.37m bed and still enjoy bathroom access and egress, provided you’re prepared to do a sideways shuffle past the end of the extended master bed. Consider it a bit of free exercise without the need to go to the gym. Besides, that transverse main bed is one of the best reasons to buy an XCEL model instead of an ‘ordinary’ Coachman Laser. The Laser 675 that’s closest in length and layout to the XCEL 875 allows no opportunity for a permanently made bed as it doesn’t have the width to allow bathroom access once the mattress and base are extended.

Marbled Bathroom

A similar upgrade to the kitchen has been made to the bathroom area of the 2022 Laser 875 XCEL. The ‘Palladio Shiky’ marble effect material is added to the splashbacks of the rectangular shower cubicle with its two-piece door, and the central vanity that separates the shower from the toilet mirrors the similar materials used in the kitchen. There’s a heated towel rail mounted close to the swivel toilet, and it might be best to adjust the angle of the latter before use to prevent having an unexpected close encounter with the towel warmer. Unlike many caravans/ motorhomes, the personal comfort/ grooming area of the Coachman comes with a toilet roll holder.

It’s All Here

The fine detailing of the Coachman XCEL 875 is readily apparent upon initial encounter and it’s almost impossible to consider it a lesser choice than the more expensive Lusso. If you like what you see here, be prepared to wait around four to five months for one to make its journey from Hull to Whakatāne.

Coachman Laser XCEL 875

Price: $119,995 ($122,995 with package)

More information here: gatewaycaravans.co.nz