The main change in Coachman’s Laser range this year has been dropping the ‘Xcel’ tag – all models are now ‘Xtra’. But along with a new model (the 865), there have also been a couple of tweaks. In particular, the latest Coachman Laser 845 Xtra has lost the nearside window at the front, to make way for a domestic-size wall-mounted TV that comes fitted as standard.

So does the luxurious 845 still measure up and does it offer the type of comfort you’d expect to see in the best caravans? I took a look around it at the brand’s season launch this summer, where I also got to see the new Coachman Acadia 460.

Pitch and set-up

This caravan comes with many of the extras you’d expect in this type of caravan – an upmarket model. So you get ATC and a shock absorber, heavy-duty corner steadies, alloys, an underslung spare wheel, an awning light and an offside services light, and two secure wheel locks.

The internal layout means there are no external locker doors, although the front gas bottle locker is possibly big enough to hold outdoor furniture. E&P self-levelling has been dropped from the standard spec. It is now offered, along with a 120W solar panel, as part of the £3995 Xcel Pack with this 8ft-wide caravan.

Lounge in the Coachman Laser 845 Xtra

With its large nearside window, the lounge in the old 845 offered a great place to sit and watch the world go by. But given that this is an 8ft-wide twin-axle, ideally suited for those who like seasonal caravan pitches, it makes sense to replace this with a wall where you could fit the best caravan TV.

You still get plenty of daylight coming in, thanks to the sunroof, and a fine view through the four remaining windows.

The lounge of the Coachman caravan
TV fitted as standard, with wireless charging pad in the shelf below

The shelf under the TV houses a wireless charging pad, and the LED spotlights have integrated USB sockets. In the evening, the area is well lit by ambient LED lighting.

The foldaway table is close at hand in its own slot in the sideboard by the door.

Kitchen in the Coachman Laser 845 Xtra

The L-shaped kitchen has ample worktop and is well lit, thanks to a large window. Yet despite this, I was impressed to see you still get an extension flap, too.

The kitchen
Kitchen is kitted out with a microwave, dual-fuel hob and separate oven and grill

The large round sink has a chunky cover. Nearby are two mains sockets, with plenty of room for a kettle or a toaster. Just to the right, a hob with three gas-burners and one electric plate sits below the extractor fan and above the separate oven and grill. The microwave is located overhead, and the fridge is a 159-litre Thetford model.

Washroom in the Coachman Laser 845 Xtra

The central washroom is separated from the lounge by a swing door, and from the bedroom by a wooden partition. There is a useful space between the shower and the washroom to dress, with a handy mirror.

The shower cubicle is a little cramped, due in part to the wheel arch. It has a light, but no roof vent (there is one in the dressing area), and only one drain hole – so you might want to go for the self-levelling option.

The washroom
Washroom has salad-bowl-style basin, ladder radiator and opaque window

In the main washroom, the designers have taken a bite out of the bedroom to allow more space between the toilet and the salad-bowl-style basin. The latter is oriented at right angles to the outer wall, so there’s plenty of space around it, and a huge lit mirror behind. There’s a ladder radiator to the side, and the whole room is lit by an opaque window with a blind, and LED lights.

Sleeping in the Coachman Laser 845 Xtra

The island bed in the bedroom has plenty of space around it. It rolls back to create a daybed, which will be well lit by the Heki above. The headboards are enormous.

On each side is a shelf, and wall pouches for books or magazines. Spotlights illuminate this area, and they come with USBs. A second set of sockets means that you can watch TV from back here, too.

The island bed
Luxurious island bed can be rolled back to form a comfortable daybed

L-shaped settees are not always very comfortable as beds, and layouts like this are possibly more suitable for a couple on a seasonal pitch with occasional visitors. But if you do need to turn this settee into a bed, it’s easier to do than some I’ve seen.

Storage in the Coachman Laser 845 Xtra

Having an L-shaped settee and a bed that comes out on a platform means you forfeit much of what would usually be storage space below – it’s a compromise you make with such a caravan layout. But you do get two large, shelved overhead lockers here. There is also a shallow cupboard under the TV, with shelving behind it, the sideboard and a small locker above that.

There are three more overhead lockers above the bed, with a wardrobe and a shelved cupboard either side. The bed lifts, revealing a huge storage area, with no external access.

The kitchen offers plenty of space for kitting out a caravan; it has a tall cupboard on the left with slide-out basket shelves, a column of three drawers, and a pan locker under the oven. You get one large overhead locker next to the microwave, and a small locker above the fridge opposite.

There is a small locker below the basin in the washroom, and a larger, shallower double cupboard above the toilet.

Alternatives to consider

The Adria Alpina Colorado is a well-equipped tourer which comes with a comfortable lounge and a smart colour scheme that contrasts with the more minimalist interior. Another option we rated highly is the Buccaneer Commodore, a tourer with a spacious bedroom at the rear and a lounge that I thought was incredibly comfortable.

Technical spec of the Coachman Laser 845 Xtra

  • Price: £43,060
  • Berths: 4
  • MiRO: 1726kg
  • Payload: 160kg
  • MTPLM: 1886kg
  • Interior length: 6.27m
  • Shipping length: 7.90m
  • Overall width: 2.44m
  • Website: coachman.co.uk

Spec list includes

  • Front double bed: 1.98 x 1.37m
  • Rear island bed: 1.88 x 1.43m
  • Al-Ko galvanised steel chassis
  • Al-Ko hydraulic jacking kit
  • 10-spoke alloys
  • ATC
  • Exterior shower
  • BBQ point and mains socket
  • Alde wet central heating and hot water
  • DAB radio with speakers in lounge and bedroom
  • TV
  • Thetford dual-fuel hob
  • Thetford C262 swivel toilet
  • Teleco Plus TV aerial with FM/DAB reception capability
  • Optical smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector

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