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Rob McCabe finds much to admire about an ‘Xtra’ four-berther from Coachman – here’s the news…

The ‘Xtra’ suffix attached to models in Coachman’s six-strong 2025 Laser range is affirmation that you’re getting a few additional inches of width – these opulent tourers are all eight-footers. In the case of the four-berth 845 model, you get a sumptuous L-shape lounge and the sought-after island rear double bed. Interestingly, I’m told it’s a model that attracts couples who tend to use seasonal pitches. Let’s find out why that might be.

Build quality – 90%

The Coachman’s sidewalls are aluminium, and the Laser’s aura of muscularity extends to the interior, where you’ll encounter an array of thickly panelled lockers that are perfectly aligned. Locker doors are secured by confidence-inspiring heavy-duty hinges, while drawers are dovetail-jointed, and there’s an emphasis on soft-close mechanisms. Finish and presentation were immaculate on our test vehicle.

Towing – 88%

With an MTPLM of 1,886kg, your towcar will have to be a big SUV or pick-up to do the honours here, That said, the caravan’s twin-axle footprint imparts a feeling of great solidity on the road, and reversing slowly on to a pitch or storage compound berth is a more predictable affair than with a single-axle caravan. The 8ft width needs to be borne in mind – but owners who’ll be siting their 845 on a seasonal pitch will obviously have fewer towing concerns than those using it as a tourer.

Daytime – 90%

L-shape lounge

For 2025 the nearside front window has made way for a media wall, which accommodates the permanently attached TV that’s included as part of the standard equipment roster. It’s the focal point of the very handsome L-shape lounge, which offers impressive comfort. There are three sumptuous corners to fall into, although four can sit here without too much compromise.

As you’d perhaps expect of a 21st century luxury caravan, tech is much in evidence. There’s a wireless charging pad (compatible with most recent smartphones) and a very good DAB/Bluetooth stereo with four speakers. There is one USB-C socket, but it’s the older-style USB-A sockets that are built into all of the reading lights.

Although this layout precludes any exterior-access lockers, there’s no shortage of cargo capacity indoors. The space under the double bed is huge, of course, and there are more than enough deep lockers and cupboards to go around.

Living space is also in plentiful supply – you’re especially aware of it in the wide-open area as you enter and turn to the lounge. This would be a huge boon for two people potentially spending weeks at a time on their seasonal pitch.

There’s a lot of dark wood on display, which won’t be to everyone’s taste.

Night-time – 95%

Supremely comfortable fixed double

It’s a belter of an end bedroom, dominated by the supremely comfortable island double bed. It pushes back into ‘day’ mode to provide a bit more walk-around space – but even when extended to its full 6ft 2in length, there’s still plenty of navigation room.

Stereo speakers on the undersides of the overhead lockers mean you can listen to the radio or your own streamed music back here and, as you’d expect, there’s a wall bracket and sockets for a TV too. Each occupant has a bedside shelf and a wardrobe (illuminated upon opening the door), as well as a wall-mounted pouch (branded ‘Laser’).

Upfront, it takes just minutes to convert the L-shape seating into a generous double that’ll look after guests in fine style.

Kitchen – 94%

L-shape kitchen

The Laser’s width means there’s enough space to give the kitchen an L-shape flourish, which makes it feel self-contained. Not only does it look good, it lavishes you with the best of everything – a dual-fuel hob with a chunky, cast-iron pan support, a nicely fitted flatbed microwave, a domestic-style extractor fan and an enormous built-in fridge-freezer.

The new mixer tap is cool – its flexible neck can be moved around and aimed strategically. I didn’t know whether to run water from it or sing into it.

Even before you bring into play the flip-up extension, there’s a good amount of work surface and generous storage provision.

Washroom – 92%

Well-appointed washroom

Its central location gives this facility almost as much flexibility as that kitchen tap. The door to the washroom can be used to close off the front of the caravan if you have overnighting guests – or if you want to use the whole area as a dressing room. A sliding door shuts off the bedroom from everything else.

It’s very smartly turned out, with good-quality fittings – and it’s refreshing to find not one but two mirrors. The shower cubicle’s floorspace is interrupted by the intrusion of the wheelarch, but it does make it easy to scrub your toes. 

Lighting – 96%

I probably get more enthusiastic than is healthy about a good caravan lighting set-up, so I was almost beside myself after playing with all the many and varied illumination options on board this one. The washroom is a good place to start. There are two ceiling-mounted lamps, while the main mirror itself is nicely backlit, and there’s even a bit of bling courtesy of a strip of ambient lighting that casts an attractive glow on to the splashback behind the basin. The corridor separating the washroom from the shower is lit, as indeed is the shower.

If anything, the kitchen goes one better. As well as an LED strip that runs the full width of the facility, there are three pin lights on the ceiling-level binnacle and another useful one built-in to the extractor fan. Phew.

Moving up to the front lounge, there are two rows of ambient lighting, there’s underseat lighting, the media wall is backlit, there are four reading lights, there are ceiling lights… and there’s more of the same in the bedroom. The nicest touch back here is the low-level night light, switchable from either side of the bed.

Verdict – 92%

You need a well-filled piggy bank to own one of these, but the Laser definitely has the aura of an upmarket apartment – it does a good job of making you feel special, and that’ll be enough to persuade many to start counting their pennies.