Coronet XT1

There are some caravans that just feel ‘right’ from the moment you drop them on your hitch and Coronet’s new 16ft (internal length) XT-5050 off-road caravan is one of them.

Perhaps it was the van’s extended A-frame, perhaps the careful balance that comes with experience from a long-established caravan builder, but for whatever reason the XT1’s Hyland off-road coupling felt glued to our Land-Rover Discovery at any speed and felt more like a 1500kg pop-top than a two-tonne off-roader as we curled down Victoria’s Great Ocean Road.

It was an impressive introduction to the XT1 off-road series introduced last year by Coronet, which is much better known for its on-bitumen RVs built by vastly experienced caravan industry stalwart Andrew Phillips and his small team in Bayswater, Melbourne.

MIDDLE OF THE ROAD

While the XT is available in pop-top and caravan configurations, in single and tandem axle configurations and in body lengths from 3.75 to 5.95 metres, the 16ft single axle van version we tested is an ideal compromise between off-road agility and comfort for a very reasonable $54,044 asking price.

For this money you get a full 150mm galvanised steel tip-to-toe G&S chassis, with an extended (two metre long) A-frame with two jerrycan holders, twin 9kg gas bottles, a centre double-pin mounted jockey wheel, a mesh storage/stone deflector tray, the aforementioned Hyland hitch and a removable truck-mesh stone bra.

Underneath there’s rugged Control Rider trailing arm and single shock absorber independent suspension, 12-inch Al-Ko electric brakes, standard Al-Ko Electronic Stability Control (which can be switched on and off from the driver’s seat for off-road use) and two spare six-stud 16-inch allow wheels fitted with General Grabber AT2 tyres on the sturdy steel rear bumper.

However the plastic waste water pipe, which runs transversely across the van rear of the axle line – although tucked up high – is completely unshielded from wheel-deflected rocks. I’d give it 30 minutes on the Oodnadatta Track!

There’s no front boot – the optional bike rack that many owners will fit on that extended A-frame would make it hard to access anyway – but in its place is a generous full-width tunnel boot, while your jockey wheel, awning matt and even firewood can travel on the A-frame mesh on all except very corrugated roads.

Thoughtful features include lights on the front checker plate nose above the mesh and inside the tunnel boot to help you set up at night.

WORKABLE LAYOUT

In true off-road caravan style, there’s no low-slung fixed step (too vulnerable), so entry is via a stable plastic step that stores inside when travelling.
Once inside, Coronet’s experience again shows in the XT-5050’s compact but very workable layout.

Despite an internal body length of less than five metres, they’ve managed to fit a north-south queen-size bed, a good-sized L-shaped lounge, a compact kitchen, a full-size 175-litre three-way fridge/freezer (a 12 volt compressor fridge of similar size is optional), a full rear ensuite with a solid sliding door, a separate Thetford cassette toilet and a fibreglass shower enclosure.

It’s also a fairly light interior, with good-sized windows above and beside the bed, above the kitchen sink and in the lounge and bathroom, aided by reflective gloss white cabinet furniture, the white polyester wall finish, off-white vinyl floor, large skylight hatch and powerful LED dome and reading lights throughout. 

This contrasted on the test van with dark Rosewood wall panelling and a full-height Claret-coloured acrylic splashback– a colour combination that drew differing aesthetic reactions. Let’s just say that lighter timber toning would have given the van an even airier look.

SIMPLE TRICKS

I’m not going to pretend that there’s sprawling room here – for example, the bathroom is a little squeezy – but it all fits and works well thanks to a few clever and simple things.

For example, to achieve full bed length you pull out the end of its metal frame and insert a small mattress extension at the head. It takes only a few seconds, but gives you the benefits of an island bed whereas some manufacturers would fix the bed across the nose of the van.

And while the compact kitchen looks short of bench space, the hinged, pull-up extension on the left and a removable solid blanking piece over the sink solve the preparation and plating problems as long as you’re not planning much more than dinner for two.

Twin bedside robes, ample drawers and cupboards, plus extra storage under the bed (shared with the van’s single deep cycle battery) provide enough space for everything a couple are likely to take on holiday in a caravan of this size.

On the negative side, the positive catches on all cupboards and drawers were stiff to use on the test van, but we were assured that they would become easier to use when their newness had worn off.

With the exception of a little excess sealant on a couple of exterior panel joins, the finish of the test van was excellent, as you would expect from a manufacturer that offers a five-year warranty on all workmanship and construction.

We liked it. There’s a lot of caravan here for the money.

VERDICT

The Coronet XT1 is a well thought-out, well equipped, solidly built and easy to tow all-road caravan from a well-established caravan builder that will take adventurous couples well off the bitumen in comfort.

At its price it represents excellent value for money and should be on every compact caravan shopping list.

WE LIKED: 
>> Excellent compact layout
>> Value for money
>> Ease of towing
>> Good stone protection

NOT SO MUCH:
>> Stiff cupboard and drawer catches
>> Vulnerable under-van waste piping
>> Some sealant residue on outside panels

CORONET CARAVANS XT1 5050-5-S

External body length: 5.15m
Internal body length: 4.95m
External body width: 2.40m (with awning)
Travel height: 2.99m
Tare: 2040kg
ATM: 2500kg
Ball weight: 220kg
Frame: Timber frame
Cladding: Ribbed aluminium
Chassis: G&S Supergal
Suspension: Control Rider independent with single shock absorbers per wheel Brakes: 12in Al-Ko electric
Stability Control: Yes
Wheels/tyres: 16in alloy/LT265/R70-16 off-road
Fresh water: 2 x 80L
Battery: 100Ah AGM plus single 125 Watt solar panel
Air-conditioner: Reverse cycle
Gas: 2 x 9kg
Cooking: Three-burner gas, plus electric hot plate and grill
Fridge: 175-litre three-way
Microwave: Daewoo
Toilet: Thetford C402 cassette
Shower: Separate fibreglass cubicle Lighting: LED
Price (drive-away, Vic): $54,044
Supplied by: Coronet Caravans, Bayswater, Victoria