Seasoned caravanners, when asked about high-quality tourers, often list Coachman among their top choices, as seen at our Owner Satisfaction Awards 2023, where the best caravan manufacturers are revealed.
The company was founded in 1986 by former ABI Caravans team George Kemp and Jim Hibbs. Starting with a small offering, the range grew over the years, but Coachman was always keen to keep production focused very much on quality, rather than quantity.
Owned by Explorer Group – Elddis in the late 1990s – the firm later had a management buyout, becoming independent again by the early 2000s. These days, Coachman is owned by Kabe of Sweden.
The Acadia, launched for the 2020 season, quickly became a firm favourite for its excellent spec and reasonable pricing, and we’re taking a look at it here. You can also head to our best used caravan guide to see our top pre-owned picks on the market.
Model history of the Coachman Acadia 520/4
The generous spec and quality finish gave this range plenty of appeal. The chic interiors were very contemporary and the spec included Alde heating, a TV aerial, alarm, ATC and a spare wheel. Outside, you also got an exterior mains socket, barbecue point and twin front gas bottle lockers. The large sunroof was another signature feature.
The spacious washrooms were also well finished.
Floorplans offering a good choice of fixed bunks and beds added to the range’s appeal.
The Acadia came from a superb heritage, including the Pastiche, which evolved into the Vision, which was in turn replaced by the Acadia.
The end washroom/side dinette/centre kitchen/front lounge has always been a very popular layout. In effect, the Vision 520 was carried over as the Acadia 520, although it was no longer a four-berth. The 520 ran until the 2021/22 season.
Price checker of the Coachman Acadia
With a good choice of caravan layouts, there are plenty of pre-owned Acadias from 2020, but the 520 is thinner on the ground.
We saw a few at £22,995, so this one, which also came with a mover, was a snip at £21,995. Private sales are going for about £20,195. For the rest of the range, you can expect to pay:
- 460 £22,495-£22,995
- 470 £22,995-£23,195
- 545 £23,195-£23,995
- 565 £23,595-£23,995
- 575 £23,565-£24,395
- 580 £23,999-£24,995
- 630 £24,125-£24,995
- 675 £24,995-£25,395
- 860 £25,195-£25,995
Check for:
As always, when you’re buying a pre-owned caravan, there will be some important exterior and interior checks to carry out to make sure your tourer is in a good condition.
- Scuffed alloy wheels
- Windows becoming loose
- Good water flow in shower
- Leaking around the sunroof
- Damage to panels/mouldings
- Peeling of wallboard tape
Alternatives
Check out the Lunar Clubman ES, a luxury three-berth with an end washroom and Alde heating. A 2019 Lunar Clubman ES can be picked up at around £20,995.
Another possibility is the Coachman VIP 520, offering lots of kit. You should be able to find 2012 models for £14,995 or thereabouts; worth a look if your budget is more limited.
Verdict in the Coachman Acadia 520/4
The Acadia offers customers a quality tourer at a sensible price. Reliability in these vans is generally excellent, and the owners tend to care for them.
The Acadia offers a great spec in a caravan that is lighter and cheaper than the VIP.
Look out for dealer specials, with notably upgraded spec for little additional cost.
Bear in mind, too, that the Acadia is no lightweight, so you will need to check the weight of your chosen model with care.
This 520 was also in superb condition, looking almost like new. With a great washroom, good storage and a supremely comfortable front lounge, the Acadias are a cracking buy.
If you’re interested in a 2023 Acadia, you can see what we made of the Coachman Acadia 545, a comfortable four-berth with a a well-appointed kitchen. Alternatively, see what we made of the 2017 Coachman VIP 545/4, a classy tourer from the same manufacturer.
Technical spec
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 1455kg
- MiRO: 1314kg
- Payload: 141kg
- Internal length: 5.29m
- Width: 2.26m
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