You might have a vehicle (perhaps a company car) that only has limited towing capabilities. Or you could be struggling between your desire not to have to buy a gas-guzzling car, and your suspicion that lightweight caravans are usually spartan. Have no fear: our selection of great used vans with an overall weight of less than 1200kg will help you buy with confidence…

LUNAR ARIVA (2019)

Lunar Ariva (2019)
Lunar Ariva (2019)
  • Layout End kitchen
  • Berths 2
  • L/W 6.88m/2.30m
  • MTPLM 950kg
  • Payload 114kg
  • MiRO 836kg
  • Plus points Great spec, with full oven and microwave
  • Minus points No sunroof, exterior a bit dated

Our review said…

Lunar Ariva (2019)
Lunar Ariva (2019)

Introduced as a replacement for the Meteorite back in 1995, by 2019 the Lunar Ariva had spent more recent years acting as the two-berth introduction to the Quasar range – although there was also, briefly, a four-berth Ariva.

So in this caravan you get Quasar spec, and that’s what impressed our reviewer, even if the exterior and washroom were starting to look a little dated.

There is a full oven in the end kitchen, as well as a microwave, and you also get a radio/CD player hidden away in one of the lockers. Internal flaps provide easy access to the underseat areas, and when it comes to bedtime, the double is easily made up by pulling out platforms; although anyone under 6ft could use the settees as singles if preferred. You don’t, however, get a front sunroof.

We also said: “whatever your preferences in terms of exterior appearance, the Ariva – built on an Al-Ko chassis with alloys, spare wheel and AKS hitch – is certainly on good foundations. The smooth aluminium panels are smartly highlighted by new graphics, while front and rear moulded panels are not full height.”

Full review here

CARAVELAIR ANTARÈS 335 (2017)

Caravelair Antarès 335
  • Layout End kitchen
  • Berths 2
  • L/W 5.0m/2.10m
  • MTPLM 1000kg
  • Payload 274kg
  • MiRO 726kg
  • Plus points Light weight, short length, full oven
  • Minus points Basic washroom, door on Continental side

Our review said…

Caravelair Antarès 335

Marquis Leisure, Britain’s biggest motorhome dealer network, imported the Antarès caravan brand for a couple of seasons starting in 2017. That probably explains why this budget French tourer includes some very un-Continental extras, such as an oven in the kitchen. You still get the door on the UK offside, however.

The 335 was the baby of the Antarès range, a two-berth whose USPs were chiefly its weight and its overall length of just 5m. It really is ideal for first-time caravanners.

The interior finish is basic – the ‘curtains’ on the windows turn out to be cleverly designed lengths of voile, for example, and bed extensions are pieces of bare wood. But the inside is smart enough.

You also get directional spotlights in the front, a TV bracket and a three-burner hob. “This van makes a very promising proposition if you are a couple just wanting to get away in your own modest car with all the basic facilities you will need,” was our verdict.

Full review here

VENUS 460/2 (2019)

Venus 460/2 (2019)
Venus 460/2 (2019)
  • Layout End washroom
  • Berths 2
  • L/W 6.16m/2/21m
  • MTPLM 1180kg
  • Payload 124kg
  • MiRO 1056kg
  • Plus points Great washroom, USBs
  • Minus points Only a manual-flush toilet

Our review said…

Venus 460/2 (2019)
Venus 460/2 (2019)

The Venus 460/2 we saw here was a Deluxe special edition, produced for Marquis Leisure and designed to bring what was Lunar’s budget range, introduced in 2015, up in the world.

You might not find the extras included in our test model, such as fancier exterior decals, on any 460/2 that you view on your local forecourt.

But there was certainly enough about this end-washroom two-berth that managed to impress our reviewer without those extras – particularly that washroom. It’s very well-lit, thanks to a big window, with a large, fully-lined shower.

The kitchen is practical, while in the lounge, you get two comfortable settees that work as single beds or easily form a double, with the help of pull-out platforms.

The curtains that season were the same as you got in the more expensive Lexon range, and you even get USB sockets in the spotlights.

Full review here

LUNAR QUASAR 462 (2019)

Lunar Quasar 462 (2019)
Lunar Quasar 462 (2019)
  • Layout End washroom
  • Berths 2
  • L/W 6.16m/2/21m
  • MTPLM 1185kg
  • Payload 124kg
  • MiRO 1061kg
  • Plus points Rooflight, excellent storage, Joules-inspired décor
  • Minus points Washroom could be better designed

Our review said…

Lunar Quasar 462 (2019)
Lunar Quasar 462 (2019)

The Quasar 462 was the two-berth in the Quasar range proper, to distinguish it from the shorter Ariva model (above).

Unlike the Ariva, this layout has the washroom spread across the back, rather than the kitchen. Our reviewer felt that, given the ample space, more could have been done with it, although we liked the way a trapdoor allowed you to hang things (such as wetsuits) at full height.

Outside the washroom there is much to be admired. The 2018 season had seen Lunar team up with homewares brand Joules, and a lot of this had rubbed off on the interior design scheme, particularly the floral scatter cushions.

The front lounge might not have the largest sunroof you have seen, but the large rooflight makes up for that. Storage is excellent and easily accessible, and the kitchen is generous, given the space available.

Full review here

XPLORE 304 SE (2019)

Xplore 304 SE (2019)
Xplore 304 SE (2019)
  • Layout L-shaped front lounge with side dinette and end washroom
  • Berths 4
  • L/W 5.54m/2.18m
  • MTPLM 1043kg
  • Payload 135kg
  • MiRO 886kg
  • Plus points Great front lounge; flexible, useful kitchen
  • Minus points Storage is a bit cramped for four

Our review said…

Xplore 304 SE (2019)
Xplore 304 SE (2019)

Erwin Hymer UK’s budget Xplore range, first introduced in 2008, originally included the 302, a two-berth. But that was deleted in 2013 because so many people, our reviewer included, preferred the 304 as a two-berth, with its L-shaped front lounge, even if it does include a side dinette that takes the official berth tally up to four – giving you a handy pair of berths for occasional guests.

The front lounge gets loads of light thanks to a sunroof and a large portrait window on the offside. The kitchen doesn’t include a microwave, but it is still perfectly adequate, given the size of the van, and storage works well as long as you stick with two people only.

Our full verdict? “The Xplore 304 is a great tourer, priced well and lightweight. Build is excellent and with the SE pack, the spec is good, too. We think the 304 would be better as a tourer for two, with the occasional break with the grandchildren. For family trips, an awning would be a plus.”

Full review here

BAILEY PURSUIT 400-2 (2017)

Bailey Pursuit 400-2 (2017)
Bailey Pursuit 400-2 (2017)
  • Layout End washroom
  • Berths 2
  • L/W 5.45m/2.24m
  • MTPLM 1090kg
  • Payload 125kg
  • MiRO 965kg
  • Plus points Good spec, large washroom
  • Minus points Awkward storage for table

Our review said…

Bailey Pursuit 400-2 (2017)
Bailey Pursuit 400-2 (2017)

When it launched the short-lived Pursuit range in 2017 (it had already gone by 2020), Bailey decided to dispense with option packs and include much more as standard.

That, of course, put the price up; but in turn, made a used model feel good value just a couple of years down the line.

This two-berth has a sunroof, microwave and radio/CD/MP3 player all fitted as standard. There’s a comfortable front lounge, a large washroom, comfortable beds with Ozio mattresses, and a kitchen that is well-equipped if a bit short on workspace. An absence of any mirror by the door is one of the few signs of cost-cutting.

We also said in our review: “With a warm Mendip Ash furniture finish, a worktop laminate known as ‘Burnt Oak’ that at first glance looks like slate, and a crimson, blue and pale-grey colour scheme for the Festival upholstery, the interior of this Bailey Pursuit 400-2 looks modern. There are also directional, individually switched spotlights over each settee, in addition to four LEDs around the rooflight.”

Full review here

COACHMAN VISION 380 (2016)

Coachman Vision 380 (2016)
Coachman Vision 380 (2016)
  • Layout End kitchen
  • Berths 2
  • L/W 5.65m/2.26m
  • MTPLM 1180kg
  • Payload 117kg
  • MiRO 1063kg
  • Plus points Huge lounge, well-equipped kitchen
  • Minus points Rather poky corner washroom

Our review said…

Coachman Vision 380 (2016)
Coachman Vision 380 (2016)

With an end-kitchen layout that was standard for two-berths until end washrooms came along in the 1980s, the 380 was the smallest caravan Coachman produced in 2016. And with the introduction of its system of Advanced Bonded Construction, this van was also 25kg lighter than the previous year’s model.

The kitchen is very well-equipped, providing a dual-fuel hob, separate oven and grill, and a microwave. The beds are easy to assemble too, with plenty of shelf space for a morning cuppa, and storage is good.

Our reviewer also said: “It has a lounge that is huge when compared to many other caravans (fixed-bed versions particularly), and we know there are a number of seasoned caravanners out there who like end kitchens – they certainly wouldn’t be disappointed with this one! And when it comes to bedtime, the huge double is very easy to make up thanks to the pull-out base system.”

Full review here

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