Verdict
The Lunar Clubman Saros Edition SE is a fresh take on a 40-year-old stalwart in the Lunar line-up. Its bright, modern interior is practical as well as comfortable. All the amenities that we are accustomed to in the Clubman range have been given a contemporary twist with new upholstery, new wall claddings and a great alternative to the sunroof idea, which doesn’t reduce roof locker storage. Perhaps this model heralds a new design style for future Clubmans.
Pros
Completely redesigned decor creates a contemporary ambience
Excellent levels of lighting and a big variety of options
Practical and well-equipped kitchen
Spacious washroom with heated towel rail and separate shower
Cons
Shortage of washroom storage
Central rooflight could have been wider
During the past 40 years, Lunar’s Clubman range has established a loyal following among caravanners who want luxury, good kit levels and space without tipping the weight scales alarmingly. Practical Caravan’s reviewers say that this four-berth may appeal to couples who want luxurious accommodation and anticipate occasional visitors staying over.
Those customers might be intrigued by a limited-edition Clubman that was launched at the NEC show in February to mark the range’s 40th anniversary on the UK market. The new Saros shares the same profile given to the Clubmans in 2012, but smart decals incorporating the company’s crest and a new treatment for the rear bumper separate it from the rest.
Fresh colours, a high-gloss locker finish and contemporary soft furnishings replace the more traditional Clubman interior, and the new panoramic rooflight running lengthways over the lounge will appeal to those who like to stargaze while staying cosy inside the caravan.
The most notable departure from the Clubman norm is inside the Saros, where the interior styling has been brought bang up to date
Pitching & Setting-up
The Lunar Clubman Saros Edition SE sits on an Al-Ko galvanised-steel chassis and gunmetal alloy wheels. Practical Caravan’s experts were impressed by the long list of safety features, including Al-Ko’s ATC trailer-control system, AKS hitch stabiliser and secure control system.
Front and back panels are moulded ABS, with a chrome bezel insert for the rear light clusters and number plate, while side panels are one-piece aluminium sporting smart decals. All the service points are fitted on the Saros’s offside, including the battery box. A services light will help with any nighttime changeovers.
On the nearside is a wet locker and exterior access to the space under the fixed bed, plus a mains socket and a barbecue point. The grabhandles are illuminated by LED lights and access to the heavy-duty corner steadies is good.
Living
The most notable departure from the Clubman norm is inside the Saros, where the interior styling has been brought bang up to date, report Practical Caravan’s reviewers.
All locker doors have a high-gloss cream finish with neat chrome handles and a decorative strip, making it feel very contemporary. A green plastic trim just below the front lockers houses the radio/CD player.
The space is lit at night by LED corner lights, four corner spots, lighting above the lockers and around the rooflight, which can be dimmed via a digital control panel over the entrance door.
The parallel sofas are covered in a new fabric – Aqua Clean Plush – which can be wiped clean. This, say Practical Caravan’s testers, makes the soft furnishings practical as well as comfortable, plus there are additional scatter cushions.
There’s a centre chest of drawers with slide-out occasional table, and for main meal times a free-standing table is also supplied. A mains socket is by the offside front corner window and an alarm sensor is below the chest of drawers.
Access flaps below the front seat bases allow easy access to the bed box storage space. The Alde wet central heating system obviates the need for a blown-air unit, which would take up cupboard space.
Kitchen
The kitchen of the Lunar Clubman Saros Edition SE is stylish and practical. A green acrylic splashback adds colour and brightness, but it’s a shame it’s not back-lit. However, there is strip lighting beneath the eye-level cupboards and lighting showing through the translucent cupboard doors.
The sink has a detachable drainer and a laminated cover to make the most of available worktop, which can be further extended with a lift-up flap. The kitchen is well-equipped with a Dometic fridge/freezer, a separate oven and grill and a four-burner dual-fuel hob.
The microwave is in the dresser opposite, at a sensible height below the eye-level cupboards. Here, too, is more worktop and storage, plus a mains socket and a TV point. Surprisingly, only one mains socket is fitted in the kitchen area.
A large cupboard beneath the worktop conceals the cutlery drawer, plus two slide-out metal baskets for groceries that can be stored at ambient temperatures.
Washroom
Practical Caravan’s experts were impressed by the large washroom and its super-size shower cubicle, with its own door. It is fitted with small shelves for soap and shampoos, but lacks a roof vent to release steam.
The washroom has a mini Heki and, over the toilet, an opaque window giving both good natural light and ventilation. Lunar uses the Dometic ceramic-lined, electric-flush toilet, rather than the usual Thetford design found in many tourers.
A smart chrome radiator is ideal for drying towels, courtesy of the Alde heating system. The basin on the back wall has a cupboard below and a large mirror above. The cupboard and a small shelf fitted above the window are the only storage in this area.
Beds
The nearside fixed double measures 1.91m x 1.35m; it’s not huge, said Practical Caravan’s reviewers, but the pocket-sprung mattress is comfortable and gives great support. There are two spotlights above the bed for reading at night and a small corner shelf close to the washroom door for a cuppa, books or a phone.
The wardrobe is in the bedroom and has three drawers below the hanging space. The wardrobe door, drawer and locker fronts all have the same high-gloss cream finish, for a unified look throughout the interior.
As in the lounge, there is LED lighting above the roof lockers and a rooflight helps illuminate the area by day.
The front double bed is made up in the usual way with slats pulled from the centre chest. Sofa cushions are assembled to form a double bed measuring a respectable 2.11m x 1.67m. The sofas are too short to be used as twin beds by anyone other than young grandchildren.
Storage
Below the fixed bed there’s plenty of room for folding chairs and other accessories. The aluminium-frame bed is easy to lift and there is external access to the space.
There’s space, too, beneath the aluminium-framed seats. This can be accessed either by lifting the lids or via flaps at the front of the seat boxes. The offside seat storage area is slightly compromised by the van’s equipment.
Deep roof lockers in the lounge and bedroom offer excellent storage. The lockers in the front have removable shelving, offering more versatile stowage.
Practical Caravan’s expert testers thought that hanging space in the wardrobe is good and the three drawers are useful for smalls and T-shirts. A cupboard below is ideal for shoe storage. There’s also a vanity shelf adjacent to the wardrobe with a mirror above.
Plenty of eye-level cupboards, some with racking, above the kitchen and dresser will accommodate crockery and groceries, and the drinks cabinet is a nice touch. The drawer in the dresser will serve as a home for those things that tend to go missing.
Only the washroom lacks a decent amount of storage space, with a shallow cupboard beneath the handbasin.
Technical Specifications
| Berth | 4 |
| MiRO | 1331 kg |
| Payload | 154 kg |
| MTPLM | 1485 kg |
| Shipping Length | 7.31 m |
| Width | 2.33 m |
