German manufacturer Knaus offers UK customers high-quality caravans that have a distinctly Continental look. Although its dealership network over here is not particularly extensive, the firm regularly attends shows in this country.

In fact, Knaus was voted the best manufacturer for new caravans at the 2023 Owner Satisfaction Awards, our annual survey which reveals the leading makes of caravan. So how does the Knaus Azur 460 EU shape up?

I took a look at the latest model from the Azur range – selling well in Germany – at last October’s Motorhome and Caravan Show at the Birmingham NEC.

Pitch and set-up

You can see the robustness of the build of the Knaus Azur 460 EU straight away, with its high-quality mouldings and large front gas locker.

I liked the well-placed corner grab handles, too, and the low-key graphics add, in my opinion, a touch of class to the smart exterior.

The Azur rides on a galvanised chassis from BPW, complete with a Knott hitch. BPW might be a less familiar name to those looking at buying a caravan in the UK, although the brand has been part of Al-Ko for some years now.

An exterior locker door gives access to the area under the single bed up front. It should be noted that the door is on the Continental side, which I thought could be an issue.

No sunroof is fitted, which is quite an omission for a modern tourer. But the van does have 17-inch alloy wheels, while the sides are aluminium and the roof is GRP.

The mains connection and the cassette access are near the door. The onboard fresh-water tank holds up to 45 litres, while a separate waste tank, on a trolley that you leave outside, holds 25 litres. There’s no TV aerial or solar panel – both are on the extras list, as is IDH, BPW’s trailer stability system.

Lounge in the Knaus Azur 460 EU

The elegant wraparound lounge at the rear of the Azur 460 EU has no fewer than nine cushions. Two of the seats also have headrests. There is no sunroof, or even a Heki, which would have helped with natural light and ventilation in this area. There is a small roof vent, but it won’t allow much daylight to enter.

There are only two windows here – the front one, which isn’t very big, and an even smaller one on the side.

The lounge area
Wraparound overhead lockers provide plenty of storage space but there are only small windows,
so daylight is a bit limited in lounge

There is a table for dining, although it’s not really large enough for four, because it has a cut-off to allow people to get past. There is also a small pull-down table, ideal for drinks and snacks.

Night-time illumination comes from two stylish adjustable spotlights and integral lighting. Controls for the Alde heating system and the Knaus electrics are by the entrance door on the side of the overhead locker.

The heating controls
Controls for the Alde heating and the Knaus electrics are sited by the entrance door

The kitchen in the Knaus Azur 460 EU

I did think the side kitchen had a rather limited spec for the type of caravan you see in this price bracket. There is a three-burner gas-only hob, but there’s no grill, oven or microwave, even on the options list.

So what do you get here? A 98-litre Dometic fridge/freezer and an extractor fan. There is a large, deep sink, but it has no clip-on drainer, and usable workspace in this area is in pretty short supply.

The central kitchen
The central kitchen

There is one mains socket, located underneath the overhead lockers.

The washroom in the Knaus Azur 460 EU

Knaus has always provided impressive washrooms – even its entry-level Weinsberg models have an upmarket Dometic toilet and the fittings and finish are brilliant.

The washroom
Impressive fittings and finish in the washroom, but there’s no separate shower cubicle

The Azur continues this tradition, with high-quality fixtures and a great interior finish. The lighting is excellent and the handbasin is deep, but there’s no separate shower cubicle, and for some customers, that might be a deal breaker when choosing a caravan.

Sleeping in the Knaus Azur 460 EU

The best caravans will always offer a comfortable sleeping setup. In the case of the Azur, the twin single beds at the front offer quality, comfortable mattresses, and there are slats to make them up into a generous double if preferred.

The single beds
The single beds can be made up into a double using slats if preferred

Another double bed can be made up from the lounge seating at the back, once you have lowered the dining table.

Storage in the Azur 460 EU

I thought the Azur’s storage options were excellent, giving you plenty of storage space for all of your caravan essentials. Storage includes a large front gas locker, an exterior locker and two cupboards below the TV holder bracket. Along with good overhead lockers in the lounge, the side wall has cleverly designed slim storage cupboards.

To the rear, there’s good space under the seating and in the overhead lockers, one of which contains the radio. But the wardrobe is a tad small, even for a couple.

The kitchen has overhead lockers and three large drawers, and the washroom also provides good storage.

Alternatives to consider

The Bailey Alicanto Grande Deluxe Alvor is a family-friendly four-berth tourer which provides plenty of comfort and has excellent storage options in the kitchen. Alternatively, you could consider the Coachman Laser 845 Xtra – it has a homely lounge and offers plenty of comfort throughout.

Technical specification of the Knaus Azur 460 EU

  • Price: £41,995 (as tested)
  • Berths: 4
  • MiRO: 1524kg
  • Payload: 101kg
  • MTPLM: 1700kg
  • Web: knaus.com/en-uk/caravans
  • Interior length: 4.95m
  • Shipping length: 6.98m
  • Overall width: 2.31m

Spec list

  • Alde heating
  • Three-burner gas hob
  • Worktop extension
  • Extractor fan
  • 45-litre fixed fresh-water tank
  • 25-litre rollable waste-water tank
  • TV wall mounting bracket
  • Bluetooth sound system
  • Soft-close lockers and drawers
  • Wall cladding above bed
  • Fabric covering on ceiling
  • Dometic cassette toilet
  • Folding clothes rail

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