Verdict
Light and airy, with a layout that cleverly maximises living space, the Quasar has large beds and plenty of storage.
This comes at a price, though: the kitchen and washroom are both challenged in terms of space. In the kitchen, there is meagre work surface, and practically none if your dishes are draining. In the washroom, there’s no room to dry off after a shower. But with a low MTPLM of 1345kg and a good user payload of 154kg, this van could be a compelling option for many caravanners.
Pros
The overall feel is light and airy
Layout makes the most of the living space
Storage options are many and easy to use
Both double beds are large
The exterior is just as well planned
Cons
Although user-friendly, the washroom is small
Kitchen work surface is minimal
The lounge backrests are quite stiff
Renowned for lightweight touring, Preston-based caravan manufacturer Lunar aims to give you a comfortable home-from-home, without you having to buy a tank to tow it. The 2011 Quasar 534 lives up to the lightweight promise and delivers a family caravan with an MTPLM of just 135kg. Here’s what Practical Caravan’s expert reviewers thought of every aspect of the van.
Light and airy, with a layout that cleverly maximises living space, the Quasar has large beds and plenty of storage
Pitching & Setting-up
Lunar’s Quasar 534 comes with an Al-Ko chassis and stabiliser, buttonless handbrake and 13-pin electrics as standard. Getting to the steadies is easy, with metal guide channels at the front and exposed rear winding bolts.
The controls are on the inside-left of the entrance and waste pipes can be found on the offside-just behind the axle. The front locker is roomy with a large door held by two gas struts. Also included is a barbecue point, super-pitch water connection, external awning LED light and 230V socket. Its external wet locker is found on the offside rear of the van.
Living
Lunar has kept the styling simple but modern and its light-coloured wood and fabrics give a bright, airy feel. The locker doors feel solid and feature removable shelving.
Although the lounge seats’ backrests are a little stiff, the bases are comfortable and now include aluminium spring-loaded bases for easy access to the storage and switchgear beneath.
There are two bolster cushions per bench, and 230V and TV aerial sockets. A radio/CD/MP3 player is located in a front overhead locker. Below is the central chest, which has two drawers and a pull-out table extension.
Kitchen
The Quasar’s kitchen is well equipped, with a 112-litre Thetford fridge, separate oven and grill, three-burner gas hob with an electric hotplate and, directly above it all, a microwave. The workspace, which is to the left of the sink, isn’t huge but a removable drainage board helps make it more usable.
There is a small cupboard below the cooker for keeping pots and pans, a cutlery drawer and a narrow space with a door for stowing the table on the left side of the kitchen. The single overhead locker is small, but is fitted with plate and cup holders and should provide enough space to store place settings for four.
Washroom
While the Lunar can’t claim to have the most spacious washroom, the area has been made as user-friendly as possible. The space is bright, thanks to a Heki rooflight, and comprises a good-size shower, which is passed through to access the toilet. The toilet and shower can be separated by a folding glass divider.
With the toilet turned, there is sufficient legroom and Lunar’s decision to fit a large, overhead shelf at the rear of the washroom was a clever one. There is little room for drying inside. But there is a vanity unit, which includes a basin, large mirror, toothbrush holder and small cupboard to help make getting ready easier.
Beds
The nearside, 1.91m x 1.35m fixed bed is large and comfortable, thanks to a new luxury spring mattress. The area is well lit, with a large Heki rooflight and window letting in daylight and two corner spots for the night.
The front double, which at 2.01m x 1.53m is also large, is assembled using slats pulled from below the centre chest. The slats are on runners and the lounge cushions are a great fit, making the whole process quick and easy. The two sleeping areas can be separated using the fabric divider.
Storage
There are four overhead lockers in the lounge, one in the kitchen and four more above the fixed bed. Unfortunately the lounge and kitchen lockers are very shallow. However, the rear lockers provide ample room for belongings.
Storage and switchgear below the front seats is easily and safely accessed thanks to supporting struts, while the area below the fixed bed is large and its struts lift the bed high for easy use. At the foot of the bed is a brilliant worktop with two further overhead lockers, one drawer and two small cupboards. As well as this, there is a wardrobe between the kitchen and the vanity.
Technical Specifications
| Berth | 4 |
| MiRO | 1191 kg |
| Payload | 154 kg |
| MTPLM | 1345 kg |
| Shipping Length | 6.78 m |
| Width | 2.16 m |
