Verdict
For a shade under £16,500 with the Plus pack fitted, the 2017-season Venus 590/6 has plenty to offer.
It’s light in weight and spacious inside. The exterior has never been exciting, but the new graphics certainly give the Venus a lift.
Go inside and it’s hard not to be impressed by the 590/6’s contemporary décor, and the way it feels so spacious for such a lightweight caravan.
Most will use this layout as a four/five-berth, but it is perfectly capable of sleeping six.
Pros
It’s exceptionally light in weight, making it ideal for smaller tow cars
You get a decent specification for the price
It has a spacious interior
It’s great value
Cons
There are no drop-down flaps or external hatches to access front seat lockers
It doesn’t have an overly exciting profile
It has a manual-flush toilet
There’s no panoramic front window
Venus is in its fifth year of production, and in that time the Lunar-built brand has scored well, with improvements including new layouts and one of the best interiors in this entry-level market.
Being built by Lunar Caravans, weight is always a key factor, and the Venus excels in keeping the pounds off without compromising quality.
Venus has become a firm favourite for buyers in the family market, so it was inevitable that the Venus range added another new family layout for 2017 to its ever-expanding range of tourers.
The latest 590/6 offers a single axle at less than 1400kg. So how does the new Venus stack up?
It’s got stiff competition from the likes of Sprite, Adria, Xplore and Bailey’s new Pursuit, but it packs a punch and with the £499 Plus pack offers a well specified tourer, at least for the cash.
And to see other Venus caravans for sale, click here.
It’s hard not to be impressed by the 590/6’s contemporary décor and the way it feels so spacious for such a lightweight caravan
Pitching & Setting-up
Based on an Al-Ko chassis, the Venus 590/6 has alloy wheels, an AKS hitch stabiliser plus a spare wheel and Al-Ko carrier – all part of the optional Plus pack.
Smooth aluminium side panels and new graphics give the Venus a freshen-up. The one-piece front window is in a fully moulded front panel, which also includes a gas locker and storage for other items.
The rear panel is also a full-height ABS unit, complete with reversing lights and stylish road light clusters. The overall profile of the Venus is pleasing, but it won’t set your pulse racing.
The corner steadies are easy to access, while the LED awning light is placed over the unglazed stable door. Part of the spec is a Status TV aerial, while all service points are on the offside. The grabhandles are neatly placed and easy to use.
So the new-for-2017 Venus 590/6 looks good on the exterior and is an easy tourer to pitch up.
Living
New upholstery adds to the upmarket feel of the Venus for 2017, and the front lounge of the 590/6 feels spacious and very light and airy.
In fact, it’s hard to believe that the Venus is an entry-level model at times, with its sumptuous upholstery and scatter cushions.
The large, one-piece opening front window, along with side windows and a Heki rooflight, mean that it’s a very bright space. And it’s a space that should easily be capable of seating six.
One blown-air vent is placed here, and corner spotlights add dedicated illumination after dark, while the front locker corner shelves also have LED lighting.
One thing you don’t get, however, is access flaps for the under-seat storage. Otherwise, the lounge, with its central chest of drawers, is a practical place where a family can relax on tour.
Kitchen
The Venus 590/6’s kitchen comes with a Dometic fridge and Thetford combined oven/grill, plus a separate three-burner gas hob. The Plus pack adds a microwave, too, so it’s reasonably equipped for an entry-level model.
When it comes to storage, the kitchen also scores highly, with plenty of overhead lockers and a large cupboard plus a decent worktop and sink with a clip-on drainer.
LED lighting adds night-time illumination, while a single mains socket plus light switch is placed here. A midi-Heki above helps ventilation and adds natural light.
Washroom
When it comes to having six people on board, a good washroom is essential. Although many people prefer to use site facilities, there still has to be a washroom that’s practical should the need arise when you use a small site with fewer amenities.
The side washroom in the Venus is limited for floor space, although the shower cubicle is separate and comes with folding doors.
A smart new hand basin is fitted for 2017, while the Venus now has a Thetford manual-flush cassette loo as standard.
A roof vent and a side window allow in plenty of light plus ventilation, too. A heating vent is placed near the toilet to keep the washroom warm.
Beds
Let’s begin in the Venus 590/6’s front lounge area, where a large space offers two bed options, with both providing good levels of comfort.
Using two aluminium slide out bases from the seats, a double-bed base is quickly set up which the cushions can slip into. The other option is to use the two settees as twin beds which each boast a length of 6ft 1in.
The rear of the 590/6 is ideal for kids. Two fixed bunks offer great beds for children, with each having its own window plus a night light.
Opposite, there’s a three-seater side dinette that converts easily into a single bed with a fold-up bunk above, and the whole area can be closed off in the evening with a screen.
Storage
With six on board, how does this Venus caravan cope with all of that luggage?
The front area allows some under-seat storage, while overhead lockers and the central chest of drawers also help out. The kitchen has three overhead lockers and a large cupboard.
The wardrobe adds further storage space with two drawers and a shoe locker underneath. Hanging space is good, but for six the wardrobe would be at its limit.
The washroom manages a cupboard beneath the hand basin, while the rear of the Venus offers under-bunk and seat storage spaces that both come with access flaps.
A shelf and two large roof lockers complete the storage capacity, which isn’t bad given that the overall payload is restricted to 187kg.
Technical Specifications
| Berth | 6 |
| MiRO | 1193 kg |
| Payload | 187 kg |
| MTPLM | 1380 kg |
| Shipping Length | 7.39 m |
| Width | 2.21 m |
