2018 Lunar Lexon 660 caravan

So popular has been Lunar’s Quasar 674 caravan it’s reproduced the same layout in the more upmarket Lexon line-up for this year. As a reminder, the formula is a twin axle offering a transverse island bed with full-width washroom across the back.

So, it’s big and breezy. There is, indeed, lots of light, thanks also to a good variety of LEDs – ambient and direct. And there’s a traditional three-window front, sunroof, plus an extra-long opening rooflight extending from lounge to kitchen.

It’s a relatively fuss-free caravan exterior, with decals kept to a minimum and a single door across the whole width of the front locker. Alloy wheels enhance the style. Inside, too, there’s a crisp, new Lexon look for this season, with changes to the furniture and soft furnishings.

It’s the usual two-settee front lounge, but there’s lots of support in terms of corner cushions, scatters and bolsters. The settee bases are metal-framed, with sprung wooden slats and there’s a two-drawer chest at the front with a pull-out tabletop – a free-standing table is a larger alternative for family meal times. Sockets range from 230V to 12V to TV aerial and satellite connections across the front. A Pioneer radio/CD/MP3 unit is one of plenty of new features across all Lexon caravans for 2018.

The kitchen runs along the offside mid-‘van, with main cooking facilities from a Thetford Aspire 2 cooker (dual-fuel four-ring hob, separate oven and grill) supplemented by a Daewoo microwave oven set over the Thetford 190-litre fridge/freezer across the corridor.

The main kitchen unit also houses a circular stainless steel sink with add-on drainer and a handy flip-up worktop extension. Two large lockers under the permanent worktop open to reveal a cutlery drawer, shelf and table storage (left side) and a large open drawer and more shelving (right).

The 660 is a very open-plan layout, although there’s privacy when needed from the pleated divider extending across from the wardrobe next to the fridge.

It’s certainly an impressive bedroom. Corner ledges each side of the island double help overcome the lack of any bedside table arrangement. The bed itself is hinged and lifts up easily for uncluttered storage, with the added bonus of an external access hatch.

There are also two overhead lockers, plus a single window, plus a slim wardrobe to one side of the bed, with drawer and floor locker.

For those who like to watch TV in bed, your needs are catered for, with an extending bracket and requisite sockets. Stargazers may be a little disappointed. There’s only a standard-size rooflight over the bed.

If you think the island bed pulls up a bit short – officially, it’s a potentially foot-dangling 1.83m (that’s 6ft) – there’s help at hand in the form of a 10cm mattress extension piece that’s available as an option, which could, in fact, turn out to be the deal-breaker.

Beyond the bedroom, there’s sliding door access to the washroom, where the star of the show is a Belfast-style basin in the centre, set on a double-doored cupboard. A generous mirror and window add to the feeling of space and ventilation respectively. Plus, there’s generous provision of towel/clothes hooks and holders.

There’s a single large door for the shower cubicle (would folding doors make things easier? They certainly wouldn’t foul on the sink). It’s a very roomy shower cubicle, though, plastic-lined and complete with a hanging rail for wet clothing etc.

As well as being that bit lighter in weight than its rivals, this Lexon caravan is a little less heavy on your wallet. That’s two great starting points if you want the luxury of a transverse island and the on-the-road assurance of a twin axle tourer.

Verdict: Lunar lands a big one

Plus: Roomy floorplan, keen price and weight

Minus: Main bed could come up short

In-a-nutshell: Twin axle transverse bed luxury

There’s more information on the Lexon caravan range on the Lunar website. To find out more about insuring this or your current caravan visit our caravan insurance discounts page

Alternatives: Bailey Unicorn Cartagena, Coachman VIP 675, Compass, Elddis Crusader Storm, Swift Challenger 645