2019 Bailey Phoenix caravan range review

Rising up?

Bailey’s all-new Phoenix caravan range has just hit the showrooms – but it won’t necessarily hit your pockets.

The news

Bailey has hit the budget sector of the new caravan market with a range of seven all-new models, badged Phoenix. They replace the Pursuit line-up and Bailey describe them as their “first-choice” caravan range. Look out for them at your nearest Bailey dealer from August 2018.

Body widths have been pegged to 2.21m – just that bit narrower than some models, which can make for more reassuring touring. Weights are kept minimal, too, with MTPLMs spanning 1,139kg for two-berth 420 up to 1,600kg for the twin axle 760.

What’s different?

Phoenix takes over where Pursuit left off, but Bailey hasn’t resisted the temptation to move everything a little more upmarket, in terms of specification, looks and build.

Among the upgrades

Bodywork uses Bailey’s Alu-Tech construction – only the floors feature timber, while the upper sections are aluminium-clad, with Phoenix’s sporting a look more akin to Bailey’s top-flight Unicorn range. The front three-window arrangement, too, is in keeping with the look of its stablemates, with its signature central vertical front skylight to create the “perfect room with a view”.

There’s also one twin axle model – the 760. The outgoing Pursuit range did not include a twin axle.

All have an Al-Ko AKS 3004 stabiliser as standard, with ATC as a £425 option.

Also new are:

Seat/bed cushions are Ozio, a breathable polyester structure product designed to be 30% lighter than traditional foam.
In the washrooms, showers are fully lined. Features include Thetford swivel-bowl toilets, fixed basins and EcoCamel showerheads.

Truma’s Combi system provides the heating and hot water.

All models have full Thetford Caprice cookers with four-ring hobs and separate ovens and grills. Microwave ovens are also standard. Hob covers increases the available worktop space, too. Dometic fridges have a 103-litre capacity (134 litres for the 760).

Bailey Phoenix 642 worktop

Bailey Phoenix 760 kitchen

Other touches include reading lamps with USB sockets to make sure all the family remain powered up; up to five 230V sockets (model dependent); locker LED lighting; Status TV aerial and radio/CD/MP3 player with USB.
Locker doors are a ‘Brushed Champagne’ with LED lighting above and worktops are ‘Nordic Stone’. There’s a new central, two-drawer chest in the lounge and a large drawer and cabinet in the kitchen.

In keeping with tradition the Phoenix also has a stable entrance door.

What Bailey says

“The all-new Phoenix range really kicks the 2019 season off in style. We believe this range reflects the best of everything we stand for in terms of Bailey quality, design, comfort, practicality and value. With its fresh new look, the new Phoenix is the perfect choice for your first caravan.”

Pick-of-the-range

Top-of-the-range 760 is a proper six-berth, with a competitive £19,999 price.

It’s also the only twin axle Phoenix. For that price, you get, a layout that gives permanent longitudinal bunk beds plus a dinette/two more bunks at the back.

And the rest of the Phoenix range

420, two-berth, end kitchen and washroom

440, four-berth, French bed with full-width end washroom

644, four-berth, transverse island bed with full-width end washroom

640, four-berth, island bed with central washroom facilities

642, four-berth, twin single beds with full-width end washroom

650, five-berth, full-width end washroom, rear bunk beds and dinette

Bailey’s design team have also come up with an optional “dressing pack” which includes four scatter cushions, two wool throws, two bolsters and a washroom carpet, so owners can pick their colour scheme for their Phoenix.