Verdict
This is a motorhome that’s very easy to like. It may be in Axess specification – Adria’s entry-level – but inside and out, it feels sturdily built and good quality. At less than 7m, it’s also relatively compact, but the inside is roomy and spacious; it’s cleverly designed. The bedroom area in particular is impressive, and rivals that in many more expensive motorhomes we’ve tested over the years.
It’s not perfect – some kit that we’d like to see as standard is only available as an option. But that does give you the flexibility to make the ‘van your own, and to keep the purchase price as low as you want it to be. Over the years, Coral models garnered a strong reputation for build quality, thoughtful design and value for money and the Coral Axess 600 SL continues to offer exactly that.
BUY IF….
You’re a couple looking to purchase a motorhome that isn’t huge in length, but offers masses of storage space for outdoor equipment, and comfortable beds to fall into at the end of a long day spent exploring.
Pros
- The build quality in this motorhome is superb – everything fells solid and well made
- Super comfortable beds and great lighting in the bedroom area
- That enormous, swallow-everything garage
- Large payload to play with
Cons
- The kitchen isn’t huge – you’ll need to consider whether there’s enough workspace for your needs
- No separate shower cubicle, so you’re feet might get wet when you use the washroom after someone has showered
If you have been involved with motorhomes in any capacity for even the shortest length of time, you can’t fail to have heard of Adria’s Coral range. The Adria Coral motorhome has been a big name in the industry for years, providing tried-and-tested layouts in well-built models that have a firm following.
Slovenian manufacturer Adria made few changes to its Coral line-up for 2020, but one addition was a vehicle that we have had on test for the past few months: the Coral Axess 600 SL.
The 6.99m ‘van is based on the Fiat Ducato and features twin fixed single beds at the rear, which sit above a large garage. An L-shaped dinette up front and a midships kitchen and washroom, complete the layout. Axess is the most basic of Adria’s three specification Coral levels, with Plus and Supreme above.
Exterior and cab
The Axess specification of this model sees it get a white body, the exterior graphics look smart and blend in nicely with the tinted windows. You also can’t help but notice the two large panoramic windows that stretch from just above the windscreen right up over the roof; they allow for a huge amount of light to flood into the interior,
The main exterior feature is the double doors of the garage, but you’ll also find the gas locker located on the offside. The locker will swallow two 11kg gas canisters with ease, and is located low down, so you won’t need to lift the bottles up high to install them.
The mains electric hook-up point is situated on the nearside with the water-inlet point on the opposite side. Our test vehicle was also fitted with an awning light and a roll-out awning; the latter is a £680 cost option (or part of the Luxury Pack £3060 cost option).
The roof rack and ladder on our vehicle also come as part of the same pack, as does the rear-view camera fitted in the cab. Pre-installation for a bike rack comes as standard.
There’s an electric step fitted to the (offside) entrance door – helpful for allowing you to make the high step into the ‘van due to the double floor. That door has a window and a two-point locking system; there’s also a dustbin on the inside.
Beneath the bonnet is Fiat’s 2.3-litre 140bhp 6D unit, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, ABS, EBD, rear fog lights, DRLs and more are standard, and we appreciated the added Pack 2 (£2590), which includes a passenger airbag, ESP, cab air-con and more.
Lounging and dining
Axess may be Adria’s entry-level specification, but you wouldn’t know it from the lounge area in this Coral. The brown Zanna upholstery looks smart and should be very hardwearing, resistant to spills and the passage of time.
Belted dinette seats are joined by a side-facing sofa and the cab seats, both of which swivel. There’s also a pull-up stool by the door, which is handy as an occasional perch.
The forward-facing seats are necessarily upright, owing to safety constraints because of the belts, but they are comfortable nevertheless, and two of you are likely to be happy using the swivelled cab seats anyway.
The TV bracket location, above the dinette, means the screen is also best viewed from the cab seats.
Wherever you sit, you’re well placed for access to a plug socket to charge devices: there’s one on the wall behind the passenger seat, and a double USB point below the lockers at eye level.
This area is nice and bright, thanks to the huge panoramic windows up above – both can be opened for ventilation during warmer days – and the side window. Neat net curtains across the latter also afford an element of privacy here.
The table itself has a white-gloss top and can be moved up and down, and fore and aft, meaning that numerous occupants can dine here in comfort.
Heating vents behind each cab seat help to keep the area snug when you are dining or relaxing in the lounge during colder evenings, while the loose lay carpets will keep your feet warm.
Sleeping
Adria describes this motorhome as able to sleep two plus one, because of the third, narrower bed that’s available between the two singles. This is best suited for a smaller child, but either way, we think this ‘van is most likely to be bought by couples touring alone.
Both fixed single beds are a generous 2.03m in length and are comfortable; the heads can be raised to allow you to sit up and read. That’s aided by a couple of reading lights, both with handy USB sockets; there are also shelves to stow your phone while it charges overnight.
There are three lockers overhead, as well as a roof light, and a window on either side.
Kitchen
The 600 SL’s kitchen isn’t enormous, but it’s reasonably well-equipped for those who enjoy cooking each evening. There is a three-gas-burner hob (featuring electric ignition), with the burners neatly arranged in a row, rather than in the more traditional triangular arrangement, which allows for a bit of work/preparation space in front. The work surface itself is dark grey in colour, so it should be easy to keep clean and it ought to retain its smart appearance over time.
A Thetford oven and grill is situated directly under the hob and there’s also a sizeable locker below for heavier goods – there’s enough room in here for pans or cans.
To the right, one apparent drawer front actually contains the gas taps; but there’s plenty of space in the deep drawer below for cutlery and so on, while there’s a further pan locker underneath that.
Up above the hob is a pair of lockers; although one is partly taken up with the electrics for the extractor fan, the latter is certainly a handy addition.
A small spice rack sits on the wall to the right, and there’s a mains socket at the base of the eye-level lockers – it’s above the hob though, so you’ll need to place any leads carefully.
The large, 142-litre fridge is on the right-hand side of the kitchen, with a further small locker above.
Washroom
The Coral Axess 600 SL’s washroom is in the centre of the ‘van, on the offside; although it’s opposite the fridge, it has a tambour door, so doesn’t intrude into the kitchen space when you open it.
The washroom isn’t the largest we’ve seen, but it’s a perfectly practical space that does everything you need it to.
You’ll find a swivelling Thetford cassette toilet with electric flush, as well as a large, white basin with a swan-neck tap. Storage is taken care of by a small locker up above the toilet, while you’ll stay warm thanks to the single heating vent.
The shower cubicle is formed by a clever arrangement where the wall to the left swings back towards the toilet, in effect creating a separate cubicle. The floor – which is slightly intruded on by the wheel arch – is shared with the toilet, though, so you might get wet feet when using the latter, if the shower hasn’t fully drained. Thankfully, that shouldn’t be too much of an issue, owing to the pair of plugholes here.
A towel rail can be pulled down from the roof, and there’s also a translucent window. Lighting here is good, too.
Storage
This may be a compact motorhome, but that doesn’t mean you’ll struggle to fit your kit in here – there are plenty of storage opportunities.
There’s no full-height wardrobe for clothes, but there are large, half-height wardrobes beneath the foot of both beds, each with hanging rails.
Within these easy-to-access areas are cubbyholes for stowing bits and bobs, and cord secures for items that you don’t want rolling around.
There’s also a good-sized drawer underneath the offside bed, and a handy ‘hidden’ cubby beneath one of the steps up to the beds – useful for storing more valuable items.
Further forward are cubbyholes up above the cab on either side, a fair amount of kitchen storage space, and seven push-button lockers.
It’s the garage that’s the rear storage star, though: it has double doors for easy access, is huge and can carry up to 150kg. It’s also heated and lit, and there are eyes to allow you to tether your kit.
The ‘van’s 577kg payload should allow you to carry plenty of kit.
Equipment
Our test Coral Axess 600 SL was impressively well specified; some bits of kit are optional, but there’s a good level of standard kit here, too.
The large, 142-litre Thetford fridge is standard, as is the extractor fan in the kitchen; we’d like to have seen a microwave as well, but that would mean losing storage space.
Truma Combi 4E blown-air space and water heating is fitted, and the smart control panel for the primary systems is located above the door.
The fresh-water tank holds 140 litres and is fillable via a regular inlet; the waste tank is 85 litres and is insulated and heated, making this a ‘van that’s well fitted out for four-season touring.
Window blinds are roller, rather than the classier concertina variety, but you will find concertina blinds on the cab windows.
Optional extras fitted to our test vehicle included a roll-out awning, a roof rack and ladder, a rear-view camera – very important, because there’s no view rears otherwise – and a solar panel.
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The shower cubicle is formed by a clever arrangement where the wall to the left swings back towards the toilet, in effect creating a separate cubicle.
Technical Specifications
| Berth | 3 |
| MiRO | 2923 kg |
| Payload | 577 kg |
| MTPLM | 3500 kg |
| Shipping Length | 6.99 m |
| Width | 2.30 m |
| Engine Size | 2300 cc |
