2024 Bailey Phoenix GT75 640 caravan review

As Bailey celebrates its 75^th anniversary as a leisure vehicle manufacturer, its latest, commemorative Phoenix GT75 caravan range is surely its most modern ever.

Debuting as Phoenix in 2018, by 2022 it had morphed into the Phoenix+, now the six-model range has seen more very welcome updates in its anniversary edition GT75 format.

The 640 here is the best-selling Phoenix to date and it’s not hard to see why, or indeed to expect nothing less in the future.

Here we take a look around the all-new Bailey Phoenix GT75 640 caravan:

Turning up the volume

But, first those significant tweaks compared to the outgoing Phoenix+ stablemates. There’s now an alternative soft furnishings scheme (which includes an Aquaclean finish to the upholstery), new soft furnishings and furniture finishes. And a bang up to date Media Station (more later).

One other key point to note – the mains hook-up socket is now on the offside along with all the other ancillaries. Customer feedback was the driving force, here, says Bailey, and should make for more practical caravanning.

There are also some optional extra offerings, especially via Bailey’s accessories retailer arm, Prima Leisure – everything from a Kitchen Pack (washing-up bowl, drainer, chopping board), to a somewhat pricy worktop extension, to a more substantial KARTT jockey wheel, wheel covers and more.

The Bailey Phoenix GT75 640 layout remains the same, of course. It’s a roomy four-berth that puts its main bed – an island double – at the very back. Flanked by wardrobe units with very short ledges at mattress level – beneath which each gets a drawer and a shelved locker – the bed is retractable, also easy to hinge up for access to the table, spare wheel (covered) and lots of useful storage space – also accessible from a locker outside.

More bedroom storage comes from two overhead lockers with a section of open shelving between them, whilst at the foot end, there’s further storage as well as a dresser unit.

Forward of the bed are a separate shower cubicle and toilet room, with the door to the latter also acting to offer complete privacy from the kitchen and lounge. There’s also a sliding door here, which comes into action when you want to make a complete, full-width washroom.

The shower cubicle is all-plastic and will prove easy to wipe down after use. There’s an Ecocamel showerhead on a riser bar, with a lever-operated tap. Sitting on the wheel arch means there’s a handy step to place your shampoos etc whilst showering.

Opposite, the toilet room is compact in its dimensions but has the usual swivel-bowl Thetford loo plus a small, fixed handbasin.

Useful details include two hooks on the back of the door, another one set high beside the basin (ideal for a hand towel), and a mirror with a strip light over it. Storage is provided by a locker over the toilet, with more (unshelved) locker space under the basin.

At the front of the Bailey Phoenix GT75 caravan, there’s Bailey’s signature three-window design with the central “panoramic” pane extending up over the roofline and allowing lots of daylight into the lounge and beyond.

It’s a standard twin-settee front lounge, with internally sprung cushions. The chest of drawers (includes a slide-out table top section), with two floor-level outlets for the Truma Combi heating. The main table, a free-stander, stows on the underside of the island bed for safe travel.

The kitchen is mid-’van along the nearside, just forward of the axle.

This anniversary model has a new shade of woodwork in the kitchen and a ‘warm grey marble’ laminate worktop and splashback. On the offside you get a Thetford cooker with four gas rings and separate oven and grill, and a circular sink immediately next to it.

There’s a Russell Hobbs flatbed (plate-free) microwave oven, but not everyone will like its location directly over the hob.

Storage includes a drawer with a small cutlery tray, and two decent-sized lockers (with fixed shelving), with a double-doored locker to its left.

Near to hand across the corridor, the Dometic fridge has a 103-litre total capacity. Worktop height is good here as a supplement to the main kitchen unit. Here, too, is where you’ll find a fitting that brings this Bailey caravan bang up to date. Eschewing the usual (and surely increasingly outdated) stereo system, all Phoenix GT75 caravans will come with a Media Station (note the capitals) that includes a portable (but neatly housed) Bluetooth speaker from Sonos, as well as a phone charger bed that lifts up to also offer a USB port.

There are also the usual 230V and 12V sockets here, too. All GT75s are pre-wired for Wi-Fi so you can stay connected on your travels.

As for the outside of the Bailey Phoenix GT75, apart from the usual change of graphics etc it’s all tried-and-trusted Bailey here, with its Alu-Tech bodywork construction set off by grey sides, and grab handles front and back in black (along with the tail light clusters).

There’s also an upgraded stable door with high-security lock, waste bin and coat hook (shown on the all-new Phoenix GT75 762 layout).

Throughout, this latest Bailey has gone just that little bit more upmarket, more aesthetic, and more luxurious. There’s more use of open shelving and a few more curves to the furniture (eg over the two smaller front windows) – it’s subtle, but significant.

All this means a bit of a price hike, of course. Critically, though, the Bailey Phoenix GT75 caravan range is very competitive against its inevitable rivals.

Bailey has also stopped short of full anti-theft security. You might want to consider getting an alarm and/or tracking system fitted for more peace of mind – at least you’ll save a bit of money on your annual caravan insurance premium.

To find out more about insuring a Bailey Phoenix GT75 caravan or your current tourer visit our caravan insurance page.

Verdict: Celebration time

Plus: Keen price/specification, popular floorplan, modern updates

Minus: Main table storage point, just the one shower drainage point

In-a-nutshell: Best seller bested

Alternatives: Adria Altea 622 Dart, Coachman Acadia 545, Elddis Avanté 550/Compass Capiro 550, Swift Challenger 560