What’s new from Xplore, Elddis, Compass and Buccaneer for 2018?

Xplore, Elddis, Compass and Buccaneer announce a total of 13 new caravan models and layouts for 2018. And Buccaneer gets a stunning new model, the Barracuda, with an L-shaped lounge layout.

Words by Val Chapman
Photos by Richard Chapman

New models and changed layouts arrive in all four brands made by this manufacturer, now part of the Erwin Hymer Group. These range from a compact new two-berth in the lightweight Xplore range to an L-shaped lounge model in the top-spec Buccaneer brand.

Altogether, the County Durham maker goes into 2018 with 41 models; 25 of them on single axles and 16 on twin axles.

Xplore

This manufacturer’s beacon of affordability and lightweight, the Xplore range, goes into 2018 with some subtle changes including new, bright turquoise graphics – and a new model which redefines the two-berth, end-kitchen concept with an ingenious layout.

Traditionally, two-berth, end-kitchen caravans are synonymous with combined shower-toilet compartments. The new Xplore 422 brings the concept into a new era, with a separate shower cubicle.

The kitchen is L-shaped. A dresser is by the door where, in classic end-kitchen caravans, the fridge would be sited. The fridge is on the offside, with the wardrobe above it.

The new Xplore 422 is one of four models in this brand’s 2018 season line-up. The others are the diminutive four-berth 304, the side island bed 554 and the six-berth 586.

Xplores range in price from £13,249 for the 304 to £16,499 for the 586; all prices quoted here exclude the £495 delivery fee.

The Xplore range has the Whale combination water and space heating system. The smaller, 304 and 422 models have a 2kW heater and the larger, 554 and 586 models have a 4kW heater.

The 2018 Xplore décor is a combination of grey and charcoal shades with splashes of mango orange in the cushions and curtains, teamed with neutral fabric upholstering the seating.

Elddis

Elddis Avanté

A new eight-feet-wide model joins the Avanté line-up. This follows the success of the two super-wide models launched for 2017, the double-bed 840 and the 866, with bunk beds and a children’s seating area at the rear.

The new model is the Elddis Avanté 860, the same layout as sister-brand Buccaneer’s best-selling Commodore model, launched last year. It has a central shower room, enabling the caravan to be divided into two rooms, separating the bedroom from the kitchen and lounge.

The introduction of the Avanté 860 brings this layout onto the market at £22,559, compared with £32,699 for the higher-spec, Alde-heated Buccaneer version.

Another new layout joining the Avanté line-up is the standard-width 574, with twin beds at the rear and central shower and toilet compartments which combine, with an arrangement of doors, to divide the caravan into two rooms.

A new two-berth Avanté is announced for 2018. The 462 is a slightly longer and wider version of the new Xplore 422, with a separate shower cubicle in the offside washroom, an L-shaped kitchen, a dresser forward of the door and a half-height wardrobe above the fridge on the offside.

The eight Avanté models for 2018 have the Whale central and water heating system with the Xpanse eight-litre underslung water heater.

The 2018 accent fabric colours are steely blue shades, teamed with neutral, cream-fawn upholstery.

Avanté prices range from £17,549 for the 462 to £22,559 for the three twin-axle, eight-feet-wide models.

Elddis Affinity

The four-model Affinity range goes into the new model year with a new two-berth, the same layout as the Avanté 462, with higher spec including a SkyScape sunroof and a Stargazer roof light, plus an alarm system. Front-line styling becomes more streamlined, with inset grab handles.

Affinity models have Alde central heating. Dove grey and pearl fabric shades identify the Affinity range for 2018.

Affinity prices are £20,399 for the 462 and £21,949 for the 550, 554 and 574.

Elddis Crusader

The twin-bed twin-axle Supercyclone gets a new layout for 2018, with a central shower-toilet room configuration which enables the caravan to be divided into two rooms. Previous Supercyclones had rear shower rooms.

The top-spec range in the Elddis brand, Crusader, retains its Champagne-shade sides for 2018, now with bronze graphics and badges.

Crusaders are equipped with mains supply monitors to automatically turn off the Alde heating when a high-powered device like a hairdryer is being used, to prevent you from tripping out the mains supply to your pitch.

Spec continues to include 40-litre on-board water tanks and extractor fans.

Crusaders have the Alde central heating system.

The new Crusader fabric scheme is called Arran, inspired by a chunky cable-knit pattern in an espresso colour.

Crusader prices are £24,299 for the single-axle, rear island bed Aurora and side island bed Mistral, and £27,399 for the twin-axle Storm, Supercyclone and Zephyr models.

Compass

The three Compass ranges, Casita, Capiro and Camino, launched for 2017, have the same specification as sister-brand Elddis’s Avanté, Affinity and Crusader, yet are distinctly different in style.

Compass Casita

Two new models arrive in the Casita range. These are the eight-feet-wide four-berth Casita 860 – identical to the Avanté 860 but with a different décor style – and the two-berth Casita 462, again, mirroring the same model in the Avanté range.

There are four standard-width Casitas and three eight-feet-wide Casitas for 2018 Season.

Casitas have the Whale blown air heating system and underslung Xpanse water heater.

The accent colours for 2018 are powder blue shades with a botanic motif.

Casita prices start at £17,549 for the 462.and rise to £22,559 for the three eight-feet-wide models, the 840, 860 and 866.

Compass Capiro

Two new models are announced. These are the 462 layout and the 574, with twin beds and a central separate shower and toilet room layout.

Capiro models have Alde heating, ATC stability control and Sky Scape sunroofs.

The new Capiro fabric scheme for 2018 is called ‘Melrose’. It’s a tartan-inspired design in subtle tweed tones. The upholstery is Aquaclean, designed to resist stains.

Capiro prices are £20,399 for the 462-and £21,949 for the 550, 554 and 574.

Compass Camino

The new model in the Camino range is the 674, a twin-axle four-berth with twin beds at the rear and central separate shower and washroom compartments.

Camino sits at the top of the Compass range in terms of spec and its azure blue sides distinguish this range from all others. For 2018 the range gets a redesigned front panel, gas locker and grab handles.

Like Capiro, Camino has Aquaclean upholstery and, for 2018, the seating fabric is ‘pet friendly’, with a smooth surface designed to resist scratching and to make removing animal hair easier. This fabric is also used in Elddis Crusader and Buccaneer models.

Caminos have 40-litre water tanks, Alde heating and a mains-supply load-monitor system to prevent you from tripping out the electricity supply to your pitch, plus an alarm and tracker system.

The four models in the Camino range are two single axle models, the rear island bed 550 and the side island bed 554, and two twin axle models, the 660 with a rear transverse island bed, plus the new 674.

Camino prices are £24,299 for the 550 and 554, and £27,399 for the twin-axle 660 and 674.

Buccaneer

This manufacturer’s move into eight-feet-wide territory began some years ago with the top-spec Buccaneer range. And, for 2018, a new model arrives, with an L-shaped lounge complete with large wall-mounted television. This is the Barracuda, with a rear island bed and central shower and toilet rooms.

The Clipper gets a new layout, now with twin beds at the rear and shower and toilet compartments centrally positioned.

The six-berth Galera, (Buccaneer’s first family caravan), launched last season, continues into 2018, together with the side island bed, rear shower room Cruiser and the Commodore, with a rear transverse island bed.

All five models in the Buccaneer range are priced at £32,699.