Full review

Compass, made by the Explorer Group, has completely changed for 2017, with three new ranges, all with names of Spanish origin, Capiro, Camino and Casita.

The Camino, the highest-spec of the three ranges, is arguably the most spectacular, with blue sides which glisten in the sunshine.

This range has a choice of four layouts – two of which are on single axles and two have twin axles. We chose the single-axle, transverse island bed 554 to review as an example of the new Camino range because its layout is right now at the top of the popularity poll; a best-seller in all manufacturers’ ranges.

Named after a pilgrim’s trail through Northern Spain, Caminos have Alde heating, extractor fans, “Skyscape” top-front windows and “Stargazer“ (Explorer’s words) long (1.3m) slender roof lights which flood the lounges with natural light.

All Caminos have 40-litre water tanks, which makes them ideal for year-round caravanning. They’re also equipped with the Alde load monitor system, which switches off the heating when you use an appliance such as a hairdryer, to prevent you from tripping out the electricity supply to your pitch. And they have a nice touch of practicality: an LCD display control panel which monitors both battery and water levels.

A feature of Caminos that you can’t see is that the seating upholstery is treated with Aquaclean fabric, designed to resist stains and, if you spill anything, you can wipe it off with just water on a cloth.

The feature that distinguishes Caminos is the blue metallic-effect sides that sparkle in the sunshine. We’ve long been advocates of departures from plain white for caravans, and applaud the silvery greys and pale fawns that identify some caravan marques (notably Buccaneer’s classy grey and Crusader’s Champagne-shade). But blue? That’s a first. And a very attractive first.

And inside? Blue is a feature here, too. This time there’s a tinge of turquoise in the colour that borders and ties the curtains and provides a band across the centre of each settee backs, to mark the edges of the suede-effect fabric and the start of the central weave-pattern inserts. The four big cushions are in a pattern called Anastasia, a slightly exotic mix of rich blues with a fawn design that suggests eastern Mediterranean influence.

The Camino 554’s layout gives you a full-width shower room.

Showering

With a 76cm depth of floor space, the shower room isn’t massive but it is large enough to be practical. Importantly, there’s a heated towel rail here.

It’s all very stylish, with an oval, bowl-style washbasin, a tall, elegant swan-neck tap, a back-lit mirror and a surround of LEDs to the black mount for the shower.

The window (on the offside) is opaque; we’re never sure why a washroom window should be opaque, given that obviously you can block out all visibility with the (nice, pale grey) solid pleated blind, or lower the pleated gauze section, for part-obliteration.

There’s an attractive touch of styling here; the window is dressed with a folded blind, in the same gorgeous blue-shaded patterned fabric that is used for the four cushions.

Sleeping

The window dressing in the bedroom has a style factor, too. This time, it’s eyeleted curtains on a chrome café rod. It’s perhaps in the bedroom that you most notice the Camino’s woodwork shade, simply because there’s a whole wall of it, incorporating the sliding shower room door. It’s a sort of subdued cappuccino colour, called Salinas Ash, which is named after a valley close to the California coast, known for its perfect climate for growing flowers, grapes and salad crops. A suggestion of California to add to the Spanish name influence enhances the sunny-holiday image of Camino…

Any which way you think of the names, this is a lovely cosy bedroom with a big mirror to enhance the look of spaciousness, and stylishly bordered in broad white bands highlighted with chrome.

The larger of the two wardrobes gives you 42cm of hanging width; the smaller one 28cm. Each has drawers below (three on on one side and two plus a drop-down-hatch cupboard on the other). Each wardrobe unit also has a brilliant, yet simple fixture. It’s a pull-out table, the same width as the drawers, ideal for coffee mugs and just big enough for a plate of toast, too; breakfast in bed, Camino 554-style, would be so easy that it could become the norm rather than just occasional luxury!

Storage

While we were exploring the bedroom, we opened up the 554’s greatest storage element. Even though the bed base retracts to give you extra corridor space (a nice generous 70cm) there is almost 1.4m of storage length under the bed. The 40-litre water tank is under the bed, but there’s still ample space here for lots of items. And there’s an exterior hatch, ideal for loading in folding chairs and a table.

Two lockers over the bed and two more over the lounge, plus (if you need it) space under the settees (with full-length front hatches) complete what has to be regarded as a generous amount of storage.

Dining

The four-person table stores away against the aft wall of the larger wardrobe. For all minor meals for two requirements, though, the front-central pull-put table will be sufficient, with a 75cm depth and a width, even at its narrowest point, of 64m.

Lounging

The 554’s lounge is definitely for four, rather than six. But, for an extra £210, you can seat more, by opting for additional upholstery, so that you can transform your 554’s lounge into a U-shape. If you go for this option, you keep the chest of drawers. So, for holidays when you want more storage space, and the pull-put table, the chest of drawers comes along. For holidays when you might want to entertain, you leave the drawers at home and enjoy big-lounge comfort. We did the transformation on our review model and have to say that’s the mode we’d prefer were we to buy a 554, because this creates enhanced corner-relaxing comfort as well as a more open-aspect look. It’s a stunning lounge.

Kitchen

Plenty of upper storage is provided by a 70cm wide central cabinet plus two more, each half that width; the forward one has a clear front and has holders for six goblets and a bottle.

Lower storage comes in the form of four drawers, varying in depth; they’re 26cm wide except the shallowest, at the top, which is slightly narrower. There’s another drawer in the dresser, plus a top cabinet above the microwave and a lower two-shelf cabinet. Although some space here is taken up by the wheel arch, there’s still a good amount of capacity, with a width of 44cm. So, overall, we’d say kitchen storage space is more than adequate. And it’s good to see that the microwave is at a height that’s ideal for people of shorter stature.

Towing

The electronic-braking stability control system (ATC) is standard on Caminos. It’s nice to have the reassurance that there’s an automatic buffer against wind influence caused, in particular, by overtaking and being overtaken; the system activates, by applying the caravan brakes to bring it back into line when it detects even the slightest sway out of alignment.

With a modest MPTPLM of 1550kg, the 554 is an ideal partner for a wide variety of cars and certainly doesn’t need something as heavy as our Rexton with which we do all the review tow tests.

Verdict

Style, quality and spec are in good supply, as are mains sockets (six) in the 554 those are important factors when you’re wading your way through the data and looks of all the transverse bed caravans on the market to select the one that’s perfect for you. Your decision may be heavily influence by colours, and the 554’s sunny-hue turquoise fabric shades are sure to engage you instantly. And, remember, the Camino version of this hugely popular layout is the only one that has glistening blue sides, so this is one for buyers who want to be noticed!

Options to go for

Extra upholstery to create a U-shaped lounge, at £210.

Also consider

Elddis Crusader Mistral same weight, same price and same layout but very different styling