Full review

There are three eight-feet-wide layouts in the Compass Casita range. The 840 is one of two six-berths and has a double bed at the rear with a washroom containing a separate shower alongside it.

Sleeping

You can create two more double beds, from the lounge and the wide, U-shaped dining area in the centre of the layout, opposite the kitchen. You make up the double bed in the lounge by pulling out a webbing-linked slatted base from beneath the chest of drawers between the settees.

The bed that transforms from the dining area uses the monopod dining table to complete its base. The robust telescopic leg contracts in length to level with the settee bases. You then pull out extensions to each of the ends of the seating unit, to create a bed that is 1.28m wide and 1.90m long.

The lounge bed is slightly larger, at 1.43m x 2.12m. The fixed double bed at the rear is 1.30m x 1.88m.

So, beds for six and also versatility if you are looking at the 840 for use as a four-berth; you can make the second double bed in either the dining area or lounge, or use the lounge settees as single beds, which are 1.88m long.

Critical Differences

Casitas mirror the Elddis Avanté range, made by the same manufacturer, in layouts, prices, weights and dimensions. The critical difference is in appearance. Whereas Avantés have pale cabinetry with grey lower edges to the lockers, Casitas have slightly more mellow woodwork and the cabinets have white lower edges.

The Casita fabric scheme for 2019 has a delicate shade of grey as the accent shade. This colour is used for curtain tie-backs, piping along backrests and in the delightful pattern on the cushions where it's mixed with white and a paler shade of grey. So, whether to go for an Avanté or a Casita may well be decided by which soft-furnishing scheme most appeals to you.

Casita options

Casitas come with ATC which runs on gas, electricity or both. Heating comes from Whale's blown air 4.3kW dual fuel heating which runs on gas, electricity or both. The water heater is Whale's Expanse eight-litre unit, mounted under the caravan. Upholstery is stain-resistant Aquaclean, designed to wipe clean with just water.

Optional extras include AL-KO Secure wheel locks, which cost £605 for the two locks and the jack that's necessary to raise the caravan to rotate a wheel to fit the second lock. (One lock is easy to install by accurate positioning while the caravan is still attached to the car.)

Verdict

A max-width caravan with a double bed, two dining-lounging options and the extra stability that twin axle caravans provide, the Compass Casita 840 has bags of appeal – and bags of space everywhere.