Full review

THE Compass Corona Club 624 four-berth is the most expensive of nine models available in the new range.

Its appearance both inside and out is neat and unfussy and it also has a big enough interior to give it a spacious feel.

Climb aboard the two-piece entrance door and you’ll find the bedroom area to your right and, beyond that, an end washroom. To the left is the lounge area that comprises parallel seating separated by a chest of drawers with an extension that pulls out to make an occasional table.

It’s a comfortable area in which to relax and wile away the hours and there’s ample aircraft style overhead lockers in which to store your various bits and bobs and touring paraphernalia such as books, puzzles and magazines.

There’s useful storage areas underneath the seating too. The kitchen seems a little too close to the sleeping area for my liking but a dividing screen can be pulled across to close this room off. Although it’ll shrink the caravan’s interior it will protect your bedding from smelling of that evening’s meal.

Another benefit of the aforementioned divider is that it can be used to isolate the bedroom and washroom area from the rest of the caravan, so you can shower and change in privacy.

The end washroom, accessed through the bedroom, is Tardis-like; by that I mean it’s larger than you think, rather than it can transport you through time, and equipment levels don’t quite match up to the Doctor’s either, comprising the standard sink, swivel loo and shower set-up.

It’s got a decent-sized wardrobe though with a cupboard underneath that provides an ideal place in which to store your footwear, keeping them nicely out of the way of the living area.

Storage space is at a premium in here because there’s also shelving and a locker on the wall behind the toilet. There’s a large mirror above the sink and two cup holders for the glasses that’ll ensure your toothbrush and toothpaste are within easy reach.

The circular shower cubicle offers decent washing space and contains ample shelving on which to place your gels and other lotions. The washroom also has a towel rail, though it isn’t heated.

The bedroom area is a home to a fixed double bed with a cut-away corner. It’s a feature not all caravanners are keen on as they complain they can’t fit a sheet to the bed properly but it’s in keeping with the caravan’s layout.

Individually operated his ’n’ her lights are a useful touch as they allow one person to read if their partner wants to go to sleep. Lockers and shelving space sit above the bed.

Build quality throughout the 624 is very good, with cabinetry and furniture feeling solid and durable. The cupboards and overhead lockers close with a reassuring clunk. Entertainment comes courtesy of music provided through the Sony CD radio with iPod/MP3 player connectivity.

The side kitchen is equipped with a Thetford 113-litre fridge with LCD display, a Spinflo three-burner hob (which may disappoint some cooks depending on how many pans they tend to use), a Prima Mark3 oven and 700w microwave.

There’s a cabinet opposite the oven on which to put your TV. Chinchilla glass covers the sink and hob area and it’s tough enough to be used as a chopping board for preparing salads, vegetables and the like.

And once food is prepared, dining takes place on the lounge’s occasional table so bag yourself a pitch with a scenic view out of the window and you’ll have a nice setting in which to tuck into a tasty meal and enjoy a glass of wine or two.

E

•    This review is taken from the June 2008 issue of Which Caravan. To subscribe to the magazine, click here.