Essential Guide to 2020 motorhomes - Compass motorhomes and campervans

Compass Avantgarde CV60 campervan

Joining the Compass campervan family for the 2020 season, the new CV60 offers something a little different to the other models in the range, as well as most of its competitors.

This new model, which is based on the LWB Ducato, like its CV20 and CV40 siblings, doesn’t offer a traditional lounge so to speak. Instead there are two seating areas.

The forward one is simple: just swivel the cab seats and you have a seating area – many say these cab seats are the comfiest of all anyway. There is a pedestal fitting in the floor for a coffee table, while a half-height cupboard next to the driver’s seat can also serve for drinks, too.

Then, in the rear, a tapered sofa faces a media unit (a low-level locker with the connections for a TV aerial lead, 12V and mains). You may think this a rather unusual shape until you go to make it into a bed.

Lift the seat base slightly and slide out smoothly; the backrest drops into place and now you have a French bed at the rear instead of a lounge.

What’s great is that you could actually leave this made up as a bed if you wanted and then just use the seating area, or fold it back into a seating area, for better floorspace and TV watching comfort.

In between the two lounges you’ll find the efficient all-in-one washroom and the well-equipped kitchen, with oven and grill, three-burner hob and eye-level 90-litre Thetford compressor fridge.

Practical features include a 25-litre underslung gas tank, and 4kW Whale heating system with a quiet night-time setting.

SPECIFICATION
Price from: £42,099 OTR
Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato Euro 6d
Layout: French bed/rear lounge
Berths: 2
Travel seats: 2
Length: 5.99m
Gross weight: 3,500kg
Payload: 654kg

Compass Avantgarde 115 motorhome

This compact layout (it’s well under the magic 6.00m mark) has stood the test of time. The lack of fixed bed means you get an amazing amount of living space in just 5.70m of length. In fact, it’s quite hard to believe your eyes when inside the smallest vehicle in the Compass range.

That big front lounge converts to a transverse double, while the rear kitchen offers excellent facilities, including a full cooker unit. Though the washroom in the rear corner is compact and simple it is perfectly functional with a swivel cassette toilet, storage above and a decent-sized shower area, too, with its own tap.

If you are looking for a compact, affordable tourer for two, look no further.

SPECIFICATION
Price from: £42,999 OTR
Base vehicle: Peugeot Boxer 2.2-litre 140bhp Euro 6.2
Layout: End kitchen
Berths: 2
Travel seats: 2
Length: 5.70m
Gross weight: 3,300kg
Payload: 753kg

Compass Avantgarde 196

At the opposite end of the Compass Avantgarde coachbuilt range we have this multi-berth 196 low-profile.

Thanks to a drop-down bed above the full-dinette lounge, plus that big rear lounge, you get berths for six and travel seats to match. And even with six on board there’s plenty of relaxing space for the whole family.

The kitchen offers a three-burner hob, oven and grill with a fridge that’s powered by gas and mains or 12V when travelling.

Heating is courtesy of Whale, as with the whole Avantgarde range, with a new CompleteHeat system that heats up quicker and has a quiet night-time heating mode.

It’s for comfortable family adventures at their best.

SPECIFICATION
Price from: £50,049 OTR
Base vehicle: Peugeot Boxer 2.2-litre 140bhp Euro 6.2
Layout: Twin lounge
Berths: 6
Travel seats: 6
Length: 7.34m
Gross weight: 3,500kg
Payload: 568kg

Highlights of Compass’ 2020 motorhomes

• Elddis’ sister brand, Compass, was re-introduced to the company’s motorhome line-up last year after a 10-year absence
• The new model for 2020, the CV60, can also be seen in the Elddis Autoquest range
• The CV20 and CV40 see changes to increase the width of the aisle between kitchen and washroom, as well as relocated gas taps for easier access
• All campers are based on the white Fiat Ducato, with the 140bhp 2.3-litre manual as standard. Automatic options in 140 or 160bhp are available, plus the option of the Fiat Grey exterior finish
• Changes specific to the coachbuilts include a new Thetford cooker, Aguti travel seats with Isofix, Fiamma bike rails on the rear and a new habitation door with handle and bin
• Across the board, all models are now fitted with new exterior sockets, Dometic Midi Heki, concealed catches on kitchen locker doors, new worktops, fabrics and graphics
• Whale’s next-generation CompleteHeat system is easy to use and provides hot water in just five minutes. It also has a 40% faster heat-up time and allows for increased internal space

This content featured in The Essential Guide to 2020 Motorhomes, brought to you by the publishers of MMM, What Motorhome and Campervan magazines. To buy a digital edition of the guide with the November issue of MMM or Campervan, click here.