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Compass Avantgarde CV20 campervan
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Key Features

Model Year 2019
Class High top
Base Vehicle Fiat Ducato
Price From (£) 37,827
Length (m) 5.99
Berths 2
Belted Seats 2
Main Layout Rear Lounge
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At a glance

Berths: 2 Travel seats: 2 Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato Gross weight: 3,500kg Payload: 665kg

Full review

For 2019, Elddis has a sister brand once again. The British arm of the Erwin Hymer Group has reintroduced Compass motorhomes, with a range that mirrors the Elddis Autoquest line-up but with cosmetic differences and its own dealer network.

As Elddis has also launched a pair of van conversions for the coming year, Compass benefits from these, too. There’s a pair of six-metre, rear lounge layouts – one with rear travel seats (CV40) and one pure two-berth (the CV20 reviewed here). Both are based on the Fiat Ducato (unlike Compass coachbuilts, which are Peugeot-based), so there’s an automatic option.

The vehicle shown here is standard apart from the alloy wheels and the Lux Pack, which adds cab air-conditioning, a passenger airbag and cruise control – even then, you can drive one away for under £40k, which is impressive.

The layout is a British classic which focuses on spacious lounging in the stern. Both rear settees are 1.88m long (longer than in some rivals and perfect to act as single beds). There’s only a small rooflight but there are opening windows all around and the German-sourced moulded trim panels on walls and doors show how Compass has learned from continental brands in the group. Reading lights are fitted in all four corners and a free-standing table caters for dining. Both cab seats swivel and there’s plenty of adjustment for the driver, despite the position of furniture close behind.

Cab spec includes steering wheel-mounted radio controls, but no fitted blinds. The kitchen features a Thetford Triplex cooker with three-burner hob and combined oven/grill, while a 90-litre compressor fridge (mounted at waist height) is another big plus. Under the fridge is the wardrobe (with 770mm drop), while the kitchen is angled at the forward end (where you’ll find four small front-facing drawers) to increase floorspace.

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A flyscreen on the sliding door and an electric step are more features that you might not expect, while practical features include a slot-in cover for the sink and a folding worktop extension over the nearside sofa. There’s an eye-level kitchen cupboard but no space-stealing microwave, though you can have one as an option if you insist.

Opposite the galley, the washroom is located where you’d anticipate it but you’ll be impressed to see a corner basin on a plinth – no tip-up washbasin here, although the tap does double up as the showerhead. Towel hooks, toothbrush mug, etc, are provided and there’s a small mirror-fronted high-level cupboard. For showering you’ll have to deploy a curtain and park level as there’s just one drain in the shower tray.

Compass turns to Whale for heating and hot water – 4kW for the former, 8 litres of the latter, both mounted underneath. There’s an underslung 90-litre fresh water tank, too, but the waste tank is just a modest 45 litres. The 25-litre built-in gas tank is another standard feature. So, the CV20 may have a predictable layout but the spec/price ratio suddenly makes many rivals look rather poor value.

If you enjoyed this review, you can read loads more like it in What Motorhome magazine. You can get a digital version of this latest issue of What Motorhome magazine here.

 

    

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Our verdict

This classic two-berth, rear lounge campervan appears well-designed, but its real USP is the amazingly keen price tag.

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