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 also benefits from these. Both models are six metres in length and feature rear lounge layouts. The CV40 has rear travel seats while this CV20 is a true two-berth model.

Both the CV20 and CV40 are based on the Fiat Ducato chassis, so you get the option of an automatic gearbox, if you want. You can also opt for alloy wheels and the Lux Pack, which adds cab air-conditioning, a passenger airbag and cruise control. Even with these extras, you can still drive one away for under £40k, which is impressive.

The layout is a British classic, with the focus on a spacious lounge at the back of the campervan featuring twin sofas. Each measures 1.88m in length, which makes them perfect to act as single beds.

There’s only a small rooflight here 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 Erwin Hymer Group. Reading lights are fitted in all four corners and a freestanding table caters for dining.

Up the front, both cab seats swivel and there’s plenty of adjustment for the driver, despite the position of furniture close behind (if you’re on the taller side, you’ll still want to check this!) Cab specification includes steering wheel-mounted radio controls, but no fitted blinds.

The central kitchen, opposite the bathroom, comes fitted with a Thetford Triplex cooker with a three-burner hob and combined oven/grill, while a 90-litre compressor fridge (mounted at waist height) with a wardrobe below (with 770mm drop), is another big plus.

A flyscreen on the sliding door and an electric step are more features that you might not expect. Further practical elements 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.

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. The tap also doubles 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 ensure you’re parked level as there’s just one drain in the shower tray, and you’ll also need to deploy the curtain. Compass turns to Whale for heating and hot water (4kW for the former, eight litres of the latter) both mounted underneath. There’s an underslung 90-litre fresh water tank and a 45-litre waste tank. The 25-litre built-in gas tank is another standard feature, too.

The lowdown on the Compass brand

Compass date back as far as the 1980s and became a mainstay of the British market in the 90s.

In the new millennium, it was the time of the Avantgarde range, which was a budget coachbuilt motorhome range that was the same as the Elddis Autoquest in all but details and décor.

The Avantgarde and Autoquest were built alongside each other by the Explorer Group until the market went into decline and focus centred on just the Elddis brand. Now part of the Erwin Hymer Group, Elddis has reintroduced the Compass brand for 2019, with a range of two van conversions and six coachbuilts, all sharing model numbers and layouts with their Elddis equivalents.

If you’d like to see them in the flesh, appointed Compass dealers include Cotswold Edge Leisure Vehicles, Highbridge Caravan Centre, Kimberley Caravan Centre (Nottingham and Burtree branches), Leeds Caravan Centre, Westfield Caravans, Kendal Caravans, Camper North East, Southdowns Motorhome Centre, Lowdhams (Huddersfield), plus Donaghey Motorhomes in Ireland and Roseisle Luxury Campervans in Scotland.

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