Full review

I’ve always thought that a low-profile body works best with the vivid new Boxer/Ducato/Relay shape and few other show vehicles demonstrated this quite as clearly as the brand-new Compass Calypso.

Add to the new base vehicle the Calypso’s pugnacious, yet elegant stance, darkened flush-fit windows, cool alloy wheels and simple, yet stylish rear elevation, all topped off with a fully colour-coded front end, and you’re left with one seriously good-looking motorhome that has showroom floor appeal by the bucket-load.

On the downside, I overhead one or two prospective buyers umming and ahhing a bit over the Calypso’s considerable rear overhang, and one particularly hard to please chap was heard to opine that the front wheels looked a bit lost in the huge arches, but overall, this just might be the best-looking motorhome ever to have rolled off Explorer Group’s Consett production line.

So, all good news so far, and there’s more to come inside, where a new layout awaits. Key to this is the spacious U-shaped end lounge, which has apparently been a huge hit in last year’s Elddis Autoquest/Compass Avantgarde 180, and which suits the Calypso down to the ground. You could easily get six adults in there – possibly even around the dining table – even if those on the rearmost seats would have to make do without a full backrest. Better still, lighting from the four downlighters and Heki 2 rooflight makes the area feel spacious and airy. I quite liked the oatmeal-coloured soft furnishings, too. And the flush-fit windows, with their top-quality Seitz blinds, add a final stylish touch.

Amidships, the nearside kitchen boasts acres of worktop and storage space. You’d naturally expect a proper spark-ignition cooker at this level, but you might not anticipate finding a fitted microwave oven as standard, as is the case here. You would think that this motorhome warrants something rather bigger than an 81-litre fridge, though.

Moving opposite, the washroom has a further surprise in store, because far from being of the all-in-one design you’d expect from a motorhome fitted with a large rear lounge, the Calypso manages to squeeze in a good-sized separate shower compartment. There’s not much room for those who are broad of beam and large of feet to manoeuvre around the electric-flush swivel toilet, although the washbasin is of a good size and there are a couple of good-sized cupboards.

Summary:

Compass’ new head-turning Calypso has everything a couple could want – a large lounge, huge kitchen and a proper separate shower.

Factfile:

Make: Compass
Model: Calypso 220
Base vehicle: Peugeot Boxer 2.2 HDi (100bhp)
Price from: £33,895  on-the-road
Length: 6.37m (20ft 9in)
Width: 2.35m (7ft 8in)
Height: 2.81m (9ft 4in)
Gross vehicle weight: 3,300kg
Payload: 424kg
Berths: 2