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quoteMixing luxury and low pricing
Sitting between the budget Casita and premium Camino line-ups, the four-strong Capiro line from born-again Compass borrows a bit of the attractions of both. So, if you like a bargain that has a good specification, why not start here? And, if you particularly fancy the concept of a rear island bed, just keep reading.
Introduced for the 2017 season, all Capiros come in at under 1,500kg. Yet Alde heating is part of the standard specification, as is the extra safety and caravan insurance savings created by the Al-Ko ATC electronic anti snaking system and the infra-red alarm system.
The all-white exterior, SoLid bodywork construction, alloy wheels, triple-windowed front with fixed sunroof, followed by a Heki Lux Stargazer – that’s a long, opening sunroof – certainly aren’t indicators that costs have been cut. Indeed, the amount of “window space” throughout is just one of the highlights. The external gas connector, directional TV aerial and satellite TV and solar panel points are, again, indicators of aspiring to a level of luxury.
Step inside and it’s bedroom to your right, living to your left, with the latter providing short settees as the necessary compromise to squeeze that rear island bed into a main body with an internal length of 5.78m.
Again, though, there are plenty of details to tell you this is no low-cost tourer. The two-tone locker door finish in the living and sleeping areas, the positive catches for the doors themselves, the curved front to the drinks locker, those bolster cushions, lots of LED lighting and more, tell you there’s no shortage of creature comforts on board.
The kitchen lacks for little, too, although some might quibble at a fridge that only has a 110-litre capacity. A Daewoo microwave oven sits over the hob – it’s not a location all caravanners like.
What you will appreciate, however, is the cooker with its dual-fuel hob (three gas rings, one electric hotplate) and separate oven and grill. Next is a sink in granite-style finish, served by a metal swan-neck mixer tap. There’s also a handy flip-up worktop extension.
It may only be a pleated divider, but it’s sufficient to provide the privacy of a separate bedroom at the back. The island bed has an Ozio mattress and it retracts, by some 40cm – so, there are night- and day-time settings, if you like. Again, it’s well served for daylight, with windows each side as well as a rooflight overhead. The wardrobe-cum-bedside table-with-drawers each side of the bed, along with the lockers overhead, could otherwise make it seem a little claustrophobic, but there’s no doubting the generous storage it all affords.
Forward to the bedroom, the en-suite facilities are split between a circular shower cubicle with Eco Camel’s Orbit showerhead, but just a single plughole.
As well as the usual swivel-bowl toilet, the toilet room fittings include a heated towel rail and a basin mounted on the worktop. There’s a mirror, but no window – even though there is space for one.
It’s one of just very few let-downs in this otherwise comprehensive all-round package that won’t be breaking any banks.
Verdict: Carefully blended specification and price mix
Plus: Island bed comfort, Alde heating etc, low-ish weight
Minus: No toilet room window
In-a-nutshell: Island life needn’t be costly
There’s more information on the Capiro range on the Elddis website. To find out more about our low-cost premiums visit the caravan insurance discounts page.
Alternatives: Adria Altea 552 UP Trent, Bailey Unicorn Pamplona, Coachman Vision 545, Elddis Affinity 550, Lunar Lexon 590, Swift Challenger 560
Compass Capiro 550 factfile
| Model | Compass Capiro 550 |
| Dimensions | 7.40m L, 2.26m W, 2.65m H |
| Internal length | 5.78m |
| Berths | 4 |
| MTPLM | 1,476kg (upgradable to 1,500kg) |
| Payload | 153kg |
| RRP | from £21,394 on the road |
| Safety & security | Alarm system (PIR plus leg sensor), CRiS security with hidden chip, Al-Ko ATC trailer control system and AKS 3004 stabiliser, receivers for Al-Ko Secure wheel locks, shock absorbers, smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector. |
| Key options | Alternative upholsteries (£290), wraparound front seating (£210), Al-Ko Secure Wheel Lock (£230), bike rack (£350), bed cover set (£250), locker shelving pack (£40), Omnivent (£182) |
The only problem I had with a central fixed bed on the rear panel of the c/van is that gear normally stored under the bed had to be lugged through the c/van as there is never going to be a locker door on the rear of the c/van. As the space is limited it is possible to eventually cause bump damage while stowing equipment under the bed.
Unfortunately this seems to be the norm with caravan biulders my new Swift had 22 faults in the first 3 months. Some I had to get fixed at my own expense. Too costly to keep going back to dealer and frustrating.
Ray
Sorry to hear you’ve had problems with your caravan Ray. It might be worth contacting Swift’s customer services with your serial number: Their number is 01482 875740 or you can e-mail [email protected]. They also have Swift Talk when you can ask for technical advice: https://www.swift-talk.co.uk/
Just check the build quality carefully on delivery. My 11 month old Compass Rallye has had a list of minor faults and now has to be returned to the factory to repair a roof fault.
Sorry to hear you’ve had problems with your Compass Eric but that it sounds like it’s been looked into.