2021 Elddis Crusader Borealis caravan

L-shaped lounge, rear island bed, central kitchen and split washroom. That’s the summary of the newest Crusader caravan coming out of the Elddis factory in Consett, County Durham.

A northern star!

There’s a splash of style here, too, as evidenced by that distinctive finish to the aluminium sides and full-width front locker. It’s called Champagne Gold and it certainly helps set the tone for this premium-priced twin axle tourer.

Other upmarket pointers to the exterior of the Elddis Crusader Borealis include the chrome-finished grab handles, heavy-duty corner steadies and a stable door complete with window in the upper half and low-level waste bin inside. What you won’t see is the GRP skin to the underside that adds to the fully-bonded construction process and that augurs well for minimising any kind of water ingress. There’s also the reassurance of a 10-year body integrity warranty (although there’s a maximum of six years if you transfer ownership within this time).

A particular Elddis trait is its use of heavily tinted windows, which of course afford best possible privacy. There’s certainly no worries about getting enough daylight in – thanks also to the fixed sunroof over the three-windowed front, as well as a longer sunroof that also opens to provide plenty of ventilation as needed.

With over 6m of interior space to play with in the Crusader Borealis caravan, Elddis has made the most with a floorplan that gives you a full-size bedroom at the back, dominated by an island bed that runs lengthways.

The bed is retractable, with padded headboard. From daytime mode, it extends a further 400mm to a decent 1.90m x 1.35m. Windows to either side have concertina blinds and flyscreens, plus there’s and an opening Heki rooflight overhead.

As well as good floorspace when you need it, the bed itself is flanked by wardrobes with bed-level ledges (handy for books, glasses etc at night) below which are drawers. All this is complemented by two lockers high up on the back wall as well as access to the underbed area for even more luggage space. Needless to say it’s got the aerial and electrical connections for a TV in here, too.

Chances are, though, you’ll want to do your main telly watching in the lounge of the Elddis Crusader Borealis, where there’s an Avtex 32in TV on the nearside wall. The L-shape to the settees means there’s loads of legroom  – and space for your pet, perhaps? That upholstery is designed to be pet-friendly, too.

As you’d expect, it’s a full-on kitchen in terms of kit – cooker with dual-fuel hob and separate oven and grill, good worktop space (an extension is an obvious omission) and drawer/locker storage, large rectangular sink.

Across the corridor are the microwave oven and fridge, both set at heights that offer optimal convenience.

A central Omnivent should take care of any cooking smells in the Crusader Borealis. Mains sockets are close to hand and there’s an acrylic splash panel.

En suite to the bedroom, there’s a shower cubicle nearside and toilet room offside. The former has bi-folding doors and full plastic wall lining, along with LED downlighters and a hanging rail.

The Eco Camel Orbit Halo shower head is on a riser bar and there’s a small but nevertheless ledge that will prove handy for shampoo and soap.

The toilet room door can also be used to close off the bedroom and washroom facilities from the rest of the Crusader Borealis’ living quarters. The toilet room itself boasts the essentials – swivel-bowl Thetford toilet, countertop basin, heated towel rail, and only really lacks a window.

Alde’s central heating and hot water system sets the tone for the upmarket theme. And the Tracker caravan tracking system comes with its first 12 months’ subscription and will give you a healthy discount on your caravan insurance. The satellite dish is likely to be a popular option, especially as the interior is already set up with a dedicated spot for a satellite box.

As with so many tourers these days, though, there’s not a huge amount of payload. Maybe you don’t need it?

Verdict: A splash of luxury with a bit of presence

Plus: Twin axle on-road stability, end bedroom, well kitted out including lots of security

Minus: Heavy, small toilet room basin

In-a-nutshell: Borealis shines a welcome light

There’s more information on the Crusader range on the Elddis website. To find out more about insuring this or your current caravan visit our caravan insurance discounts page.

Alternatives: Bailey Alicanto Grande Porto, Coachman Laser 650, Swift Elegance Grande 850