2023 Compass Camino 554 caravan

A transverse island bed is currently the UK’s favourite caravan layout, so it’s no surprise to find it in the Compass Camino line-up. The Camino and sister Elddis Crusader ranges all move to 8ft wide bodies for the 2023 season, with new features including one-piece interior sides and Alde’s 3030 central heating system.

Finding favour with a fixed bed

But, it’s that floorplan that is the instant attraction for the Compass Camino 554 caravan. There’s a conventional enough twin settee front lounge and mid-‘van kitchen, followed by a transverse island bed, with a full-scale washroom across the back.

In this video we take a look around the 2023 Compass Camino 554 caravan:

On the outside, silver sides, white trimwork and 15in alloy wheels all help the Camino 554 look the part, while must-haves like the heavy duty corner steadies  and a large step area on the drawbar are worthy fittings. That bodywork is bonded and has extra protection thanks to a GRP underfloor, with a 10-year integrity guarantee.

A windowed stable door provides the access – the waste bin on its inside another example of the general practicality. The only other window on this side is towards the front, so there are instant clues as to the bedroom and washroom arrangement inside.

What hits you most instantly when you step inside the Compass Camino 554, though, is the dark wood finish to the furniture, which goes against current trends for lighter finishes. It’s offset by the light soft furnishings scheme, however, and the fixed sunroof and long Heki Lux Stargazer opening rooflight makes sure plenty of daylight gets in where you want it most, in the lounge.

It’s actually a shorter lounge area than some caravans, with the settees combining to make a transverse double bed should you want to use this Camino to its full four-berth capabilities.

Beyond the lounge, along the nearside, the main kitchen unit is home to a full Thetford cooker – with a three gas ring hob and an electric hotplate, plus separate oven and grill – and a rectangular, stainless steel sink to its immediate left, under which you’ll find the fridge (a Dometic 98-litre model), with four drawers to its left – the two lower, larger ones are soft-closing.

There’s also a good amount of worktop space next to the sink – space to add the drainer and then some – plus there’s an extension section, should it be needed.

The Compass Camino 554’s kitchen facilities continue on the opposite side with a Russell Hobbs microwave oven set at a very convenient height. There’s even enough space for a double-doored locker above it. Beneath, is a unit with a drawer and a locker, with the worktop here ready to take your TV. Two mains outlets, two USBs and TV sockets are close to hand.

To the left of this is a wardrobe unit with three drawers and a floor locker. As if this wasn’t enough to cater for all your clothes, there are also wardrobes of differing sizes either side of the bed, plus two overhead lockers.

The bedroom has a panel for a flatscreen TV, with suitable sockets nearby. Plus there’s a Midi Heki rooflight overhead.

A pleated divider pulls across for that vital bit of extra bedroom privacy, while the bed itself retracts as necessary to make walking through to the washroom all the easier. A sliding door provides the access here.

As well as a Thetford swivel-bowl toilet and countertop oval-esque handbasin with swan neck mixer tap, there’s space for a shower cubicle, with sliding double door, Ecocamel showerhead and a drop-down clothes drying rail.

A mirrored locker over the basin should cope with all your toiletries, with more locker storage under the basin. There’s an Alde radiator next to the toilet and a window beyond. Shelved locker and open shelving complete an extensive choice of washroom storage options in this caravan.

The offer of a free chassis upgrade to 1,700kg does give you a potentially valuable extra 50kg of payload, as long as your tow vehicle can cope.

The Compass Camino 554 caravan is certainly not short of rivals. It’s firmly just above mid-market and faces not just direct competition but also all manner of others with that same floorplan at different price points and indeed different sizes, including twin axle tourers.

But, it’s also behind the scenes that things are getting interesting. Compass has struggled versus its key opposition in recent years, seemingly falling behind on critical factors such as build quality and customer service. The company, which also includes the Elddis, Buccaneer and Xplore brands, is now part of Germany’s prestigious  Erwin Hymer Group, which in turn is owned by America’s Thor Industries – so it’s now part of the world’s largest leisure vehicle manufacturing conglomerate. This has already paid dividends here in the UK, with a multi-million pound investment project that has already seen a new PDI (pre-delivery inspection) Centre and bond shop, which makes floors, roofs and sides. It all points to interesting times ahead for Compass.

To find out more about insuring a Compass Camino 554 or your current caravan visit our caravan insurance discounts page.

Verdict: Worth a pilgrimage to your local Compass retailer

Plus: Much-favoured floorplan, well priced and equipped

Minus: Only a small fridge, does it have enough to set it apart?

In-a-nutshell: Compass pointing in the right direction

Alternatives: Bailey Pegasus Grande SE Brindisi, Coachman VIP 575, Swift Challenger Grande 580