Elddis/Compass
It’s just detail changes this year at Elddis and sister brand, Compass
155 model gets longer
THE press pack boldly proclaims ‘NEW’ in bold capital print against one coachbuilt model from the sister Elddis and Compass marques – the UK arm of the Erwin Hymer Group – for 2022. However, the Autoquest 155 (or Avantgarde 155, if it’s got Compass branding) is not really new and there has long been a French bed layout like this in the line- up.
So, what’s changed? Well, the ‘new’ 155 is longer and sits on a longer version of Peugeot’s Boxer chassis – an L3, rather than the previous L2S. That brings it into line with all the other Autoquest/Avantgarde models bar the baby 115 (which stays on a Boxer L1 with a diminutive
5.70m overall length). That probably makes a lot of sense from a production planning point of view but it does take away one of the advantages of a French bed floorplan compared with other fixed bed formats, such as an island bed – that of a more compact overall length. Now, the 155 is the same 7.34m (24ft 1in) long as the 150 (island bed), 185 ( single bed, end washroom), 194 (single bed, garage) and 196 (twin lounge sixberth) models. The extra length also means that payload reduces from 643kg to 575kg, although that’s still pretty generous for a motorhome of this size on a 3,500kg chassis.
Inside, you can clearly see where the extra
space has been distributed and keen cooks may think the longer ’van is a good choice when they see the additional kitchen space – the galley has been super-sized to 1.76m long. Opposite, the wardrobe is also bigger in the 2022-season model and, alongside, a dedicated cupboard has been added for the free-standing table.
Other changes include new graphics and the Lux Pack being made standard, along with automatic lights and wipers (on campervans and Accordo/ Navigator as well as the Autoquest/ Avantgarde). The most noticeable update, though, is the new darker wood – called Narbonne Oak – across the Compass range.