Twintest Twin test - Swift Groupassets.swiftgroup.co.uk/uploads/Reviews/2011/03/Big... · | JANUARY2011 | 43 Verdict&specifications,page46›› Washroom Thereisn’talotofroom inthe556’swashroom,

Twin test

www.practicalcaravan.com | JANUARY 2011 | 41

Triple-bunk six-berths

Turn over for full reviews, our verdict and specifications ››

WORDS:R

ORY

WHITE

PHOTO

GRAPHY:P

HIL

RUSSELL

IF YOUWANT a big family tourerthat doesn’t require a large car totow it, then a six-berth van on asingle axle could be ideal. Elddisand Sprite are both eager to provethat they can accommodate sixpeople in this format – and keep itaffordable, too. Thatmeans entry-level six-berths have tomake priceand practicality top priorities.

Both the Elddis Xplore 556 andSpriteMajor 6 succeed in sleepingtwo adults and four children at areasonable price. In each, childrencan enjoy the comfort of fixedbunks and a largermade-up bunkat the rear, whilemum and dadhave a large double in front.It’s not just sleeping thatmust

be catered for, though, because

feeding andwashing six peopledemands clever design in a tightspace. These are areas where thetwo vans differ, so the question iswhich is themost rounded van.TheMajor 6 offers amore

contemporary interior, a superiorwashroom and larger rear dinette.

Yet the Xplore 556 has amarginallybetter kitchenwork surface, twofixed bunks that can be stowedand a useful rear cupboard. There’sno doubt the Sprite’s interior is anicer place to be, but will theXplore’s greater storage facilitieshelp it win this test?

Twin testSingle-axle six-berths have to pack in a lot — and do it affordably.Which does it better, the Elddis Xplore 556 or Sprite Major 6?

ELDDISXplore 556

SPRITEMajor 6

Price£12,599

Berths ..................................................6Overall length.......................7.20mWidth........................................2.23mOverall height........................2.61mMiRO†....................................... 1197kgMTPLM† .................................1405kgUser payload.........................208kg

Berths ..................................................6Overall length....................... 7.34mWidth.........................................2.15mOverall height........................2.73mMiRO†....................................... 1212kgMTPLM† ................................ 1500kgUser payload.........................288kg

†Terms explained in ‘Caravan basics’ (glossary, page 84)

Price£12,999

Twin test Triple-bunk six-berths

42 | JANUARY 2011 | www.practicalcaravan.com

ELDDISXplore 556

OURBESTBESTBIT

The rear cupboardreduces dinetteseating space butadds more storage

The Heki rooflightand roof-mountedlamp keep this areabright, day or night

The Elddis Xplore 556

provides great storage

for six people. Its new vinyl floor

looks the part and will stand up to

inevitable hard use. Lifting the

bottom two fixed bunks provides

lots of living space.

Kitchen space in the 556

is tight. Although it’s a

common compromise in a six-berth

single-axle, preparing and cooking

a meal for six would be difficult. Gas

locker drop vents aren’t covered in

mesh so items kept here may fall out.

A high shelf (right) makes up forpoor storage in the washroom

The Elddis’s overhead lockers aredeep and offer plenty of room

Nearside underseat space is sharedby the battery and fuse box

Elddis has included a good-sized cupboard in the rear between the singlemade-up bunk and the fixed bunks. It’s a great storage area for kids’ toys

Good Bad

“Elddis has opted for pale woodswith brown-and-grey speckledworktops for a grown-up feel”

The two bottom bunks liftto offer space for storinglarger items when towing,or a kids’ play area on site


Verdict & specifications, page 46 ››

WashroomThere isn’t a lot of roomin the 556’swashroom,butwhat there is has beenwelldesigned. It’s a combined shower/toilet area, with the shower andbasin on the left as you enter andaThetford toilet on the right.The shower fixture is bulky,

but appears to be of good quality.There’s amirrored cabinet abovethe good-sized basin, but you’llneed the shelf in the shower areafor toiletries because the cabinet istiny inside. AHeki rooflight letslight into thewashroom, andthere’s a smallmains light. Fordrying towels, there’s a removablerail in the shower area.

BedsIn the lounge, the frontdouble is quick to set upand the cushions fitwell. However,the pull-out slats aren’t on runnersand are prone to falling out.Onceup, the double is large (1.98mx1.38m) and comfy.At the back of the van, a small

dinette turns into a single bed (1.8mx0.63m) that offers plenty of roomeven for tall teenagers. The threefixed bunks on the offsidemeasure1.83mx0.61m. Each has its ownlight and the bottom twohaveindividualwindows. The ladder ismade of aluminium for lightnessand a curtain separates the rearbeds from the lounge, washroomand kitchen.

StorageElddis has fitted sixoverhead lockers in thelounge, two in the kitchen and fourin the rear. All are deeper thanthose in last year’smodels andeasily offer enough storage for sixpeople’s gear. There’s also thestorage in those twodrawers in thelounge chest and that spacious pancupboard beneath the cooker.Aswell as these, you get a really

useful cupboard between the rearfixed bunks and the rear dinette,albeit at the expense of seatingspace. There’s awardrobe next tothewashroom, andnext to this isa thin cupboard for storing thelounge and dinette tables.

Pitch and set-upThe Xplore has a revisedBPW chassis for 2011,with buttonless handbrake and13-pin electrics (the £400 ‘SE’option pack includes aWinterhoffstabiliser). All steadies havemetal guide channels and thewaste pipes are on the offside rear.The front locker is large enough

for two gas bottles andmore, andthe lid is held open by a simplemetal prop. On the offside at thefront of the van is the water pointand you’ll find the toilet lockerbehind the axle on the same side.Themain switches are inside tothe left of themain door and theheating controls are in the lounge.

LoungeElddis has opted for palewoods with brown-and-grey speckled worktops, giving thelounge a grown-up feel. The benchseats are comfortable, althoughthe stiff rear cushions tend to stickinto the small of the back.The overhead lockers are solidly

designed and built, and offerplenty of space. You get three 230Vsockets and one TV aerial point atthe front of the lounge, while thecentral chest of drawers has twodrawers and an extendabletabletop. AHeki rooflight providesplenty of natural light during theday, while two spotlights (addedfor the new season) and oneoverhead lamp illuminate theliving area after dark.

KitchenThe light colour schemecontinues in the kitchen.Here, there’s a 115-litre Thetfordfridge, a separate grill and oven,and a three-burner gas hob.Work surface is at a premium,evenwith the fold-out worktopflap beside the sink.Two overhead lockers are great

for storing all the essentials, andone comes with a crockery rack.A narrow cupboard to the right ofthe cooker houses a cutlery drawerand amore spacious one belowthe oven is for pots and pans,but there’s little other storage.A window above the sink lightsthe area by day and an overheadlamp does that job by night.

The Xplore’s lounge is a comfortable place to spend time,and the table has enough room for four people to dine

The Xplore’s front locker is large, but gas-drop ventsin its base will allow smaller items to fall through

Even with its extendable work surface, the Elddis’s kitchenoffers limited space for cooks to cater for six hungry people

ELDDISXplore 556

The lounge mattress is large and sturdy, with well-fittingcushions that make it easy to make up the bed at night

108

107107

106

106

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Twin test Triple-bunk six-berths


The Major 6’s washroom is smalland storage space is restricted

Silver detailing adds a nice touch tothe lockers, which are roomy as well

The water heating unit takes upstorage space under the offside seat

The 1.7m-long rear single bed provides a comfortable place for a teento sleep and, with the table in place, is straightforward to make up

“The Sprite’s lounge is fresh andmodern, combining contemporarydetail, light fabrics and tan woods”

Only the bottom bunk canbe lifted in the Sprite, but itsmattress can be left in placeand its fastening is better

The table is used to makeup the rear single bed, so itdoesn’t take up wardrobespace when not needed

SPRITEMajor 6

The Sprite is extremely

fresh and modern inside,

the cushions provide plenty of

support, and it all seems well made.

Once you do the sums, the Sprite’s

optional extras make it much better

value than the Elddis Xplore 556.

Even with the bench

toilet giving an illusion

of space, the Sprite’s washroom is

small and more thought could have

gone into its storage design. The

kitchen will struggle to cater for

a full caravan at dinnertime.

Good Bad

The Sprite comes with a largerrear dinette seat instead of alocker, as fitted in the Elddis


Verdict & specifications, page 46 ››

OURBESTBESTBIT

WashroomSleeping six people in asingle-axle van inevitablymeans space is compromisedsomewhere, and thewashroomoften takes the hit. However, theSprite’s seems larger than it reallyis. The Thetford toilet is built intothe far wall, leavingmore floorspace inwhich tomove about.Beneath the sink is a large, two-door cupboardwith a generousamount of room for toiletries.The shower fixture is small

and space-efficient but still givesa good jet of water. AHeki rooflightprovides plenty of light and there’sa largemirror above the sinkwitha light just above it.

BedsThe lounge converts easilyinto a double bed and its2.08mx 1.8m size ismorethan enough for two (theMajor 6is wider than the Xplore so the bedis longer). The fixed rear bunksmeasure between 1.74m x0.57mand 1.83m x 0.58mdepending onthe bunk, and each gets a lightand its ownwindow.The rear dinette easily seats four

and can be converted tomake thesixth bed (1.70mx0.75m). Thetable is used as a base for the bed,so it doesn’t have to be storedelsewherewhen the bed ismade.

StorageThe Sprite has six upperlockers in the lounge, twoin the kitchen (one if you opt foramicrowave) and four at the back.The lounge table is stored in thelargewardrobe, while the othertablemakes up the single dinette.In the lounge, the central chest

offers two drawers and a clevertable-top extension, which foldsout to offer extra surface, thoughyou’ll have to remove items fromit before you flip it. There aretwo cupboards in the kitchen forstoring cutlery and pots and pans,and one has useful wire basketsthat offer a variety of storageoptions. Thewashroomdoesn’thave a shelf, but toiletries forsix people can easily fit in thecupboard beneath the basin.

Pitch and set-upTheMajor 6 has an Al-Kochassis and stabiliser. TheA-frame also provides 13-pinelectrics, while the steadies areeasy to wind down because eachhas its own guide channel.The large gas locker at the front

of the van has a lid supported bygas struts, while the battery boxandwater connection point areon the offside. Behind the axle onthe same side is the toilet lockerand the waste-water outlets. Insideare revised, modern controls thatare new for 2011 – they’re abovethe door, with further heatingcontrols in the lounge.

LoungeThe Sprite’s loungeis fresh andmodern,combining contemporary silverstrip detailing on the locker doors,light fabrics and tanwoods. Thefabric pattern won’t be toeveryone’s taste, but it does atleast look hard-wearing. Fourspotlights, one central locker lightand one overhead lamp keep thelounge bright in evenings, whileduring the day aHeki rooflightprovides light and air, and the largepanoramic front window givesuninterrupted views. A centralchest with two drawers providessomewhere to put a cuppa.The bench seats are deep to

provide comfortable seating.Two bolster cushions and twoscatter cushions help you findfurther support if you need it.

KitchenTheMajor 6’s kitchensuffers from a lack of worksurface but in other respects it’swell appointed. There’s a 112-litrefridge and a cookerwith oven, grilland three gas burners. A singlelocker overhead provides somestorage, with cup and plate holders.Another cupboard beneath the

cooker is for pots and pans, whilea narrow cupboard next to thecooker has a cutlery drawer anduseful pull-out wire basket (idealas a vegetable rack, for example).A striplight above the sinkwillhelp evening dinner preparation,while awindowbehind it offersdaytime illumination.

SPRITEMajor 6

107The lounge area is fresh and modern and, although the fabricdesign may not suit everyone, the seats are supportive

The Sprite’s gas locker door is supported by a gas strut, andthere’s enough room here for two bottles and plenty of kit

This layout’s compromise is in the kitchen. It appears tohave a large worktop but the drainer cuts it down to size

The front double bed is comfortable, thanks to snug-fittingcushions. Guided slats also help make it easy to construct

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Twin test Triple-bunk six-berths Verdict

ILLU

STRATIO

NS:A

LAN

ELDRID

GE

If these two tourers were side-by-side on the forecourt, it wouldbe hard to choose between them.Externally, neither caravanmakesmore of an impact than the other.Instead, you need to dig deep toreveal why one offers better valueand ultimately claims victory here.As entry-level vans, both the

Sprite and the Elddis give you gooddesign and space, but value for

money is very important and theElddis just doesn’t offer asmuch.The Xplore’s strengths lie

elsewhere. It has 80kgmorepayload than theMajor (veryuseful for a family), and storage isbetter. Both tables can be storedtogether without taking up spacein the wardrobe and the largecupboard at the rear will keep toysout of sight. Also, unlike the Sprite,

the bottom two bunks can be liftedto transport larger itemswhile onthe road, or to give the childrensomewhere to play during the day.Move out of the fixed-bunk area,

though, and the Sprite starts toshine when you look at the optionson offer. Both the vans we lookedat sported their £399 optionalpacks – the ‘SE’ pack for the Elddisand the ‘Diamond’ pack for the

Sprite. The Sprite’s pack includes aradio/CD/MP3 player and, for anextra £120, a dealer-fit microwave;neither of these is even an optionon the Xplore.Most buyers willplump for these packs, not leastbecause they’re well priced andboth vans feel a little sparselyequippedwithout them.We feelthat both option packs are wellworth themoney.

ELDDISXplore 556Delves Lane, Consett, County Durham DH8 7PETel 01207 699 000 Web www.elddis.co.uk Dealers 58

Vital statsPrice £12,999 Berths 6MiRO† 1212kg MTPLM† 1500kgUser payload 288kgAwning size 1002cm

Well-built, well-designed entry-level six-berth with brilliant storage but let down by price

STANDARD EQUIPMENT

Construction Aluminium skin. GRP front panel.

ABS rear panel. BPW Swing V-Tec chassis.

External equipment Winterhoff stabiliser. 13-pin

electrics. Directional aerial. Two-piece door.

Heating Truma dual-fuel, blown-air space heater.

Truma dual-fuel water heater.

Lounge Blinds and flyscreens to all windows.

Heki rooflight. Drop-in carpets.

Kitchen Thetford 115-litre digital-control fridge.

Three-burner gas hob. Separate oven and grill.

Removable drainer. GRP sink.

Washroom Thetford C-250 bench cassette

toilet and wheeled waste tank. Domestic-style

door and handle.

Security CRiS identity number on all windows

and chassis. Single key for all locks. Smoke

alarm. Concealed security data chip within

caravan construction.

Warranty Three years parts, six years body.

OPTIONS

Alternative ‘Kascada’ fabric (£199). Xplore SE

Pack: Winterhoff hitch-head stabiliser, upgrade

to Mirage sports alloy wheels, door flyscreen,

shelf pack, spare wheel and carrier, and weight

upgrade (£399).

CARAVANGUARDINSURANCE

QUOTE£259*

7.34m

5.83m2.73

m

1.30

m 1.69

m

1.91m

2.01m

Size 175 R14Load index 99Pressure 60psi

2.15

m

6.42m

Front double1.98m x 1.38m

Rear single1.8m x 0.63m

Triple bunk1.83m x 0.61m

0.53m

0.6m

1.88

m

107


Legroom0.7m

Single bed1.8m x 0.63mBunk1.63m x 0.57m

*FOR

INSURANCEQUOTESTERMSAND

CONDITIO

NSSEE

PAGE83

WinnerWinner

With all likelihood of four youngmouths to feed and short attentionspans to appease, a radio/CDplayer andmicrowavemay bemuch-valued bits of kit to have.The Sprite at least offers thepossibility of having these itemsand, even though theMajor 6’spack costs £100more, the Xplorestill comes out as themoreexpensive caravan to buy.

Although theMajor 6 can’t claimvictory in terms of storage, itsrefreshing contemporary interiorand easy set-upwill appeal greatlyto young families. Not onlythat but the Sprite offers thespecification that families want fora price that Elddis just hasn’t beenable tomatch. Thatmeans theMajor 6 has done just enoughto win the test this time.

SPRITEMajor 6Dunswell Road, Cottingham, East Yorkshire HU16 4JSTel 01482 847 332 Web www.swiftleisure.com Dealers 61

Niall Hampton saysThis test is really tough, because both vansoffer the large family a well-built space ata good price. However, the option packswill be popular and must be kept in mind.

We say

Claudia Dowell saysInvestigating this corner of the marketreminds you what family caravanning is allabout. I’d rather tour in the Sprite becauseit feels the more modern, rounded van.

7.20m

5.65m2.61

m

0.54m 1.

68m 1.95m

2.12

m

Size 185 R14Load index 102Pressure 62-65psi

CARAVANGUARDINSURANCE

QUOTE£251*

2.23

m

6.12m

0.54m

0.43m

The Sprite covers all bases: it’s roomy, comfortable, modern and great value for money

STANDARD EQUIPMENT

Construction Aluminium skin. GRP front panel.

ABS rear panel. Al-Ko chassis.

External equipment Button-assisted handbrake.

13-pin electrics. Status directional aerial. Two-

piece entrance door. Awning light.

Heating Truma dual-fuel, blown-air space

heater and dual-fuel water heater.

Lounge Blinds and flyscreens to all windows.

Heki rooflight. Drop-in carpets. Wiring for radio/

CD/MP3 player with two speakers.

Kitchen Thetford 112-litre digital-control fridge.

Three-burner gas hob. Separate oven and grill.

Detachable drainer. GRP sink.

Washroom Thetford fixed cassette toilet and

wheeled waste tank. Domestic-style door

and handle.

Security CRiS identity number on all windows

and chassis. Single key for all locks. Smoke

alarm. Concealed security data chip.

Warranty Three years parts, six years body.

OPTIONS

Diamond Pack: alloy wheels, Al-Ko Secure wheel-

lock receiver, Al-Ko AKS 3004 stabiliser, spare

wheel and carrier, door flyscreen, radio/CD player

with iPod connection, two scatter cushions

(£399). Al-Ko ATC (£435). Built-in microwave

oven (£120).

Triple bunk 1.74m x0.57m/1.83m x 0.58m

Rear single1.7m x 0.75m

Front double2.08m x 1.8m

Vital statsPrice £12,599 Berths 6MiRO† 1197kg MTPLM† 1405kgUser payload 208kgAwning size 971cm

†TERMSEXPLAIN

ED

ON

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Twintest Twin test - Swift Groupassets.swiftgroup.co.uk/uploads/Reviews/2011/03/Big... · | JANUARY2011 | 43 Verdict&specifications,page46›› Washroom Thereisn’talotofroom inthe556’swashroom,

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