Xplore 554 2024

The Xplore 554 is the range’s most popular model, coming with a rear-washroom, transverse-island-bed layout.

The make of caravan has undergone a bit of a shake-up this year, with a new website, separate from Elddis, and now the arrival of the first Xplore campervan.

But with rumours of more changes on the way next year, we thought it was time to see what the Xplore 554 has to offer this season. We checked it out at Glossop Caravans, in Derbyshire.

Pitch and set-up

The exterior lives up to Xplore’s aim of being youth-orientated. Contrasting blue and yellow slashes and the mountain range logo up top are jolly, while the flush-fitting grab handles and locker door offer a sleeker look than other types of caravan in budget ranges.

The single window at the front is to be expected when you’re looking at budget caravans at this price point, but you might also expect to see an external locker door at the front on the nearside. However, having one here is an £81 optional extra.

Lounge in the Xplore 554

The Sonora upholstery scheme is bold, with contrast piping in the base cushions.

There’s no sunroof, but plenty of daylight still gets in, and the large mirror on the end washroom wall really makes a difference to the feeling of space inside.

The front settees should be fine for four – you wouldn’t want any more than that here – and there’s no kitchen extension getting in the way. A shelf pulls out from the front chest to make a useful resting place for drinks and snacks, while the foldaway table is a little further away, in the wardrobe opposite the kitchen.

For night-time lighting, there are two spotlights and a striplight under the front locker – all individually switched. There is a good spread of LEDs in the ceiling down the aisle. Two speakers under the front locker connect to a DAB radio, part of the £438 SE pack (which also gets you alloys and a spare wheel).

The sockets for a TV are by the sideboard to the right of the door so you can enjoy watching the best caravan TV, but there is little in the way of USB provision here.

Kitchen in the Xplore 554

A good permanent workspace offers ample room for preparing food to the left of the large sink. The area is well lit, thanks to the big window and two LEDs, and there are two sockets for a kettle or toaster, two accessories that are likely to be essential when kitting out your caravan.

There is a combined oven and grill below, as well as a half-height 98-litre fridge, but the microwave is a £255 optional extra.

Washroom in the Xplore 554

Even with a wide sliding door, it’s a bit of a squeeze past the toilet to reach the rear washroom. The room itself is a bit narrow, too, and there’s no window, just a roof vent in the centre. The shower cubicle on the nearside only has one drainage hole, but the tray is deep. Headroom here is good, and there is a soap dish on the riser.

In the centre, there’s a salad-bowl-style basin in front of a lit mirror with a toothmug, and two hooks on the wall behind here.

Sleeping in the Xplore 554

The beds will always be important when you’re choosing the best four berth caravans.

The island bed on our test model was fitted with a very comfortable Hypnos mattress (a £438 extra). It’s not the longest bed we’ve seen, at only 180m fully extended, and in that position, there is virtually no space between the end of the bed and the opposite wall.

You get a padded headboard and sockets for a second TV, though, while the room is well lit with a Heki and big windows. But there are no bedside tables.

The settees up front are just 1.50m long, so only suitable as single beds for smaller children. But with the slats rolled out, you get a long, slightly narrow, double bed.

Storage in the Xplore 554

There are six overhead lockers in the lounge, two more in the bedroom, a large wardrobe with drawers and a locker on the front side of the bed, and a narrower one behind.

Then there’s all that externally accessible space under the bed, and the clear area under the nearside settee. But as standard, it has no internal or external access doors, and you have to take off all the cushions to raise the slats. We would really go for that £81 external door.

Kitchen storage is good. You get two overhead lockers, one with a crockery rack, a drawer calling out for a cutlery tray above the fridge, and two drawers and a large cupboard in the middle, plus a larger cupboard under the oven. Then there is also the little sideboard by the door, and a double cupboard just above. You’d probably lose one of the lockers if you opted for the microwave, but there’s still ample room.

The washroom has one cupboard below the basin and another above the toilet.

Alternatives to consider

If you’re touring as a two, the Campmaster Duo offers a budget-friendly touring experience, with good storage and a comfortable bed. Another option to try is the Hobby Beachy 360, a three berth tourer which provides an airy interior and a quirky Continental style that we think will appeal to fans of minimalist touring.

Elddis Xplore 554 specification

Technical specification

• Price: £22,399
• Berths: 4
• MiRO: 1199kg
• Payload: 176kg
• MTPLM: 1375kg
• Interior length: 5.75m
• Shipping length: 7.38m
• Overall width: 2.18m

Spec list

• Al-Ko galvanised steel chassis
• 4kW Whale heater with 8-litre water heater
• Thetford Triplex combined oven and grill with three-burner gas-only hob
• 98-litre fridge
• Teleco Teleplus X2/39U directional aerial
• Carbon monoxide and smoke alarms
• Removable carpet runner
• Ecocamel shower
• Electric flush toilet
• Rear double: 1.80 x 1.32m
• Front double: 1.98 x 1.10m or two singles: 1.50 x 0.68m

If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, why not get the latest news, reviews and features delivered direct to your door or inbox every month. Take advantage of our brilliant Practical Caravan magazine SUBSCRIBERS’ OFFER and SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER for regular weekly updates on all things caravan related.