in 2024, Elddis will celebrate its 60th birthday. One of the manufacturer’s most popular ranges, the Affinity – launched in 2013 and a firm favourite among buyers – heads into the new season with little change, a sign of its success. The Elddis Affinity 550 is a single-axle with an island bed at the rear.

It has an excellent spec, and with its MTPLM of under 1500kg, you won’t need a bigger caravan tow car to pull it.

Although it’s a four berth caravan, this is a great tourer for two, offering impressive levels of comfort. With a well-planned central washroom that straddles the aisle and a warm and welcoming lounge, the Affinity 550 is definitely worth a look.

Pitch and set-up

Although the caravan manufacturer has left its 2024 models pretty much unchanged, it has added smart new GRP sides on the Affinity range. The new graphics look good on these high-gloss yet durable GRP panels.

All Affinity caravans ride on an Al-Ko chassis, with AKS hitch stabiliser and ATC. Alloy wheels are standard, as are an exterior gas barbecue point and mains socket, and an external-access wet locker.

Most of the service points are on the offside, apart from the toilet cassette hatch, which isn’t ideal if you have a caravan awning.

The front and rear ABS-moulded panels still look very contemporary, although the profile is probably due for an uplift at some point fairly soon. But it is always pleasing to see a glazed stable door, complete with waste bin. The Affinity 550 comes with a Teleco TV aerial, and the capacious gas locker offers additional storage space.

The SkyScape sunroof provides plenty of natural light and good ventilation. Overall, the spec is excellent, although if you want a caravan solar panel, that’s an extra.

Lounge in the Elddis Affinity 550

The lounge in the Affinity 550 has parallel seating and the traditional central chest of drawers, with slide-out tabletop.

The seating is 1.99m long on both sides, comfortably accommodating four people. Access flaps on the bases make reaching the underseat storage space simple.

The deep overhead lockers are finished in elegant dark wood, a design signature of the Affinity range since 2013.

Lounge of Elddis Affinity 550
Elegant dark wood furniture offers plenty of storage space

There are four LED corner spots, as well as LEDs around the SkyScape and integral lighting over the lockers; these also house the speakers for the radio.

The 550’s alarm system offers additional peace of mind, while thoughtful touches such as bolsters and scatter cushions raise the already high comfort levels.

As you step inside the island bed caravan, the control panels for the lights and so on, and the new Alde heating system, are readily at hand.

Kitchen in the Elddis Affinity 550

Worktop in the offside kitchen is pretty good, with an extension flap when needed, and more work surface just opposite.

You also get a microwave, a dual-fuel hob and oven, a Dometic fridge and a large stainless-steel sink. There is good storage in overhead lockers, drawers and cupboards. Two mains sockets and lighting switches are well placed here. (Altogether, there are eight mains sockets in the Affinity.)

Kitchen in Affinity 550
Well-equipped kitchen includes a microwave, dual-fuel hob, oven and good storage

Night-time lighting is provided by LED downlighters. Above the kitchen is a roof vent – but there’s no extractor fan here.

Beds in the Elddis Affinity 550

The lounge seating makes up a double bed, using pull-out slats and the seat cushions. It can also serve as two singles, at over 6ft long. In the bedroom, the island bed slides back for more space in the daytime, and the lightweight mattress offers good support.

Island bed in Affinity 550
Island bed slides back for more floorspace during the day

Washroom in the Elddis Affinity 550

The 550’s central washroom is split across the aisle, with the toilet and handbasin on the nearside. It is well equipped, with a chrome radiator, two sizeable cupboards, a large mirror and a roof vent. There’s no window, but it still has good natural light and ventilation.

Washroom
Washroom provides a large handbasin with a mirror above, a chrome radiator and two roomy cupboards

The circular shower is a moulded unit with shelving. Both shower and washroom can be partitioned off.

Storage in the Elddis Affinity 550

Storage is always an important factor when choosing the best caravans. There is plenty of storage in the 550, with deep lockers, underseat areas and the central chest of drawers. The kitchen has plenty of space in drawers, cupboards and a locker, with another cupboard and some shelves by the door. The washroom has two cupboards, while the bedroom offers underbed storage and two wardrobes with drawers below.

Verdict

The Affinity 550 heads into 2024 with few changes, the main one being the GRP sides. The interior retains its elegant dark wood furniture and neutral décor.

The kitchen comes with excellent spec, while the bedroom is light and airy, helped by large windows and a Heki roof vent.

The solidly built Elddis is a four-berth, so offers plenty of space and comfort for couples on tour. It will no doubt remain a firm favourite with fans of the brand, while attracting first-timers, too.

What we like:

  • Great build quality, spacious bedroom, excellent storage

What we don’t like:

  • No washroom window, nearside cassette hatch, solar panel an extra

Alternatives to the Affinity 550

The Swift Challenger Exclusive 580 provides plenty of comfort to caravanners, drawing inspiration from the Conqueror range. Alternatively, the eight-foot wide Bailey Pegasus Grande GT75 Messina provides a spacious interior and works just as well for families as it does for couples. Another option to consider is the Coachman Laser 575 Xtra, which comes with extra width and, to reviewer Nigel Hutson, excellent water pressure from the shower.

Technical specification

  • Price: £30,749
  • Berths: 4
  • MiRO: 1310kg
  • Payload: 153kg
  • MTPLM: 1463kg
  • Interior length: 5.78m
  • Shipping length: 7.40m
  • Overall width: 2.26m

Elddis Affinity 550 specifications

  • Rear double bed: 1.27 x 1.90m
  • Front double bed: 1.43 x 1.99m
  • Alde heating
  • Thetford oven
  • Dometic fridge/freezer
  • Alarm
  • Alloys
  • Radio
  • Al-Ko receiver
  • Exterior BBQ point and mains socket
  • Awning light
  • ATC
  • Spare wheel

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