Under its old ‘304’ moniker this small four-berth, with a front L-shaped lounge and a single side dinette with a fold-out bunk above, has been a staple of the Xplore line-up for many years. It has also been one of Practical Caravan’s favourite models.

This season, with Xplore spun out much more as a brand on its own, the whole range has been given a significant style update aimed at attracting younger buyers, including the XC Lite, the XC Duo and the XC Quad. I went to take a look at the Xplore XC Lite to see what I thought of the tourer we picked out as the best budget caravan at the Practical Caravan Awards 2025.

Pitch and set-up

Xplores usually came with caravan ATC in the past, but with this new look the company seems to have pushed the boat out, with an external barbecue point and mains socket, and a bike rack for two bikes as standard.

You also get an SE pack that includes (on the outside) an Al-Ko stabiliser, alloy wheels and a spare wheel. The fact that this is still labelled as a pack makes me wonder whether there might not come a point in a future season where this pack is not included as standard. Perhaps this is yet another incentive to buy now, if you intend to.

The caravan has two external lockers on the front nearside corner. One of these opens up to a battery, but the other gives you access to a clear area inside that I think would be a great place to store outdoor furniture.

Lounge in the Xplore XC Lite

If you are used to Xplore, the first thing you will notice as you come in through the rear door is the change in decor. There’s a darker grey colour to the upholstery, cupboard handles and taps are now black rather than chrome, and there are two patterns on the scatter cushions.

There are no more carpets as standard either – they are offered as an optional extra.

A good lounge can be an important trait in the best caravans – after all, it’s where you will be relaxing and spending a fair bit of time. The layout remains the same in the XC Lite, with the L-shaped settee looking towards a long window at the side.

There’s no sunroof but that doesn’t mean the lounge is dark. I found daylight streamed in through the single front window and through two Hekis in the roof. For night-time there are three LEDs in the ceiling, a strip light under the locker at the front, and two spotlights.

The kitchen and lounge in the van
LED lights and big window throw plenty of light in the right places

These are not the kind of spotlights that have USB ports in them, of which there are a dearth. You’ll have to make do with the mains socket included in the TV sockets
to the right of the long window. These sit above a TV-size fold-out shelf, offering a useful point for placing the best TV for a caravan.

If there’s one fault in the XC Lite’s front lounge, it’s the foldaway table. It’s stored at the back of the central wardrobe, where I reckon it would likely be a faff to retrieve from between hanging clothes.

The single dinette at the rear has a clip-on table in between two comfy chairs. This lounge gets its own Heki in the roof, lights in the corner, and mains socket, so gadget-loving children should be happy.

The dinette
The lower bunk is made up by dropping the table and adjusting the cushions

Kitchen in the Xplore XC Lite

You could use the kitchen extension as another snack table, because even with it in use, there’s enough workspace here, nicely lit by LEDs. Along with the sink with its stylish black tap you get a dual-fuel three-burner hob. The oven underneath it is a combined oven and grill, but up above you also get a microwave.

The kitchen with work surface extended

At 98 litres, the caravan fridge under the wardrobe is small for four.

Washroom in the Xplore XC Lite

There’s no separate shower cubicle – the shower is the first thing you see when you step through the washroom door. But I was pleased to see there is good headroom in the shared space and a roof vent allows steam to escape. There’s a clothes rail and two hooks. The salad bowl-style basin and mirror are a reasonable size.

Beds in the Xplore XC Lite

Both bed set-ups are easy, something which can factor in when you’re choosing a caravan.

A platform slides out from under the front part of the settee to make a huge double. The lower bunk is made simply by lowering the table. You can easily detach it by pulling the catches out from underneath, and the top bunk folds out in one simple movement.

The rear bunk beds
Both of the rear bunk beds are easy to set up and get their own light, too

Both bunks get their own light, and, if you include the Heki, their own source of daylight.

Storage in the Xplore XC Lite

The area under the side part of the front settee is easy to access – the slats stay up when you raise them, and you don’t need to move the backrest away. You have to be a little more careful at the front because of the loose bed platform. You might prefer just to use the drawer that’s provided.

There is also a locker under the long window, but it’s mostly taken up with ducting. The underseat areas in the single dinette are easy to reach, too.

Up front there are two large lockers, and two more on the side. There’s a third locker over the kitchen, and in the base unit here you get three drawers above two cupboards which, taken together, provide more sensible room for storing large pans than I have seen in much larger types of caravans. The wheel arch there doesn’t intrude.

Alternatives to consider

The Capsule Mini R is a smart monocoque which is well-designed and lightweight, with a stylish and fresh appearance which we think would be ideal for couples and solo caravanners. Alternatively, the Freedom Wayfarer Quad is a four-berth with comfortable beds and could be a tempting budget tourer for caravanners who like to travel light.

Technical specification of the Xplore XC Lite

  • Price: £21,999
  • Berths: 4
  • MIRO: 955kg
  • Payload: 135kg
  • MTPLM: 1090kg
  • Interior length: 3.80m
  • Shipping length: 5.54m
  • Overall width: 2.18m
  • Contact: xplore-rv.co.uk, glossopcaravans.co.uk

Spec list includes

  • Al-Ko galvanised steel chassis
  • ATC
  • Teleco Teleplus X2/39U directional aerial
  • Fitting for Wi-Fi
  • External BBQ point
  • External mains socket
  • Twin bike rack
  • Al-Ko secure wheel lock
  • Window blinds and flyscreens
  • Spring-loaded bed slats
  • Omnivent • Whale heating
  • 98-litre Dometic Series-10 fridge
  • Dual-fuel three-burner hob
  • Microwave
  • EcoCamel shower head
  • SE pack included as standard, featuring Al-Ko stabiliser
  • Alloy wheels
  • Radio with MP3 connectivity
  • Front double bed: 2.0 x 1.3m
  • Rear bottom bunk: 1.8 x 0.9-0.73m
  • Rear top bunk: 1.8 x 0.55m

After buying your tourer, make sure you know how to load a caravan too, to ensure weight is evenly distributed for safely.

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