The Elddis Encore was first unveiled at the end of 2014, with production commencing for the 2015 model year. It has always been the flagship range, above the bestselling Autoquest and compact Accordo. It replaced the (relatively) short-lived Aspire.
All Encore models are the same length and all have a driving licence friendly MTPLM of 3500kg.
Another point worthy of note is the converter’s ‘Belts = Berths’ policy. In other words, they provide a dedicated travel seat for each sleeping berth, something that could be a deciding factor when choosing the best used motorhomes.
This isn’t apparent at first glance, but clever Elddis has a trick up its sleeve. On the four-berth variants, folding, forward-facing, crash-tested Aguti travel pews hide underneath the inward-facing settees in the lounge.
At launch, there were just two motorhome layouts. First, the two-berth, forward lounge 275, with a palatial full-width rear changing area/comfort station.
Alongside the 275 was the four-berth 255, which boasted a European-style permanent rear corner double bed, with washroom adjacent.
Both were popular layouts in the Elddis Autoquest, so with Encore’s serious uplift in specification for a modest increase in windscreen price, sales success was pretty much guaranteed.
Standard specification included one-piece GRP-clad sides, rich Reno Walnut cabinetwork with dovetailed drawers, and plush Monte Carlo soft furnishing fabrics.
Space and water motorhome heating was courtesy of a domestic-style programmable Alde boiler and radiators. The Encore was also an early adopter of the Ecocamel Orbit halo showerhead across the range, and of Ozio Coolsoft mattresses on models with a permanent bed.
In 2016, the offer was doubled, with the addition of the four-berth 285, which came with twin longitudinal permanent single beds ahead of the full-width changing area/comfort station at the rear. The other newbie was the two-berth 254, the first Encore with a low-level island double bed at the rear. Interestingly, it was located transversely, with the head adjacent to the offside wall.
The following year, the 254 gained two additional sleeping berths and an extra two travel seats, all located in the forward lounge.
The 2017 line-up saw the replacement of Ford’s ageing Puma powerplant with Peugeot’s inhouse-built, 2.0-litre, 130bhp Euro 6 unit. The latter is an absolute bell-ringer of an engine.
The furniture was also refreshed, with a change to the (lighter) Lardina finish, and the Winter Pack (tank heaters, pipe insulation, fridge vent covers) – formerly a cost option – became standard.
Strong-Lite sides (a laminate of GRP and aluminium) in a Champagne Gold hue became standard for a couple of years, commencing in 2019; towards the end of that year the Fiat Ducato chassis became an option.
One result of the latter was that the Encore could be specified with automatic transmission. We can only conclude the Ducato was a popular choice for purchasers, because the Boxer was quietly dropped the following year. In addition, the 254 was replaced by the 250 – basically the same, except for the rear double bed being rotated 90 degrees, so the head was adjacent to the rear wall.
All models continued until 2023, with the only notable change being the introduction in 2021 of the Ducato Series 8, which bettered the Euro-6D emissions standard, added more infotainment, increased connectivity and switched over to all-electric power-assisted steering.
The Encore 295 was unveiled at the end of 2022. The dedicated two-berth’s USP was the palatial U-shaped rear lounge. The 295 replaced the 275, but all the rest remain in production. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
What to look out for in a used Elddis Encore
Base vehicle
All in all, well-proven and dependable. Ford-powered Boxers have a harsher bark and are not as smooth as the later Pug-powered examples. That said, it’s a reliable unit and easy to maintain.
The only fault regularly reported is indicated by the illumination of the airbag warning light. This is frequently a problem with the sensor, although it was the airbag trigger itself that failed on my own 2018 Boxer-based ’van.
Look for a full service history, insist on a long MoT and check the age and condition of the tyres, which are likely to be past their use-by date, rather than worn out.
Conversion
As with any pre-owned motorcaravan, check carefully for evidence of water ingress. An engineer’s inspection with a (recent) written report should provide some reassurance, as will evidence of regular/recent habitation servicing. The converter’s extended warranty requires yearly inspections of body integrity.
Encores of this generation used adhesive tape to cover joins in the interior wallboard. The tape tends to lose its ‘grab’ after a while and start to peel. Have it tidied up as a condition of sale. The majority of Encores (even four-berth ones) appear to be owned by couples rather than young families, so shouldn’t be showing any signs of hard wear and tear.
Our pick
The Encore 275 for couples or solo motorcaravanners wanting an airy, uncluttered interior. The Encore 254/250 for those seeking a permanent low-level island double bed. Most flexible layout? The Encore 285.
What to pay for a used Elddis Encore
Early examples are occasionally available from £40,000 (private) or £45,000 (trade), although most are going to be north of £50,000.
Alternatives to the Elddis Encore
For a while, a badge-engineered alternative (monikered Compass Concerto) was offered by the Consett crew. Some dealer special Elddis Autoquests come close, but they don’t have Alde heating or offer the option of automatic transmission. I recently took a look at the Chausson Titanium on a Ford Transit, an option that comes with an enviable standard spec.
See what I made of the Bailey Approach SE (2012-2014) when I recently inducted it into the Practical Motorhome Hall of Fame too.
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