The wide selection of ‘vans on offer in the UK means it can be hard to know how to go about finding the best campervan for you and your needs. That’s where this guide comes in.
The right campervan provides you with an excellent base for making some amazing memories, but if you purchase one that doesn’t meet your requirements, it could prove to be an expensive mistake.
That’s why we’ve rounded up the best campervans on the market – to help you identify the one that will suit you. You’ll find campervans from some of the biggest names on our list, including Joa, Ford and more, as well as two winners from the Practical Motorhome Awards 2023…
How do I decide what the best campervan for me is?
Some of the key things to think about include how regularly you intend to use it, where you want to go in it, and how many of you will be staying in it, on both a regular and occasional basis. For instance, is it for solo travel, or will you be touring as a couple? Perhaps you’ll have grandchildren staying over occasionally?
The next step is decide what are your must-haves, compared to those things that are more would-likes – what are the things that would make it the best campervan for you?
What are the best campervans?
Joa Camp 60G
Adria Twin Supreme 600SX
S&L Apollo
Swift Carrera 122
Auto-Sleepers Air
Pilote V633M
Ford Nugget Plus
Jöbl Kampa LE
Malibu Van 640 LE RB GT Skyview
Volkswagen Caddy California
The best campervans: mini reviews
Joa Camp 60G
- Price: £58,600
- Sleeps: 2
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- MiRO: 2860kg
- Payload: 640kg
- Length: 5.99m
- Width: 2.05m
Reason to buy:
- Good storage
- Comfortable rear bed
Reason to avoid:
- No window in washroom
This is a cheerful and competitively priced camper van for couples to consider.
A full lounge can be made up by swivelling the smart – and comfortable – captain’s seats around. There is a dinette table that could initially appear narrow, but it comes with a big swing-out extension. A vent keeps things cosy, while we like how the Heki, white locker doors and the off-white upholstery combine to create a bright space.
The kitchen doesn’t come with an oven, but you do get a two-burner hob and a half-height fridge. There’s also a small sink and an extension for the worktop.
We really liked the rear bedroom when we saw it, with a Heki providing plenty of light, while ambient lighting and two directional spotlights can be turned to in the evening.
The washroom reveals the camper van’s modular design, as you’ll find a moulding for a window instead of an actual window. It’s a plain area, with the shower in the same space as the handbasin and the tap also serving as the shower head. We think the headroom could be better, but a large mirror is provided, as is a rooflight.
We also like that storage is fairly good throughout.
There may be the odd sign of cost-cutting, but on the whole, this is a comfortable option to consider, and a worthy addition to our best camper van round up.
Full review: Joa Camp 60G
Adria Twin Supreme 600SX
- Price: £65,285
- Berths: 2
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- MiRO: 2951kg
- Payload: TBC
- Length: 5.99m
- Width: 2.60m
Reason to buy:
- Innovative second lounge is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts
Reason to avoid:
- Comes without an oven or microwave
Sitting on a Fiat base, the model that won the best van conversion over £60,000 at the Practical Motorhome Awards 2023 has a sleek and minimal cab.
A sporty dinette can be created by swivelling the cab seats round to face the two travel seats in the bench and the clip-on table, complete with an extension. We like how you have the option of unclipping this table and attaching it to the outside of the peninsula kitchen, perfect for enjoying an outdoor feast at your campervan campsite of choice.
Then there’s the clever second lounge you can form at the rear of the ‘van. This is created as only part of the rear double bed rises up – the remainder gives you what is essentially a bench during the daytime. It’s not a particularly sociable area, as a large cupboard restricts the other end, but what you get is a useful space for carrying out some maintenance to a bike, for instance.
The kitchen includes a useful pull-out extension, a two-burner hob and a sink. While you don’t get an oven or a microwave, you do get a fridge that is located above a wardrobe.
The Vario design washroom has a partition that includes a small and well-lit shower – this can be accessed after pulling the partition free of a magnet. In the main washroom, you’ll find a large mirror, an opaque window and a salad-bowl-style handbasin.
There’s plenty of room for two in the comfortable rear bed, with a large Heki and spotlights providing lighting options. We’re fans of the handy corner cubbyholes, while a large cupboard on the nearside and a small wardrobe near the kitchen both offer further storage options.
We think that if you’re into outdoor pursuits, this could be one of the best campervans to consider.
Full review: Adria Twin Supreme 600SX
S&L Apollo
- Price: £73,950
- Berths: 2
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- MiRO: 3050kg
- Payload: 450kg
- Length: 6.36m
- Width: 2.26m
Reason to buy:
- Innovative kitchen with two useful extensions
- Handy front desk option
- Comfortable rear lounge
Reason to avoid:
- Step down and up to reach rear lounge
- No separate shower cubicle
We were really impressed by this well-planned camper van when we saw it.
The ‘van comes with a rear lounge layout, one that the campervan converter has said is its most popular. Despite this, there’s still room for a small circular table at the front, which for further ease, is stored near the kitchen. Once you’ve swivelled the driver’s seat, you can use this as a desk – this is a feature that we really liked, particularly with USB, 12V and mains sockets all to hand. The lighting is good too.
Having to step down and up again to reach the rear lounge is a tad annoying in an environment which has slightly restricted headroom – however, it means you avoid exposed pipes from the Truma Combi 4E boiler. Once in the lounge, we found the upholstery comfortable and appreciated the flexibility provided by being able to choose between using the round table or alternatively, a rectangular option – both provide good legroom.
This is another well-lit area, with large windows letting light flood in, while four spotlights and five LEDs can be relied upon in the evenings. There’s also a TV, which lives behind a tambour door.
The kitchen comes with a three-burner gas hob, a microwave, a combined oven and grill, a large sink and a 90-litre fridge. We thought the two large extensions were a welcome feature too, providing plenty of work surface.
While there’s no separate shower cubicle and only a single drain hole in the washroom, a push-button shower head is provided, and we thought the drying rail being positioned in the curve of the wall is a clever touch.
When it comes to sleeping arrangements, the settees can be used as single beds, although we found the double bed easy to make up.
Storage will always be an important consideration when choosing the best campervan for you, and here, it’s good. For instance, there’s a slide-out hanging rail in the wardrobe beneath the fridge, offering some easy loading. There are also numerous overhead lockers dotted throughout, while at the rear of the campervan, a small ‘boot’ like area can be accessed.
Full review: S&L Apollo
Swift Carrera 122
- Price: £71,495
- Berths: 2
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- MiRO: 2929kg
- Payload: 571kg
- Length: 6.00m
- Width: 2.26m
Reason to buy:
- Sturdy bed arrangement
- Good kitchen extension
Reason to avoid:
- Beds could be longer
When we saw this Swift campervan, we really appreciated the attention to detail that was evident throughout.
We thought the Lanzarote Grey created a stylish exterior, and liked the addition of a tabletop that can clip onto the outer edge of the kitchen peninsula. Combine this with the gas barbecue point and you’re all set for an al fresco feast.
Inside, there’s a standard Ducato cab, and while we do think very tall people could feel the legroom is limited when in the driving position, we found the seats easy to swivel.
The campervan’s rear lounge provides plenty of room for hosting more than two. We thought the off centre leg that the pedestal table comes with was a welcome addition, leaving plenty of room for taller people to stretch out.
Daylight floods in through the large windows, with ambient lighting from behind the lockers to hand too. TV sockets can be found in the front off side corner of the lounge, as can USBs.
A Dometic combined oven and grill is provided in the kitchen, along with a 90-litre fridge, a two-burner gas hob and a sink. We don’t think workspace should be an issue either, thanks to the extension.
The washroom is a stylish area, thanks to the marble-effect lining on the walls and a mint-green splashback. You get a separate shower head, even though the shower shares space with the basin – however, the basin folds away, giving you extra room when showering.
In our opinion, the bed is particularly impressive in this campervan. There is the option of using the settees as singles – alternatively, a comfortable and sturdy double bed can be made up by folding out a central slatted platform from beneath the nearside settee, before clipping it to the offside base. What we would add is that whether you make up the double or use the settees as singles, these beds will be most comfortable for those under 6ft 1in.
Full review: Swift Carrera 122
Auto-Sleepers Air
- Price: £66,995
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 3200kg
- MiRO: 2400kg
- Payload: 800kg
- Shipping length: 4.97m
- Width: 2.27m
Reasons to buy:
- Good storage
- Plenty of headroom in raising roof
Reasons to avoid:
- Portable toilet
If there are two of you touring and you’ll have the occasional visitors staying, we’d say this camper is strongly worth considering.
When we saw this ‘van, we were impressed by just how spacious it actually is, despite its size – at only 4.97m in length, it’s also made it onto our best small campervan round up. Capable of sleeping four, the roof is raised on gas struts, while we though the integrated awning light that comes with the Thule pull-out awning is a great addition.
Inside the campervan, you’ll find a bench seat which provides some useful versatility – you can slide it forwards or backwards, courtesy of a locking lever. We did find that moving the bench seat forwards could make it harder to reach the cupboard where the portable toilet is kept in the kitchen though.
A bracket for the steel table leg sits to the side of the front seat, and you can then swivel the cab seats around. We found the three belted travel seats to be comfortable.
The raising roof is simple to operate – up here, there is a double bed, while we thought the headroom on offer was impressive for too. This is reached by a ladder, although while you get side vents, no night-time lighting is included.
In the lounge, you can create a comfortable bed which we think would be more than adequate for most adults.
We liked that the side kitchen combines decent storage options with an opening window, complete with a blind and fly screens. A Dometic two-burner hob is a welcome addition, as is the grill underneath. The worktop is in a stylish charcoal colour, while a deep sink and 45-litre Dometic compressor fridge are also provided.
The previously mentioned Dometic portable toilet is kept in the kitchen cupboard, but we’d recommend putting this at the rear of the camper when you’re pitched up, as it makes accessing it a lot easier.
We thought the storage options on offer in this campervan were very innovative. Cupboards and a small wardrobe can be found by lifting the tailgate at the rear, while the cold shower could be very welcome if you’re returning with muddy boots and want to wash them down.
There’s further storage on the rear nearside, while the seat base provides additional room.
On the rear nearside, you’ll also find the LPG filling point and a gas BBQ point, while the waste water emptying point and hook-up connection are on the opposite side.
Full review: Auto-Sleepers Air
Pilote V633M
- Price: £66,400
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- MiRO: 2970kg
- Payload: 530kg
- Shipping length: 6.36m
- Width: 2.05m
Reason to buy:
- Practical layout
- Useful rear area
Reason to avoid:
- No oven or microwave
- Height could be off-putting
This is a tall campervan, coming in at 2.80m, so you’re not going to get it underneath a standard barrier. However, if that’s not going to put you off, this option from Pilote makes an impressive and practical option.
Inside, you’ll find a standard Ducato cab, as well as a clip-on table in the dinette, which offers some useful flexibility – this can either be extended, so you can reach it if you swivel the driver’s seat, or it can be clipped to the outside of the kitchen unit for a spot of al fresco dining.
Also, the height of the ‘van means there is plenty of room for adding TV fittings, even if it would only really be visible from the cab seats (see our guide to the best motorhome TV if you want to enjoy some television on tour).
However, one of our favourite features in this ‘van is the rear area. Despite the drop-down bed, we thought it would be an ideal space for tasks such as bike maintenance or grooming a dog, as well as storing any campervan gadgets or similar.
In the kitchen, a two-burner hob and sink are both provided, as is a half-height fridge – although we think this could be a bit on the small side for four of you. It’s also worth bearing in mind that this is a ‘van without an oven or microwave, even as an option.
The height of the camper van means headroom isn’t a problem in the washroom. The shower tray is the floor and you only get a single plughole, but the toilet slides away and the handbasin folds away, giving you space to move around.
The drop-down bed and the optional bottom bed both have their own windows – again, thanks to the van’s height. The former has ceiling LEDs, while the latter has swan-neck spots and LEDs. It’s worth noting headroom is a bit limited when the beds are set up though, and having the ladder in position could mean getting to the bottom bed is tricky.
Storage is excellent, including three tambour-door lockers found in the rear of the ‘van, along with large overhead lockers in the front dinette and cubbyholes throughout.
Full review: Pilote V633M
Ford Nugget Plus
- Price: £73,134
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 3400kg
- MiRO: 2214kg
- Payload: 1186kg
- Shipping length: 5.33m
- Width: 1.98m
Reasons to buy:
- Fixed toilet
- Good headroom in rising roof
- Layout is good if touring with children
Reasons to avoid:
- Narrow space between lounge and kitchen
The Ford Nugget Plus is a little bit bigger than the standard version, with the longer wheelbase giving it an overall length of 5.339m, compared to the Ford Nugget, which comes in at 4.972m.
This extra room means it comes with a fixed toilet at the rear – an addition we like. We’d previously found the Nugget to be an excellent drive, and we were pleased to note that’s it’s a trait shared by the Nugget Plus.
It’s easy to raise the rising roof; simply release a catch at the back and “give the roof a shove to allow the gas struts to do the rest”, as our reviewer David Motton, put it. When it’s set up, the roof gives you 2.4m of headroom.
The Nugget Plus has a rear kitchen and central lounge layout, something you don’t often see in campervans. This gives you a separate cooking and living space, which can be invaluable if you’re touring with young children. The layout means that while one of you cooks, the other parent can look after the kids. The bench seat being closer to the front seats also leads to a more sociable setting when you’re on the road, as it’s easier to chat while you drive.
We also really liked the sliding door being included on both sides too – it makes the camper more family-friendly, as it makes it easier to get children in on the nearside when you’re parked on a road. It also has the additional benefit of allowing you to exit on the more sheltered side when the weather’s wet and windy, helping the cab to stay dry.
However, there are cons too – we found the gap between the lounge and kitchen to be narrow, and if you’re touring as a couple, you may prefer a combined kitchen and lounge to give yourselves a more intimate setting.
When it comes to the kitchen, you get a two-burner hob and 40-litre fridge but you don’t get an oven.
Folding the bench seat into a bed was described as being “not the most intuitive process until you get used to it” by our reviewer, but the clip-in ladder makes accessing the upper bed a simple affair.
Full review: Ford Nugget Plus
Jöbl Kampa LE
- Price: £58,750
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 3000kg
- MiRO: 2490kg
- Payload: 510kg
- Shipping length: 5.30m
- Width: 1.94m
Reasons to buy:
- Comfortable main bed
- Good design for washroom divider
Reasons to avoid:
- No dedicated washroom
- Table could be bigger
This is a campervan that has an array of extras on offer. We like the headroom the pop-up roof provides, while it’s easy to enter the rear of the ‘van, thanks to the tailgate. You’ll find the 30-litre waste-water tank is in here, while the mains socket and 60-litre fresh-water tank is on the offside.
In the lounge, there are two forward belted seats, which we thought were sporty in appearance. The pull-up headrests are also smart additions.
You have the option of swivelling the front seats towards the rear too, allowing four of you to dine together. The table is slotted in here, although we would like to have seen one that was just that little bit bigger. When it’s not in use, the table sits behind the rear nearside seat, with the leg by the side door.
There are no spotlights, but we think the LEDs still create a bright interior when it gets dark. You’ll find two mains sockets in the kitchen with USBs, while there’s also an air outlet for 2kW Eberspãcher diesel heater in the lounge.
As a 2+2 camper, the high-top will allow you to pull down another bed but it’s only really big enough for children and is accessible via a ladder.
The main sleeping area can be used as two singles by pulling out the seat base and lowering the back, with infill cushions plugging the gaps; alternatively, the seats can be slid together for a double bed. It’s extremely comfortable.
Good cupboard storage is provided in the kitchen, where you will also find a small worktop. We liked the position of the LED downlighter, while you also get a two-burner hob, sink and oven/grill. As well as this, you’ll find a Dometic 45-litre fridge, which has some shelving above it.
If you’d like a dedicated washroom, the LE isn’t the camper for you. However, you can separate an area at the rear with a slide-out divider, and here, you’ll find a Dometic electric-flush toilet and stainless-steel handbasin. You also get a hot water supply.
We think the divider has a really good design – when you’re not using it, simply slide it out of the way.
Overall, we think this NCC-badged camper is an impressive option and it’s easy to see how it was our winner of the best van conversion under £60,000 at the Practical Motorhome Awards 2023, although we would like to have seen a BBQ point and shower fitted as standard.
Full review: Jöbl Kampa LE
Malibu Van 640 LE RB GT Skyview
- Price: from £56,680
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- Payload: 655kg
- Shipping length: 6.36m
- Width: 2.05m
Reasons to buy:
- Plenty of optional extras
- Clever design
- Good lounge
Reasons to avoid:
- No oven or microwave
- Expensive with all the extras included
We really liked this campervan when we reviewed it. The price starts from £56,680 if you opt for the Charming GT Skyview spec, which, amongst other things, gives you a sunroof, but the model we reviewed came with extras that raised the total price to £80,855.
While that makes our test model the most expensive option to make it onto our best campervan round-up, it provided us with a very comfortable touring experience. We also like that you can pick and choose the options you want too, allowing you to keep the price reasonable by only adding the must-haves to your ‘van.
The extras our model came with includes a raising roof (£3,530), an engine upgrade (£2,735) to 160bhp, Fiat’s nine-speed automatic gearbox (£1,090) and more – you can find out more about these in our full review.
We also like the numerous clever touches that are included in the ‘van – for instance, hiding the roof behind black runners not only conceals the gap but also cuts down on the whistling noise you could otherwise get when driving.
Inside, it’s a cosy vibe, while the range of optional extras allow you to kit it out as you see fit. For instance, the £1,010 Main Cabin Pack, which provides extra ambient lighting, as well as a microfibre insulating ceiling cover. The former perfectly complements the circuit and the LEDs under the lockers, meaning you’d get three ways to light your lounge.
We liked that the clip-on table is well-made, and the circular extension means it reaches anyone sitting in the driver’s seat if they swivel round as well.
At the rear, there are two singles – there’s no option to create a double, as it would interfere with the storage options, but they’re both an excellent size.
The rear windows include a headboard too, so you don’t need to worry about damaging the concertina blinds. It’s a good idea, although if you’re taller, you may find yourself wishing they were positioned just that bit higher up.
It’s well-lit, with a Heki included as the raising-roof only covers two-thirds of the camper. There are also three LEDs running down either side of the lockers – these can be controlled by a single switch.
We found that the partition doesn’t completely seal off the front as there’s a small chunk of light that squeezes through the top, but we like that you essentially get three rooms in this ‘van, including the roof bed.
The latter is trapezium-shaped, with canvas walls around it. Two LEDs provide light, while there’s plenty of room for a large double bed. We thought the securing system was great too – the chance of the side walls getting snagged is cut, thanks to the runners on the outside, while internally, two Velcro straps play a part in tucking the front panel away.
Compared to some campers we’ve seen, the main fixing points felt solid too – they’re metal clasps that simply need twisting tightly.
The kitchen comes with a two-burner gas hob but no oven, microwave or grill. Despite this, you do get a 90-litre compressor fridge and a good amount of work surface. The sink is also an adequate size and comes with a split cover.
The washroom provides a conventional setting during the day, with a triangular basin and decent mirror. When the evening comes around, you can fold the washroom door out to shut off the rear section, essentially giving you a washroom / dressing room.
The shower area can be created by swinging the toilet below the nearside bed with a foot pedal. Then, after unrolling two tambour doors and using two flaps to protect the window and toilet recess, you get a good space, that features two drainage holes and a separate shower head.
You could think this sounds elaborate, but what we like about this setup is that it means one person can use the shower while the other gets ready in the dressing room area. It works well, we thought, although we would like to have seen a towel rail included.
The best campervans provide good storage options, and that’s certainly the case here, with a large drawer provided under the travel seats. The rear bedroom also provides a large hanging wardrobe, accessible by lifting the slats up or via a door.
Full review: Malibu Van 640 LE RB GT Skyview
Volkswagen Caddy California
- Price: £29,965
- Berths: 2
- MTPLM: 2350kg
- Payload: 601kg
- Shipping length: 4.50m
Reasons to buy:
- Minimal sway
- Double bed easy to make up
- Useful detachable zip-up compartments
Reasons to avoid:
- No toilet or sink
- Cab seats don’t swivel
The Volkswagen Caddy California is nice and steady to drive, even if we did think it was a tad sluggish in the lower gears. We liked that there was minimal sway though, even when going around sharp corners.
The interior of this small campervan comes with a bed that can be made up independently of the row of back seats. It’s simple to do, even for one person; simply flatten the backrests and then unfold the bed. It has a length of 1.98m and is 1.07m wide.
The rear of the ‘van includes a one-burner gas hob, that can be pulled out until it locks. It can then be pushed back at the press of a button.
It has a tailgate which we think rose high enough to give the ‘van some useful shelter while you’re cooking. We also really like the presence of the cutlery and kitchenware drawer beneath the hob, while under the bed, you can find a foldaway table and chair set in a storage bag.
The front windows comes with magnetic blinds, while the rear ones have detachable zip-up compartments, a nice addition that can store up to 5kg and also double up as day bags.
Something to note with this VW is that the cab seats don’t swivel, meaning you have to make do without sitting around a table; instead, you get fold-down tables behind the cab seats (think aeroplane-style).
If washroom facilities are an important factor, it may not be the ‘van for you, with no sink or toilet included (check out our best portable toilet for a campervan guide if you need one).
However, you do have the option of taking out the rear bench, which will provide you with additional storage.
Full review: Volkswagen Caddy California
How we choose the best campervans
Since Practical Motorhome launched in 2001, we’ve been putting the latest releases to the test, reviewing them in real-world conditions. We make sure every test is fair, pointing out the pros and the cons of each model. You can find out more about our testing process on our About Us page.
We also run the Practical Motorhome Awards, where our expert panel pick out the best motorhomes across a range of categories.
Combining this with our Owner Satisfaction Awards, where our readers vote to let us know how they got on when buying a ‘van, puts us in a strong position to begin picking out the best campervans.
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