Campervans are, as the name suggests, vans that are fitted out so they can act as a temporary home. They offer the best of a conventional car and the best of a caravan. This “mixed” method of transport is increasingly popular and leaving an increasingly noticeable mark on the transport market. You can use them as an everyday car or for an occasional trip – on the outside, they’re so discrete that no one will even know they’re hiding something special inside.
Our collective imaginations are pretty judgemental when we talk about campervans. If you ask any westerner about this particular category of vehicle, the 70s will soon be mentioned, and there’ll be talk of California, Volkswagen and iconic Bully campervans filled to the brim with hippies and drawings of flowers.
The Bully is available in a new version that adds all the luxuries and technological innovations currently available, but there’s a catch – the somewhat exorbitant price. Other brands in the market have taken the challenge and are looking to bring other, more economical models to market.
Let’s take a look at some alternatives to the mythical California. Even though they may be cheaper, these are still great options – they take excellent advantage of the space they have available, all have built-in bathrooms and practically all the equipment you would have travelling with a caravan hitched to the back, without any of the problems related to parking it.
Benimar
Very similar to the VW California or the Mercedes Benz Marco Polo, the Benimar sells at around €43,000 – close to half the price of the competition. Even so, it doesn’t skimp on quality or services and boasts the same layout as a 125 BHP Renault Trafic.
Sun Living
This brand – a sister company to Slovenian manufacturer Adria Mobil – has two models of Fiat Ducato, the 5.99m and the 6.4m. Both have a built-in bathroom, and the larger of the two has a “hammock” above the double bed that allows the vehicle to sleep 3. The price comes in at less than €45,000.
Ford Tourneo Custom by Tinkervan
It’s not just the classic brands that have decided to launch new products. Ford has partnered with Tinkervan to develop a campervan model based on the Tourneo Custom. The model has a 2.2 litre engine, just like the California and Marco Polo, and will cost around €27,000. But be warned! This campervan doesn’t have a bathroom.
