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Rated 5.00 out of 5
Boot dimensions:Length ⤢210Width ↔130Height ↕140, 85
The Xbus brings a new take on a small camper bus/people carrier. Its main competitor is the VW ID Buzz, albeit the Xbus leads with its modular base and configurable components. It is a very promising concept that has gained over 1.5 million EUR in crowdfunding in 2021 and I’m sure will lead the way of electric camper vans in years to come.
The Xbus is not for everyone – it is being developed with environmental and economic credentials as the brands’ main priority, therefore some compromises in terms of how many people it can carry or top speed need to be made. But I am sure it will find its place in many people’s hearts. I am definitely looking forward to it! The company behind the XBUS (ElectricBrands) has hired 13 new employees in 2022 with the work on Xbus underway, albeit with possible delays because of the unprovoked attack on Ukraine by Russia. BTW, the Xbus Camper is the most sought-after variant of the Xbus (in the private sector). Campers know what’s good, especially nimble campers! ;) That’s also the reason, why the company has decided to build the camper as their next test vehicle that they will take to shows and exhibitions to collect feedback. Real images (not mockups) to follow soon. Watch this space!
I have estimated the interior dimensions, but as the vehicle is a camper by design, it can’t be compared fairly to other MPVs. I am giving it a 4.5/5 rating for now, as it’s looking to be a great camper, but will adjust this accordingly as more information surfaces.
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Rated 4.00 out of 5
Boot dimensions:Length ⤢204Width ↔122Height ↕136
Boasting one of the tallest boots out of electric MPVs, this is one of the best EV Campers you’ll find. Boot length isn’t the best (albeit still over 2 meters, so good), meaning you’ll be giving away leg room for more headroom.
It also offers better interior and drive comfort compared to its combustion engine counterpart. What would improve its NimbleCamper rating further? Even higher cabin and drive comfort and longer boot. To get the most out of the e-NV200, go for the Acenta trim, which will help you maximise your range. It comes with a rapid charger, battery heater and cooler, cruise control and air conditioning.
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Rated 4.00 out of 5
Boot dimensions:Length ⤢186Width ↔119, 125Height ↕111
Available in 1.3l petrol and 45kWh electric versions, both offering a very sizeable boot, this NV200 replacement looks like a very good camping car. There is a passenger version – Combi and a van, the latter offering even more room in the boot, but only two seats.
(Van version 3.8/5)
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Rated 4.00 out of 5
Boot dimensions:Length ⤢223Width ↔113Height ↕112
A very good-sized boot combined with good comfort levels, very low consumption and average EV efficiency makes the Combo-e Life XL a good camper.
Add other features like the tailgate window you can open, the rear top shelf or the panoramic roof window, and you have a fully-fledged small camper ready to go. What would improve its NimbleCamper rating further? Taller boot for sure or even longer boot too.
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
Boot dimensions:Length ⤢176Width ↔144Height ↕112
The Berlingo is one of the most often converted cars for camping. Despite not being the biggest – very likely because of its affordability and availability (and availability bias – when you Google small campers, you’ll see a lot of Berlingos, so people naturally assume those are the best, but they are not, read on…).
The Berlingo (and its similar cousins – Vauxhall Combo, Peugeot Partner) is a good car for car camping, but not as good for general driving & comfort during long journeys. It’s not the biggest MPV out there but offers very good mileage and low maintenance costs. It’s also very well priced – there are plenty of used van or MPV versions to be found. It’s best suited to fill the role of your second car that you can rebuild for camping. If you want it as your main car, it’s good if your budget is low, but otherwise, you’re better off with one of the more comfy and reliable or bigger MPV in our DB.
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
Boot dimensions:Length ⤢190Width ↔102Height ↕79
The Prius gives you unmatched consumption whilst still boasting a good-size boot for a station wagon/estate body type, even with the battery being in the boot. So if you are looking for a low-fuel cost car that you still can sleep in, the Toyota Prius is a very good choice.
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
Boot dimensions:Length ⤢210Width ↔107Height ↕72
What Tesla can you camp in? The Model X for sure! The boot easily turns into a bed. You can sleep comfortably in a Tesla Model X – easily fit a 200x100cm mattress inside. There are some DIY conversions to be found out there too (see images and videos below). The biggest advantage of the Model X is the hidden storage compartments you don’t get in many other cars (two big ones in the boot [or one if you have a 7-seater] and one in the front under the hood). Good to store most of your camping gear. There are two things that might put you off – the price tag of course and the relatively low boot height.
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Boot dimensions:Length ⤢163Width ↔124Height ↕78
The development of this car has been terminated by Sono Motors in February 2023.
“A spacious electric car with a range of up to 305 kilometres that charges itself through the power of the sun.” – this says it all! It is the cheapest electric car out there and on top of that, it has built-in solar panels that can charge the car and your appliances. Or even other cars and things around you.
There isn’t much information available beyond the prototype specs on Sono Motors, but the Sion is looking very promising as a camping car. It isn’t the biggest – but it’s big enough (about as long as the short version of the Caddy). What sets it apart is its ability to charge itself – if you are driving in a sunny country, you could add 112-245km to your range for free!
The boot length is 163cm – not that much for sleeping, but with the front seats pushed forward, you could get 180cm of actual length.
It won’t dazzle you with comfort – it wouldn’t be able to keep its low price tag, but the comfort and luxury-seeking crowd isn’t Sion’s target audience. It’s the environmentally conscious, practicality over comfort and EV-enthusiastic buyer that will find all this in the car.
As it is still a prototype, its dimensions might change – we’ll keep it updated as much as we can!
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Boot dimensions:Length ⤢167Width ↔96Height ↕73
This is a small car and shouldn’t be your first choice for car camping. But it is still possible to sleep in the Chevy Bolt, even more than that, there are several ways to do so. But each has its own limitations – it can either fit a single person only, or two shorter people and it might need more DIY and/or throwing the seats out. Read: Can you sleep in a Chevy Bolt?
