Showing 1–39 of 44 results
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Rated 5.00 out of 5
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.
NimbleCamper rating: 4.5/5
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Rated 4.00 out of 5
If you’re thinking Fiat Doblo for camping, then think of the Maxi XL LWB or also the High Roof version. The High Roof is the tallest MPV out there – overtakes the leading VW Caddy by a whopping 25cm, giving you much more headroom or storage space (actually both!). But it only comes with barn doors (why is a tailgate better?). If you want a tailgate, go for Fiat Doblo Maxi LWB.
It’s about 8cm shorter than the Caddy, but still one of the longest cars out there with 217cm boot length. The rear seats can be folded (backrests) or lifted up & tilted forward, or easily removed – even more flexibility (see how in this video).
Combined with good consumption, the Fiat Doblo Maxi High Roof makes an amazing camping car.
NimbleCamper rating: 4.0/5
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Rated 4.00 out of 5
The VW Caddy Maxi Life is one of the biggest MPVs out there and probably the best small camper van option out there. If boot size is your primary criteria – you can’t go wrong with a Caddy. The car drives good too. Where it lacks a bit is comfort – it takes after its van origins and offers a more basic interior. But it makes up for it in storage – it really has a lot of compartments all over the place. It’s not the best car to take off the road completely – but you can take it down a good enough mud road without any big problems. A very good car camping / microcamping conversion candidate, unless you are planning to drive through forests and very much offroad – or you prefer a higher class interior comfort.
In the UK, the Caddy Maxi Life is registered as a car (not a van), so can go at a higher speed limit than the equivalent van.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.8/5
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Rated 4.00 out of 5
Honda Odyssey is one of the biggest MPV-type cars, rivalled only by the Kia Carnival (Sedona) or Toyota Sienna. You can sleep in it easily, and have a storage box in the boot without it getting in the way of sleeping, that’s how big it is :). Its 245cm (96.5in) long boot gives you 200cm (79in) of sleeping area and still leaves 45cm (17.7in) for storage – or your dog.
Most camping conversions I’ve come across tend to throw everything out at the back to make the most of the space and build their own bed frames and storage.
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Rated 4.00 out of 5
Hyundai Staria is the Multivan of MPVs – swivel seats with configurable positions, it comes in either a 6 or 9-seat version. It trumps the Multivan in consumption – not by a huge margin though. A big car for sure – the seats can be folded down giving you almost 2.5m legroom. The irony is though (the same as with a Multivan) that you are paying a premium for those luxury seats, only to then hide them under a mattress (or you’ll have to remove them to get some storage space for your camping gear). Albeit you could sleep on those reclining middle seats for a few nights too. Or go for the van (cargo) model – it’s a bit longer and taller + you can make it your own + it’s cheaper. It’s labelled as an MPV, but really, it’s just like a Multivan, not like a Caddy. We may see these categories blend somehow in the future…
As this car spans two categories: MPVs and People Carriers – I’d rate it as follows:
- MPV rating: 4/5
- People Carrier rating: 3.7/5
NimbleCamper rating: 3.8/5
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Rated 4.00 out of 5
A big and comfy car that eats a lot. Kia Carnival is for you if you are looking for lots of space and a comfortable ride and don’t mind paying more on fuel. New models tend to cost a lot more than your typical MPV, but it should be possible to find a used one for a good price.
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Rated 4.50 out of 5
The VW Sharan strikes a good balance between size and comfort. Actually, it’s one of the biggest MPV’s out there. If boot size is your primary criteria – you can’t go wrong with a Sharan. The car drives nicely too and offers good comfort in the front for the driver and passenger. It’s not the best car to take off the road completely – but you can take it down a good enough mud road without any big problems. A very good car camping / microcamping conversion candidate, unless you are planning to drive through forests and very much offroad.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.9/5
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Rated 4.00 out of 5
The Chrysler Pacifica is in short a Chrysler Grand Voyager with better specs and trim.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.9/5
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Rated 4.00 out of 5
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.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.7/5
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Rated 4.00 out of 5
Long + tall, cheap and good for DIY custom camper builds. It’s the same size and engine as Berlingo – both are quite popular as DIY camper cars, mainly because of their low entry price. I would recommend the L2 – Long version. The other versions are the same, just shorter – which will limit your sleeping area at the back. The newer versions come with the same nifty tailgate window and roof window as the Berlingo.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.7/5
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Rated 4.00 out of 5
The Peugeot Rifter, from the Berlingo family (and Opel Combo or Toyota ProAce City are basically the same cars), is longer, more comfortable and scores higher in safety tests than Berlingo – which just about makes it one of the top contenders for a great camper!
NimbleCamper rating: 3.7/5
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Rated 4.00 out of 5
It’s basically a Sharan with the same measurements and comfort level. This also means that Seat Alhambra is a very good car for camping – if you are looking for a good level of comfort during long journeys and one of the biggest boots for sleeping at the same time.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.9/5
(based on our Sharan review, as they are the same cars)
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Rated 4.00 out of 5
Toyota Sienna certainly is a big car! You can have a camping box behind the seats in the boot and a bed prepared on top of the seats (some DIY adjustments are needed). But, it does come with one of the lowest boot heights out of US minivans (5-10cm/2-5inches lower). It is one of the top cars in terms of size, but not in terms of consumption – it eats almost double of what a typical EU MPV does – you’ve been warned! No wonder, as it has a powerful 3.5 liter V6 engine that offers up to 296 horsepower, making it one of the most powerful minivans available.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.9/5
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Rated 4.00 out of 5
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 longest MPV out there (although it’s one of the widest) 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.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.5/5
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Rated 4.00 out of 5
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.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.7/5
(Van version 3.8/5)
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Rated 4.00 out of 5
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.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.6/5
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Rated 4.00 out of 5
Big and comfy – at places too much (a fold-up TV isn’t really necessary or the table at the back in some models will have to be taken out most likely anyway). Quite expensive to run, harder to drive. On the other hand, it offers a lot of space and storage compartments, comfy seats and plenty of USB and 220V power outlets. If you don’t mind the high consumption and are looking for comfort during long rides, this is a good choice.
Although Chrysler Town and Country is a different car by name, they are very similar and only differ marginally in terms of size. The biggest difference is in their styling – outside and inside, but nothing that would make a huge difference in terms of camping.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.5/5
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
The Nissan NV200 is a very spacious car for its size. It is one of the tallest and offers a lot of headroom for a DIY camping conversion. Where it lacks behind is drive and interior comfort. It’s not a vehicle you would choose for long journeys – but of course, if you are not used to the comfort of higher class MPVs like a Sharan or your previous car, this won’t be a problem. It will get you there and you’ll be happily camping in its big boot, especially if you want to do your own DIY camper conversion or buy a camping box. For a simple conversion (not putting many storage options in) it doesn’t offer many built-in storage compartments in the back, you better come up with some good solutions yourself.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.4/5
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Rated 4.00 out of 5
The Opel/Vauxhall Combo is basically a Berlingo with different trim. Citroen Berlingo is one of the most often converted cars for camping, so you could take the Combo too.
The Combo (and its similar cousins – Citroen Berlingo, Peugeot Partner, Renault Kangoo) is a good car for car camping, but not as good for general driving & comfort during long journeys. It’s not the longest MPV out there (although it’s one of the widest) 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.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.5/5
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
The Grand Voyager is big and comfy. At places too comfy – a fold-up TV isn’t really necessary for camping, so although it’s a big car, you’ll be paying for unnecessary luxuries. These also add unnecessary weight, increasing its consumption. It’s, therefore, more expensive to run and harder to drive. These luxuries are also not spent wisely – again, the drive is according to most reviews online, just OK. The fold-up TV doesn’t make a long trip much better – better sound insulation could do.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.4/5
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
Big, good storage, but quite bad breakdown score, especially since 2016. Mercedes re-packaged it to create the Citan.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.3/5
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
A very big car, albeit quite luxurious and hence a higher price, but if you can find it used, you’ll find plenty of space for sleeping at the back, including the dog and your bags. This model was discontinued in 2017 unfortunately, but used ones are still to be found.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.2/5
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
A big and luxurious car with good storage compartments. Unfortunately it was discontinued around 2016, but you might find some used ones still around.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.2/5
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
A well-sized car (although at the lower end of other MPVs) with a very high safety rating and comfort level. If you prefer size over comfort, have a look at Caddy Maxi or Fiat Doblo XL. If you prefer comfort over size, Ford S-Max might be a good choice – but so could be the bigger Sharan, which is also quite comfortable. Also have a look at Ford Galaxy if you are looking for a Ford that is a bit bigger and cheaper, with less attention to comfort compared to the S-MAX.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.1/5
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
The Tourneo is an even more comfortable version of the already comfortable panel van Transit Connect. You get a higher trim standard and drive comfort with a big boot for all your camping needs. When the seats are folded down, the boot height is 95cm, which isn’t much for an MPV, but good enough. Go for the Grand version of course – you’ll get a 40cm longer boot – that’s a lot. It drives well, but it also eats a bit more than other MPVs though. The barn doors on most models are a downside, but they have a small plus point – you can open them all the way towards the front, by the sides of the car so that they won’t get in your way. You just won’t have a roof like you would with a tailgate.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.1/5
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
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.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.0/5
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
A well-sized car (although at the lower end of other MPVs) with a very high safety rating and comfort level. If you prefer size over comfort, have a look at Caddy Maxi or Fiat Doblo XL. If you prefer comfort over size, Ford S-Max might be a good choice – but so could be the bigger Sharan, which is also quite comfortable. If you are keen on owning a Ford that focuses more on comfort, albeit at a slight reduction in available space, have a look at Ford S-Max.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.0/5
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
A bigger version of the 3008, the 5008 is a 7-seater with ~17mm more ground clearance and 11cm longer boot. There are two versions – a newer SUV, which is also more luxurious and bigger and an older MPV version (until 2016). The measurements here are for the SUV – the newer version. The average used price is for the older model, the newer model is around 19,000 GBP.
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
Cheap and good for DIY custom camper builds. It’s the same size and engine as Berlingo – both are quite popular as DIY camper cars, mainly because of their low entry price. I would recommend the L2 – Long version. The other versions are the same, just shorter – which will limit your sleeping area at the back. The newer versions come with the same nifty tailgate window and roof window as the Berlingo.
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
The Proace City comes from the Berlingo family and is therefore on par with others like the Opel Combo Peugeot Partner or Peugeot Rifter – they are basically the same car. This means it’s an ok car for camping – as it offers enough room in the back, given its van roots, but it’s not the most comfortable to drive… given its van roots :). There are bigger MPVs out there in the same price range, f.e. the Fiat Doblo, Nissan NV200, Caddy Maxi Life. Or even bigger & more comfortable cars like the Sharan.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.0/5
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
A shorter version of the Caddy – I don’t see why you’d go for short if there’s a longer version with everything else being the same :). But perhaps you want a more compact car – the key benefit of the shorter Caddy is its manoeuvrability – it is easier to park and drive in cities. It is 47cm shorter and 13cm lower than the Caddy Maxi Life.
NimbleCamper rating: 3.0/5
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
This successor of Dacia Lodgy seems to be boasting everything you need from a good car for camping – SUV features to take it off-road, MPV size with 7-seats + a long and spacious boot at a very affordable price. Could this be the next best everyday camping car?
Users submitted boot length on camping forums is 200cm with the front seat pushed forward, so the standard boot length is around 180cm. I have used an average of those (190cm) for the NimbleCamper rating. Makes sense as the overall car length is about 30cm shorter compared to a Sharan (with a 208cm boot length). One disadvantage seems to be that the last row of seats sticks out quite high even if the seats are folded – but you can easily take them out, see here.
According to user feedback, the boot height of the Jogger is 69cm (with seats folded down) – not that tall!
Apparently, it will be the cheapest 7-seater MPV on the market at around €15,000 (just under £13,000) new. And if that’s not enough, it’s getting great reviews overall. The biggest downside seems to be the cheap plastic feel on the inside.
Although it has received a very low NCAP safety rating, most reviews rate it high – especially given the price. You will get a new car with loads of space, 7 seats as standard (or a massive boot if taken out) and a light and agile MPV, maybe the lightest in it’s class.
NimbleCamper rating: 2.7/5
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
It’s not the biggest MPV out there, but still offers a good sized boot for sleeping in.
NimbleCamper rating: 2.9/5
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
It’s a bit smaller Sharan – easier to park, but less space inside, the rest is about the same. If you want a smaller (and a bit cheaper) car with VW interior & engine standards, good safety rating and good consumption that you can still sleep in, the Touran might just be it. If you don’t mind the interior as much, you’re better off looking at Berlingo, Caddy or similar cars.
NimbleCamper rating: 2.9/5
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
Although there are quite a few Skoda Roomster campers, it’s not the best car for the job – it’s too short (although you can push the front seats forward and put in a whole 195cm camping bed, you are sacrificing storage space + can’t drive with the bed set up). The only thing that saves the car is a slightly higher boot than a standard estate car. It’s not an expensive car, but that shows in the interior & drive quality. It’s a good choice compared to a VW Golf, but not compared to a Caddy, Peugeot Grand Kangoo (closest in the price range to a Roomster) or a Ford Galaxy.
Many conversions I’ve seen fold the front seats down completely (not towards the front, but they lay the backrest down towards the back) and then build a platform above them. This way, you can get more than 200cm/78in sleeping area – but you are still sacrificing quite a lot of storage space. You can get some of it back by removing the rear seats.
NimbleCamper rating: 2.8/5
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
With quite a short boot and barn door (not tailgate), this isn’t bhe best option for a camping conversion – you’ll find better ones in our database.
The most common approach seems to be a full professional camper conversion (rebuilt) or a Dokker specific camping box, which will give you the most sleeping length and storage space. As you’ll be throwing out all the seats anyway, check out the van version if you still like the Dokker, but want a much longer boot – without paying for the seats in the first place.
NimbleCamper rating: 2.7/5
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
NimbleCamper rating: 2.7/5
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Rated 3.00 out of 5
The Chevrolet Orlando was aimed at the MPV market, albeit unsuccessfully – it’s not as big as its rivals a fact that even its lower price didn’t rectify. It’s about as big as a VW Touran, with a smaller rear opening. On the positive side, it does offer some clever storage solutions and its seats fold completely flat, so all you need to do is throw in a mattress and you’re good to sleep in it. Could be a good quick camping solution – just carry the mattress and sleeping gear in the boot and you are always ready for an impromptu camping stop.
NimbleCamper rating: 2.7/5
