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. With a wide range of campervan conversion companies and motorhome manufacturers out there, it can feel daunting to know how to choose the one for you.
That’s why we’ve rounded up the best campervans on the market from the many models that we’ve reviewed in the last couple of years, to help you identify the one that will suit you. You’ll find camper vans from some of the biggest names on our list, including Adria, Joa, Swift and more.
What is the best campervan?
Campaway Casa
Auto-Sleeper M-Star
Swift Carrera 144
Adria Active Duo
Joa Camp 60G
S&L Apollo
Auto-Sleepers Air
Pilote V633M
Ford Nugget Plus
Jöbl Kampa LE
The best campervans:
Campaway Casa
- Berths: 3 (plus a child’s bed)
- MTPLM: 2800kg
- MiRO: 2140kg
- Payload: 380kg
- Shipping Length: 5.30 m
- Width: 2.30 m
Reason to buy:
- Sociable arrangement, useful day-to-day ‘van
Reason to avoid:
- Washroom could be more than you need
This range of VW-based raising-roof campervans has been created for the customer who wants a ‘van that can both be parked on a drive and includes a toilet. We think the innovation shown here is highly impressive, as the toilet’s inclusion isn’t at the expense of a forward-facing raising roof, so headroom is good.
Seating is comfortable too, whether it’s in one of the two swivelling cab seats or the third travel seat.
We really like the campervan’s sociable setup – the chef can face everyone else while cooking, as the combined sink and hob are on top of the unit behind the driver’s seat, with a small Dometic fridge located beneath. There’s a generous amount of workspace by campervan standards too. The kitchen space is nicely lit, and offers a microwave, two USBs, a wireless charging pad, an Eberspächer air and water heater and even room for a small TV.
The toilet is situated in the nearside rear corner and can be curtained off. If you have a tailgate awning, you could create a full washroom, with an external hot and cold shower attachment and a towel rail both provided.
Head into the raising-roof and there’s a well-lit roof bed, but the single bed is, we think, more impressive. Made up by collapsing the travel seat and joining it to the swivelled passenger seat, you achieve a bed of more than 7ft! A child’s bed can be made up too.
Full review: Campaway Casa
Auto-Sleeper M-Star
- Berths: 2
- MTPLM: 3880 (est) kg
- Payload: 480 (est) kg
- Shipping Length: 7.10 m
- Width: 2.02 m
Reason to buy:
- Excellent storage provided, kit level is superb
Reason to avoid:
- There’s no getting away from the price tag
The ‘van we picked out as the most luxurious camper van at the recent Practical Motorhome Awards 2024 simply exudes class.
Comfortable heated, swivelling leather seats can be found in the cab, along with an easy-to-operate large touchscreen. The camper van comes with plenty of high-tech features, such as Lane-keeping Assist and Cruise Control, as you’d expect with a Mercedes base vehicle.
The M-Star has the popular rear-lounge campervan layout, with two comfortable sofas coming in buttoned leather, or fabric furnishings if preferred. The backrests are thin but supportive, and four scatter cushions create a homely vibe. The campervan’s 2.02m width means it’s a narrow space though.
Kit levels throughout are fantastic, ranging from the Truma roof-mounted air conditioning and Alde wet heating system to six radiators and an Avtex Smart HD TV with a soundbar. In the kitchen, you’ll find a full oven and a separate grill, as well as a Thetford dual-fuel hob – impressive for a campervan. There’s also an excellent workspace, thanks to a pair of flaps, while loose-lay carpets are fitted throughout.
An estimated MTPLM of 3880kg means you’ll need a C1 licence to drive it but plenty of storage is provided to make the most of the estimated payload of 480kg, including six lockers in the rear lounge, a three-quarter height wardrobe, and numerous kitchen lockers.
If the best campervan for you is one that comes with everything you could desire as standard, we’d say you’d be hard-pressed to beat this.
Full review: Auto-Sleeper M-Star
Swift Carrera 144
- Berths: 3
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- Payload: 571kg
- Shipping length: 6m
- Width: 2.26m
Reason to buy:
- Kitchen impresses for a campervan, washroom is good
Reason to avoid:
- Rear lounge could feel cramped, beds perhaps not suited to taller people
The Carrera 144 offers a good spec level by campervan standards, including a Thule awning and fitted cab blinds.
Four can sit comfortably in the front dinette after swivelling the seats of the standard Ducato cab, with a Heki and sunroof allowing daylight to flood in.
The rear lounge may feel a bit cramped, a feeling enhanced by the narrow gangway. Despite this, four can sit fairly comfortably here too, and should all be able to watch TV (check out our motorhome TV guide if you need one). Al fresco dining fans will appreciate the tabletop that slots into position outside too, perfect for enhancing a stay at one of the best campervan sites.
Kitchen workspace is excellent, thanks to a work surface extension – the spec also includes a fold-out bin, a two-burner hob and a 90-litre Dometic fridge. We’re impressed by the storage throughout too, which includes a half-height wardrobe, a large overhead locker in the kitchen and a big drawer underneath the nearside settee.
The washroom particularly stands out – there may be no separate shower cubicle but a foldaway basin maximises the space, while the wall’s marbling effect and the basin’s mint-green splashback look smart and inviting.
There’s no avoiding that the ‘van is not suited to very tall people, with the rear lounge settees only 1.70m long when the double bed is made up. However, we appreciate that you don’t need platforms to set the double up but instead rely on a clever set of slats that fold out from the nearside to clip onto the offside settee. It’s also handy to only need a single infill cushion to make up the third berth in the front dinette.
Full review: Swift Carrera 144
Adria Active Duo
- Berths: 4
- MTPLM: 3010 (est) kg
- MiRO: 2387kg
- Payload: 623kg
- Shipping Length: 4.99m
- Width: 1.96m
Reason to buy:
- Rising roof is well made, seating is comfortable, tailgate awning is a useful optional extra
Reason to avoid:
- No separate windows in rising roof
Coming on a Renault Trafic base, the winner of the best small campervan category at the Practical Motorhome Awards 2024 provides a smooth and steady drive. It makes an ideal day-to-day option, with the two sliding doors (one on each side) allowing rear passengers to get in and out with ease.
Something that stood out was the efficient way the rising roof fastens and unfastens – it not only feels secure but also avoids the canvas spilling out. However, while there are two uplighters here, there are no windows; instead, you get mesh on all three sides, with a solid opaque canvas that can be removed, even if it is a fiddly task. The bed is comfortable though, while the rock’n’roll bed below is easy to fold down and move.
Unsurprisingly for a ‘van that’s less than 5m in length, storage is at a premium. However, a side awning is provided in the optional Comfort Pack (£3590), and there’s also the option of a dedicated tailgate awning (£580). The latter particularly impressed our judging panel, as it creates valuable extra space and could give you a temporary washroom, providing room for a Porta Potti and utilising the external shower already at the rear (take a look at our best portable toilet for a campervan guide if you need one for your ‘van).
The kitchen peninsula includes a 42-litre fridge and single burner hob, while it’s good to see cab blinds included as standard too.
The ‘van is also perfect for lovers of the outdoors – that exterior shower is ideal for washing down muddy kit, while the bench inside moves backwards and forwards as necessary to create more storage. The latter feature is useful if you need to transport bulkier items when you’re using it as a day-to-day vehicle too.
Full review: Adria Active Duo
Joa Camp 60G
- Sleeps: 2
- MTPLM: 3500kg
- MiRO: 2860kg
- Payload: 640kg
- Length: 5.99m
- Width: 2.05m
Reason to buy:
- Good storage, omfortable 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
S&L Apollo
- 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
Auto-Sleepers Air
- 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
- 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
- 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 5.33m, 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
- 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
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 to 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?
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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