Joa Camp is the latest example of a premium manufacturer bringing out a slightly more budget-priced range – in this case, Pilote.

The French brand says it has cut costs mainly by going for a cheaper base vehicle, the Citroën Relay, and opting for modular construction.

We took a look at the Joa Camp 75Q, a rear-island-bed model and a ‘van that was our pick for the best 2 berth motorhome at the Practical Motorhome Awards 2024, on a visit to IH Motorhomes in West Yorkshire.

The exterior hints at cheaper, but cheerful. It’s a boxy shape, and the alloys don’t come as standard (they’re available as part of a £1140 pack); the side decals are rather minimalist, too.

The 75Q has a standard Citroën cab, with central drinks holders
The 75Q has a standard Citroën cab, with central drinks holders

The 75Q is on a standard (higher) Citroën chassis, so there’s a bit of a step up to get in. Fiat and Citroën share the same production line, so the cab should be familiar to most. As standard you get a 120bhp engine, but you can upgrade.

Three travel seats can be formed out of the settees in the rear, two facing forwards, one facing back.

Three travel seats are easily assembled and comfortable
Three travel seats are easily assembled and comfortable

The budget quality is perhaps more noticeable when it comes to décor, in particular a lack of handles on lockers and few access flaps to underseat areas.

We saw the Joa Camp 75Q in the middle of the day, with light streaming in through the sunroof and windows. While there is plenty of ambient light to warm the interior in the evening, there are no LEDs in the ceiling and no spotlights.

Still, there is room for up to eight to sit around the large table, which is close enough to serve as extra worktop when needed – that’s just as well, too, because the work surface in this side kitchen isn’t overly generous.

Up to eight can sit in the lounge
Plenty of room to seat up to eight in the lounge; the overhead rooflight helps illuminate the area

You get a Thetford Duplex oven, and there is a good-sized, 133-litre Dometic two-way opening Series 10 fridge.

The kitchen provides reasonable storage
Kitchen has reasonable storage, but you might need to use the table as additional workspace, because there’s no extension flap fitted

Unusually for a ’van of this length, the washroom takes up the nearside, away from any awning. It still manages to include a shower cubicle that you make by swinging out a partition and closing a tambour door.

The shower is impressively spacious, and comes with two drainage holes. The washroom includes a large basin with a towel rail and a mirror, lit by a striplight above.

The washroom has a large basin
Washroom includes a large basin with a towel rail and a mirror lit by
a striplight

The island bed is very comfortable, although access is a touch disrupted by having cubbyholes on each side. One of these houses the Truma heater, so you get easy access to the anti-frost device if you need it in a hurry.

The head end of the bed has two swan-neck spotlights and USB ports. But the bed doesn’t roll back and there is only a plastic concertina partition.

The comfortable island bed
Comfortable island bed with a pair of wardrobes, a small double cupboard at the foot and a couple of well-placed spotlights for reading

Our test model included a single bed that you can easily make with a large infill cushion by lowering the table. This is offered as part of a £3260 pack that also gets you DAB radio, a more powerful heater and an insulated water tank, or on its own for £430. A double drop-down bed is another optional extra, costing £1130.

There are no cab blinds fitted, but a large curtain shuts the cab off from the dinette, to give you privacy at night.

There are three sizeable overhead lockers in the lounge, with storage space underneath the side settee and below the seat on the nearside.

Two wardrobes bookend the bed, and the floor locker on the nearside and two overhead lockers mean there is plenty of space for clothes here.

You can’t lift the bed, so bulkier items will need to be left in the rear garage. But there is a small double cupboard at the foot of the bed.

Reasonable washroom storage includes a large shelved cupboard.

While the kitchen itself might seem a little spartan, it has ample storage, including a huge pan locker.

There are two drawers above this, a drawer under the fridge, an overhead locker and a useful little spice rack, just below a shelf with USBs and a socket, designed for charging phones.

Practical Motorhome Says…

The Joa Camp 75Q is an impressive debut. The vehicle might have relied on modular construction, but it shows little sign of it – no allowances for wheel arches where there aren’t any wheels, for example.

Except for only having a two-burner hob, the spec is good, too, with those little extra innovative features that take it well above being a basic white box on wheels.

Or you could also try…

  • Chausson S514: this is a neat low-profile ‘van that fits a lot into a small space.
  • Globecar Roadscout R Elegance: this is a comfortable ‘van that provides an ideal base for touring, with the occasional guest staying over.
  • Auto-Trail F68: an excellent rear lounge is on offer in this impressive motorhome.

If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, why not get the latest news, reviews and features delivered direct to your door or inbox every month. Take advantage of our brilliant Practical Motorhome magazine SUBSCRIBERS’ OFFER and SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER for regular weekly updates on all things caravan related.