Tourne Mobil is a newcomer to these shores, having exhibited for the first time at February’s Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show at the NEC. But it already has dealers in 12 countries in Europe, in addition to its home country of Slovenia.

Currently focused on van conversions, the company produces two lines based on a Peugeot Boxer, a base vehicle we consider to be among the best vans for converting to a camper – these are the premium Cruise and the higher-spec Select.

Along with the quirky features that first attracted me, these vehicles are designed for all-year touring: both water tanks and all external plumbing are insulated, and no pop-top roofs are involved at all.

To find out more, I visited Yorkshire Rose Motorhomes, near Doncaster, the brand’s first UK dealership, where I took a look at the 6m-long Tourne Select 6.0 180, with the top-spec 180bhp engine and automatic gearbox.

The Select 6.0 180 comes in white as standard, but various shades of grey are available, including the Thunder Grey of my test model, which is a £571.24 option. The Omnistor awning comes as standard, and you get an external BBQ point.

The cabin and lounge in the Tourne Select 6.0 180

The cab is standard Sevel, and the cab seats swivel to create a lounge with ambient lighting and spotlights that you can move around. If you are touring in the colder months, you could find yourself wondering “how can I keep a campervan warm in winter?”, but the Select comes with vents in the settee base from the Webasto diesel heater and even, as standard, mains electric underfloor heating.

The cabin of the Tourne Select 6.0 180
My test model was left-hand drive; right-hand drive is a no-cost option

If innovative touches are a crucial trait in the best campervan for you, you’re likely to be impressed by the table in the lounge – it stood out to me. This clips on in the conventional way, but can be detached like a jigsaw puzzle.

Two extra jigsaw pieces, stored under the travel seat, can be used to create a huge table. (Should you tour with young children, I can imagine squabbles breaking out over who gets to do this.)

I thought it was useful that just in case you can’t figure out how it’s done, Tourne has provided a handy QR code under the connecting flap, which links to a demonstration video.

The clip-on table in the lounge
Conventional clip-on table can be extended by adding jigsaw pieces

A base unit slides out from the end of the kitchen to provide a cushioned stool, so you could seat six here.

The pull-out cushioned stool
A handy cushioned stool pulls out from the kitchen base unit

The kitchen in the Tourne Select 6.0 180

The side kitchen has an extension, although that limits who can sit on the stool. You also get a two-burner gas hob and a small separate sink. The only socket in the area is located above, so the cable for a kettle would have to travel far. There’s a half-height fridge above a wardrobe further back.

The kitchen with the extension flap
Well-planned kitchen has an extension flap for more worktop

The washroom in the Tourne Select 6.0 180

A tambour door across the narrow aisle leads into the washroom, which is well heated and comes with two drainage holes. The tap doubles as the shower head, but the basin is a good size, the mirror is large, and you even get an Omnivent here, too.

Sleeping in the Tourne Select 6.0 180

The rear bed, made in three sections, is well lit in the daytime by a Heki and at night by spotlights. I liked that there was good access to USB and USB-C ports here too – don’t forget to have a set of the best bedding for a campervan, to help to enhance your sleeping expereince.

The comfortable rear bed
Comfortable rear bed is easily made up from three sections

The second bed is made up by taking more jigsaw pieces from a compartment under the bench, lowering the table by taking the bottom half of the leg and placing it in a special hole in the floor, moving the stool under the kitchen fully out, and positioning five infill cushions.

The second bed
The second bed is more complicated, with five infill cushions

I did think it was complicated, but it makes up a comfortable bed, and Tourne even provides you with a mattress topper, so you may not need to find yourself wondering “how can I make a camper bed more comfortable?”.

The company says the bed is 1.2m wide. It is, but that’s really only for the section down to the edge of the kitchen unit – beyond that, it narrows to 80cm.

Storage in the Tourne Select 6.0 180

As for storage, the shelf above the cab is likely to be taken up with infill cushions, if you take them with you. But you get an overhead locker in the front lounge, a boot locker under the seat and a cubbyhole in the floor.

One of the spacious overhead lockers
Ample storage in spacious overhead lockers

The rear lounge has an overhead locker on each side, and the bed lifts to reveal space for bikes (sectioned off from the front by another jigsaw piece) and another cubbyhole.

The kitchen houses five big drawers, an overhead locker and clever little boxes you can remove to empty, clean and refill. There’s a cupboard behind the mirror in the washroom.

The lockers have little plastic buffers where the door makes contact. That and the concave shape of the doors means you shouldn’t suffer loud slams.

Alternatives to consider

The Sun Living V65 SL is a Fiat Ducato-based campervan with a flexible floorplan and a thoughtful design, but only comes with two berths as standard, with another two available as an optional extra. Alternatively, you could consider the Malibu Genius 641 LE, an innovative Mercedes Sprinter-based campervan with great storage and some extra length that we think has been used to good effect.

Technical specification

  • Price: From £76,873
  • Sleeps: 4
  • Belts: 4
  • Base vehicle: Peugeot Boxer
  • Engine: 2.2-litre, 180bhp turbodiesel
  • Length/width/height: 5.99/2.69/2.63m (19’7”/8’8”/8’6”)
  • MTPLM: 3500kg
    MiRO: 3010kg
  • Payload: 490kg
  • Water (fresh/waste): 90/100 litres
  • Leisure battery: 95Ah
  • Gas: 2 x 6kg

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