With the rise in campervan sales, more people than ever before are going on UK-based campervan holidays. But which are the best campervans on the market? The team at Sterling Insurance investigates.
How do I decide what the best campervan for me is?
Before you buy a camper it is best you figure out how you will use it and who is likely to be staying in it, both on a regular and casual 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 is it that would make the best campervan for you?
Are the best campervans new or second hand?
If this summer is going to be your first campervan holiday it might be a good idea to shop around for a good second hand or affordable van. Something like a Mazda Bongo is big enough to sleep four, but small enough to make it fun to drive.
Nowadays, just like the very best campervans, Bongos are heaped with luxury extras such as automatic pop-tops, awnings and 360-degree swivel pilot seats.
The original owner will be able to take the time to explain how everything works and point out any problems that may crop up and any easy fixes you will need to know about.
But, of course, there’s no feeling quite like buying a brand new campervan so, if you have the odd 50 or 60 thousand pounds to splash, here’s the best campervans, in our opinion, that money can buy!
What are the best campervans?
Volkswagen California
VW is synonymous with campervans, beach holidays and surfer dudes. Isn’t everyone California dreaming? Well if you have around £55k-£65k you could be too and able to invest in one of the very best campervans.
The latest incarnation of the California is even more practical, even more comfortable, safer and more desirable than its illustrious predecessors.
There are actually four Californias to choose from. The Coast costs £66,000 and comes with a built in awning, double glazed windows, factory fitted sat nav and power pop-top.
The Grand California is bigger and better and costs around £75,000, while the Caddy California sleeps two, but has a boot-fixed tent to increase accommodation, and costs £30,000.
Transit Custom Nugget
It’s based on the reliable workhorse, the Ford Transit, so you know it’s going to be reliable, right? That reliability makes the Nugget one of the best campervans on the market.
It sleeps four with comfort and has a side awning so you can make even more of your holiday space.
Costing around £60,000, the front seats swivel to create a living room, while the rear bench folds down to provide a double bunk. A second double is facilitated by the extendable roof.The Nugget also boasts a fresh water supply connector, outdoor shower and a 400-Watt heating system for those camping later in the season.
Mercedes-Benz V-Class Marco Polo
There’s a choice of trim levels, which includes an AMG-Line version with all the bells and whistles you would expect from one of the sector’s best campervans.
The front seats swivel to create a living room and the rear seats fold to create a double bunk, while the pop-top extends to create roof-level sleeping space.
The Marco Polo will set you back around £55,000, depending on which trim you go for.
Vauxhall Vivaro Elite
The Vivaro has tried to take the best features from the country’s best campervans and mould them into a new Vauxhall offering created by camper converter Wellhouse Leisure.
The stand-out feature of the Vivaro is that it comes with a solar panel as standard, enabling you to generate some of your own power.
It will sleep four courtesy of the extra space afforded by the elevating roof but bear in mind the double bed that fits into it costs extra. We have produced a helpful blog to give you some bed ideas for your next camper project.
The starting price for the Vivaro is £49,000.
Toyota Proace Matino
Just like the Vivaro, the Toyota Proace Matino is another Wellhouse Leisure conversion, and it offers more or less the same specification. The main difference is it comes with a 10-year warranty cover on the base vehicle.
The vehicle itself is based on the Toyota Proace Verso MPV and also includes a two-litre diesel engine that has a choice of two power outlets.
Priced from £54,000, it is one of the cheapest campervans on this list. The level entry gets you a 120PS diesel engine and six-speed manual gearbox.
Where can I get campervan insurance?
If you have invested heavily on a brand new campervan, or even just a few thousand pounds on a second hand one, you’ll want to make sure your investment is well protected.
Sterling Insurance is an expert at finding great deals on campervan insurance costing from as little as £165 a year with a whole range of benefits including:
- Cover for personal possessions
- European cover for up to 90 days (longer trips can be covered)
- Breakdown cover, camping gear, keycare, and misfueling cover all available as optional extras
- Claims hotline open 24/7
Call 0344 381 9990 for a free no obligation quote or arrange a callback at a time more convenient for you.
