Best campervans 2023

Our current favourite camper tops this list thanks to a winning blend of upmarket fixtures and fittings, clever use of space, and a generous amount of equipment as standard. As a place to spend the night, the Mercedes V-Class Marco Polo is one of the finest campers out there, with standard ambient lighting and even the option of yacht-style wood flooring.

Out on the road it’s pretty good, too. Not only does the Marco Polo gloss over rough road surfaces pretty well, but its smooth-shifting gearbox and comfortable ride mean the journey to the campsite flies by easily. It's also quieter than both the Ford Transit Nugget and Volkswagen California. Granted, it doesn’t come cheap – but if you want the best camper out there, this is it.

Ahh, the classic Volkswagen California. Building on the reputation of the iconic Type 2 Camper, the original California took Volkswagen’s Transporter van and turned it into an internationally desired light camper that was the ideal companion for a day at the beach or a short break away from home. 

This latest California is as good as all of its predecessors – better, in fact – and while it isn’t quite as plush as the Mercedes V-Class Marco Polo inside, its solidly built interior and robust materials put plenty of other campers to shame. A strong range of punchy diesel engines make the California a pleasure to drive, too. 

Of course, if you want a bigger, better camper than the regular Volkswagen California, you’ll have to turn to the Grand California instead. This is the only camper here to feature a full, self-contained bathroom, and as such it holds huge appeal as pretty much the only campervan on the market to do so and still to retain a comprehensive manufacturer warranty. 

That isn’t the Grand California’s only appeal, though. Inside, the space has been designed well, cramming lots of features into a relatively short body, and because the whole van has been constructed to the standards of a car maker, the fixtures and fittings feel robust and built to last.

Granted, the Grand California is pretty expensive to buy – but quality doesn’t come cheap, and given what it offers, its price is largely justified.

Not only has Volkswagen’s California spawned a bigger version in the Grand California – there’s now a smaller version too. This Caddy California packs the California’s trademark mix of quality and functionality into an even more compact frame – in this case, the Volkswagen Caddy Cargo van. This makes the Caddy California a micro-camper – an ideal companion for the occasional night away from home. 

You get two berths that take up the entirety of the interior, but fold away to leave the rear seats intact – and in the boot, there’s a pull-out kitchen. And if you need more space, you can even add an additional tent that extends out from the boot area, giving you a handy living space if you need it. It’s very clever, brilliantly compact, and out on the road, it’s also great to drive, too.

Looking for a medium-sized campervan that won’t cost the earth? Well the Toyota Proace Matino fits the bill rather well. It’s based on the Proace van, and then converted by aftermarket specialist Wellhouse, and while it’s true that some of the fixtures and fittings are a little bit more flimsy than some manufacturer-converted offerings, the flipside is the price: this is a far cheaper option than, say, a Volkswagen California.

That isn’t its only appeal, though. Given it’s an officially recognised conversion, it comes with a full Toyota warranty – which means up to 10 years and 100,000 miles, if you keep servicing it at a Toyota dealer every year. It’s a well equipped van, too, and that means it’s not only affordable, but also brilliant value.

Of course, there’s a catch – and with the Proace Matino, it comes when you’re out on the road, where it can feel a little wallow in corners. But if you can live with that, this is a smart buy.

The Renault Trafic Paradise is arguably not quite as well known as some of its rival campers, but it’s worth looking out, because it’s a great all-rounder. Inside, the living accommodation, with its well equipped rear kitchen and comfortable seating area, has clearly been intelligently thought out, and it’s put together well, so the Trafic Paradise feels pretty high-quality. 

It’s roomy, too – in fact, converter Sussex Campervans has done an admirable job of finding plenty of space in a frame that’s relatively small by the standards of most motorhomes. That’s thanks in part to the pop-top, which gives it a huge advantage over most of its rivals, and with the loft bed in place, it allows the Trafic Paradise to become a four-berth van – a rarity among campers of this size.

Just bear in mind that the Ford Transit Nugget handles with more finesse, while the Mercedes V-Class Marco Polo offers a more serene driving experience.

As you’ll no doubt have been able to discern from its position in this list, the Ford Transit Custom Nugget isn’t exactly our favourite camper – but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth a look. For one thing, it’s one of only a few fully featured campers that can boast five seats and four berths – and for another, the conversion is carried out by renowned German camper specialist Westfalia, plus you get a full Ford manufacturer warranty.

You also get a gutsy diesel engine, and while the Nugget isn’t cheap to buy, it’s possible to find with some very tempting discounts, which means it probably won’t set you back quite as much as you might at first think.

There’s lots to like here, in other words. But you do have to remember that you only get a toilet and sink – not a full bathroom – and then only on the long-wheelbase version. What’s more, the cheap-feeling plastics inside, the sluggish automatic gearbox and a fidgety ride make it a van you won’t want to spend a long time driving.

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