Lifestyle vans

A lifestyle van can come in a variety of forms – it could be a pick-up truck, a van-based MPV, a campervan or even a fully-fledged motorhome. Essentially, these are vehicles that cater to big families who need to move a lot of luggage or equipment, or people who need somewhere where they can sleep inside their vehicle.

While all three types of lifestyle van aim to offer you somewhere to sleep as well as something to drive, the main difference between them is size. The smallest van-based MPVs might be no larger than your average family car, but they can quickly grow. Expect a campervan to be about the same size as a large van, while a fully-fledged motorhome will be larger still. In fact, the largest American-style motorhomes are almost on a par with your local bus in terms of size. You can find out more about the different types of motorhome here.

Space and practicality are pushed to the fore in a lifestyle van. First, you should make sure that whichever vehicle you’re thinking of buying has enough space for you, your family, and whatever you might choose to take with you. If you’re looking at a campervan or a motorhome, you might also want to check whether it comes with a kitchen area to prepare meals, and a washing or shower area if it’s large enough. You can read about some of the best lifestyle vans in our campervan comparison test.

Electric vehicles now come in more shapes and sizes than ever before, and lifestyle vans are no exception. Although there are very few electric motorhomes on the market, some early models do exist in Europe. Here in the UK, you’ll find a growing array of electric van-based MPVs, from manufacturers including Citroen, Peugeot, Toyota and Volkswagen. Most of these can currently travel for at least 150 miles between charges, though of course your range will vary depending on the model you choose, the temperature outside and how loaded up you are with people and luggage.