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Best Camping Vehicles
Camping, subjectively speaking, can be one of the most fun days/nights out you can plan.
Whether you’re camping out with your friends for a night, or spending some quality family time, camping is a unique experience to spend nights with your loved ones.
If you’re planning a camping trip, ideally you would need a practical car to store all your camping gear in whilst making your way to your destination and/or parked up.
That’s why we’re here today, as we outline our top picks for the best vehicles for camping.
Best Camping Cars
6. Volkswagen Caddy California
1. Citroen Berlingo
Citroen have been in the car manufacturing industry for nearly 100 years, birthing some of the most practical vehicles on the market since.
Arguably their most functional vehicles to date is the
Citroen Berlingo, a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) released by Citroen in 1996.
The recent Berlingo generation that has been on the market since 2018 has truly reinvented the MPV in terms of design, whilst adding to the practical features that the Berlingo has always been known for.
A massive feature of the recent Berlingo is the vehicle’s boot and interior space. The M version of the model offers 775-litre boot space, with the XL version offering a huge 1,050-litres.
Interior space of the van is strong also, with the M variant of the Berlingo being 4,403mm long.
This spacious interior makes it viable to even convert the MPV into a mini-campervan, with places such as Redcote Leisure offering their conversion services for such vehicles including the Berlingo.
Opting for an
electric vehicle? The
Citroen e-Berlingo is also viable for camping due to similar features compared to the diesel/petrol version.
Overall, the Citroen Berlingo is a fantastic option for camping due to its practical features and spacious interior.
2. Land Rover Defender
Time for a little bit of
4x4 luxury, which is truly defined through the
Land Rover Defender.
We could probably make a whole list solely from Land Rover models for camping, given the British car brand’s extensive luxury SUV line.
Cars such as the Freelander or the Discovery might be harshly missing out on this list, but for camping, the Defender stands tall amongst its peer Land Rover models.
And that’s with good reason too – the SUV gives fantastic off-road performance and spacious interior to make your camping experience that little more pleasant.
Features such as a trailer hitch assist and seating capacities of up to an 8-seater (dependent upon model), the Defender offers practicality and luxury capabilities any great SUV should long for.
The Defender also arrives with 3 different model size options –
90, 110, and
130. The largest option, the 130, is as large as 5,098mm long, further highlighting the spacious dimensions of the Defender.
No matter what size of Defender you opt for, the
Land Rover vehicle will always be a top choice for your camping experiences.
3. Toyota Land Cruiser
Another vehicle that is great for your camping experience is Toyota’s classic
Land Cruiser.
Various generations dating back to 1960 has given SUV enthusiasts a fantastic off-road car, consistently being on of the most reliable amongst its competitors.
The same can be said for the vehicle’s capability of hosting camping trips with family or friends, with the 5-seater SUV measuring in at 4,970mm long and 2,000mm wide.
Features of the vehicle such as its seat and steering wheel adjustment gives the already practical interior more flexibility.
Fancy carrying a motorhome for your camping ventures? The Land Cruiser has a strong 3,000kg towing capacity, standing strong amongst a lot of the
Toyota model’s competitors.
Winner of the Top Gear ‘Design of the Year’ award in 2023, the newest rendition of Land Cruiser also gives that sleek and stylish exterior to pair with the practicality of the vehicle’s interior.
Overall, the Land Cruiser is undeniable as a rugged and reliable car for camping trips.
4. Volkswagen ID. Buzz
Now for the standalone electric vehicle of this list – Volkswagen’s innovative
ID. Buzz.
Out of all the vehicles on this list, it can be argued that the interior of the ID. Buzz is the best suited for camping (it is a ‘campervan’, after all).
Features of the interior include removable multi-function chests between the front seats, giving that extra storage for you camping needs.
Previous concepts of the ID. Buzz upon release also featured spinning front seats, which may arrive with a future iteration of the
Volkswagen model.
Even with the ID. Buzz being a 5-seater upon release, a 7-seater option is now available through the new LWB version of the model.
All in all, the ID. Buzz is an EV buyer’s dream for camping.
5. Dacia Jogger
Dacia have spent years specialising in family cars, with the
Dacia Jogger being a recent addition to their extensive line-up.
Given its 7-seater capacity, the Dacia Jogger really has everything when it relates to outgoings with the loved ones.
With a boot capacity of up to 2,100 litres, the Jogger is both spacious on the interior, and a safe drive in terms of performance through its 109hp output.
If you’d like to go full camping style with the car, the Jogger offers a ‘Sleep Pack’ feature, converting the back seats of the car into a double bed.
The award-winning Dacia Jogger has it all for families, campers, or both at the same time. As one of the cheapest cars on this list, we deem it to be one of the best cars for camping on the market today.
6. Volkswagen Caddy California
Lastly, the second VW model is making the happy camper’s list, that being the Volkswagen Caddy California.
First hitting the roads in 1980, the
Volkswagen Caddy has been a reliable MPV/people carrier car for motorists around the world.
Positioned to be a vehicle for large families, the Caddy has everything when it comes to camping experiences, particularly the Caddy California model.
Much like the Jogger, the interior of the Caddy California is both spacious and versatile through its foldable seats and adjustable lighting.
Space in the boot of the car is also a benefit for the Caddy through its impressive 3,105 litres boot capacity.
This 5-seater MPV has grabbed the attention of camping lovers since its release in 2022 for good reason – its spacious, comfortable, and generally perfect for those getaways with the loved ones.
Final Takeaways
The list outlined today shows just a few of the most practical vehicles to set out your camping ventures in.
If you are an EV buyer interested in camping but want more suggestions other than the Volkswagen ID. Buzz, read our article where we depict the
top five EVs for camping.
In summary, there are many vehicles out there that suit camping journeys, you just have to find the right one for you.