Best cars for camping holidays

Camping is a popular pastime in the UK. The freedom to explore new areas in the great outdoors has resulted in an explosion in popularity over recent years while the cost-effectiveness of camping means that’s a great option for a lot of people who want to holiday for less.

But a good camping-focused car can help to take the strain away and leave you free to enjoy all of the best bits of the outdoors lifestyle. Let’s take a look at some of the best cars for the job.

Dacia Sandero Stepway

A number of Dacia’s vehicles would make a fine choice for those heading out camping, but we’re big fans of the Sandero Stepway. Based around the small and affordable Sandero, the Stepway introduces a more rugged aesthetic which ties into life under canvas.

It’s packed with loads of cool features that can help out with your next adventure, too. For instance, the roof rails can be unlocked and rotated with a simple Allen key, turning them into cross ‘bars’ onto which you can then attach bike racks, roof boxes or other accessories in an instant. If you really fancy this feature, you’ll have to opt for the second-generation Sandero Stepway as they were left out of the original. However, if you want to save money then you could find an original Sandero Stepway for just under £3,000.

Land Rover Defender

The Defender was one of the original go-anywhere cars and while its reincarnation in 2020 brought a more upmarket approach, it’s still got the same adventure-focused approach as the iconic original. It’s now available in three layouts - 90, 110 and 130 - with the latter being particularly spacious thanks to its large size and eight-seat capacity.

It’s got loads of customisation options, too, from roof tents to extra off-roading protection if you fancy camping in the back and beyond. Remember that Defenders still command a premium, however, with prices starting from around £43,000. You might want to check out your finance options as a result.

Audi A4 Allroad

There’s nothing like an estate car when it comes to practicality and the A4 is one of the best in its class. However, if you’re looking for something with a slightly more adventure-focused feel then we’d recommend the Allroad. It’s got the same great qualities as the standard A4 Avant such as its large boot and comfortable driving experience, but with a lift in ride height, it’s better suited to tackling undulating terrain. It’s also got Audi’s excellent quattro all-wheel-drive system which can prove useful when the weather turns, well, British.

Expect to pay around £5,000 for a used A4 Allroad though given its complex suspension and all-wheel-drive system, it might be worth investigating a warranty to help cover the cost of replacement parts.

Citroen Berlingo

If outright spaciousness is what you’re after then there are few better choices than a van-based MPV. One such example is the Citroen Berlingo, which can be specified in either five- or seven-seater setups though both deliver huge amounts of interior space and luggage room. You’ll also find a variety of cubbies and storage areas dotted throughout the Berlingo’s interior which provide a way of helping to keep the cabin as tidy as possible.

The Berlingo is also a great platform on which to start a camper conversion though, if you are still fancy taking the tent along, then you can find a used Berlingo from around £1,500.

Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda has an excellent reputation for its practicality-focused models and while many people would be drawn to the Superb or Octavia, if you’ve got more people to take along on an adventure with you then the seven-seater Kodiaq is a great pick. While there is a five-seater version available, it’s the seven-seater variant which provides the best possible flexibility.

You’ll find a good range of engines available on the Kodiaq, too, from fuel-sipping diesels to punchier petrol models. Prices for early Kodiaq models have dropped lately, so you can find a five-seater version from around £10,500, or around £14,795 for a seven-seater example.

Jeep Renegade

Jeep’s Renegade is a bit like a little-big car. It has reasonably compact proportions, but with Jeep’s signature chunky styling, it’s got a lot more presence out on the road than you might expect. You can kit it out with all manner of adventure-focused accessories, too, including a handy roof tent.

Despite its smaller size, the Renegade’s upright design means that it’s got a good amount of headroom to offer - so it’s not going to feel like too much of a squeeze for taller passengers. Higher-mileage examples start from around £5,599, though average-mileage versions will start from around £7,700.

Ford Puma

The Puma is actually underpinned by the same basic platform that you’ll find underneath the most recent Fiesta. However, where the Puma is different centres around the clever ‘MegaBox’, which is a 90-litre storage box underneath the boot floor. It’s wipe-clean and features a handy drainage plug, so you can actually use it as an ice box - or as welly storage when things get damp outside.

Available with a number of clean-running engines, the Puma is a great all-rounder. If you fancy something a little quicker then there’s a go-faster ST version available too, but look to pay from around £10,000 for a ‘normal’ example.

Hyundai Ioniq 5

The futuristic and electric Ioniq 5 is packed full of features including a clever widescreen infotainment setup and loads of good storage options. However, in the case of using it as a camping car it has a real trick up its sleeve - vehicle-to-load technology.

This system allows you to use some of the car’s electric supply to power domestic devices. It means you can use it to run the kettle, power a toaster or even supply another EV with charge if they’re running low. As the Ioniq 5 is still relatively new, expect to pay around £31,000.

BMW 5 Series Touring

The BMW 5 Series Touring is yet another tried-and-tested estate car which places a real focus on driving refinement and outright spaciousness. It’s a great long-distance cruiser, that’s for sure, so if you’re planning a far-flung getaway then this is the car for you. A 560-litre boot means it’s got the space to swallow up all types of camping-related equipment, too.

We also like the pop-glass rear section which allows quick access to the boot without having to open the entire rear tailgate. Expect to pay around £8,000 for a well-maintained example, though if you’re heading out on a long-distance adventure it’s still worth having breakdown cover in place.

Mini Countryman

When you think of Mini it’s likely that the retro-styled hatch will spring to mind, but it’s the Countryman SUV which has proven a big hit with buyers. It’s got the same close attention to design as its smaller stablemate but brings a whole lot more practicality and interior spaciousness.

You can get it with four-wheel-drive, too, while a plug-in hybrid version brings the potential for some great money-saving fuel efficiency. You could pay as little as £1,500 for an early example, too.

Prices correct at time of publication [06/2024].