The pandemic inspired a boom in camping in the UK, and many of us are still keen to carry on (get the film reference?), whether it be music festivals or just sampling the great outdoors. However, not everyone has the money or the storage space to buy themselves their own dedicated campervan or motorhome for road trip adventures around the UK, Europe and beyond (have you seen the price of a Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo these days??!!), so many of us will simply buy a tent and a few assorted bits of camping gear and just use our regular car for the journey.
Here, we’ve picked out what we reckon are the best cars for the job of lugging you, your passengers and all your camping equipment to your destination. Our list includes estates, MPVs, SUVs and pickup trucks, so there should be something for everyone.
The Best Camping Cars in 2024
- Dacia Duster
- Citroen Berlingo
- Kia Sorento
- Subaru Outback
- Toyota Land Cruiser
- Volkswagen Amarok
- Skoda Kodiaq
- Audi A6 Allroad
Dacia Duster (2019-)
If you’re after a cheap and cheerful used car – so cheap that it’s not a tragedy if you can’t quite get that stain out of the upholstery – then the Dacia Duster ticks the box, and plenty of others besides. It’s extremely affordable for an SUV, but it has a lot going for it, despite the price: plenty of room, high ground clearance and some versions have four-wheel drive. The interior is basic but comfortable and spacious, and the boot capacity of 475 litres (1,636 litres if you fold down the rear seats) means there's enough room for a fair bit of camping gear. It’s not what you’d call sophisticated to drive, but it’s capable enough on the road, particularly if you make concessions for its cheapness.
Dacia Duster Review
Search for a Dacia Duster on CarGurus
Citroen Berlingo (2018-)
Vans make very useful camping vehicles thanks to their spacious interiors, but they can be pretty basic. Convert one into a people carrier, retaining the practicality and space but adding seats and crater comforts, and you have the perfect tool for a camping trip, which is why fans of the Citroen Berlingo see beyond its boxy design to the value it offers. Even the styling has been addressed with the current version, launched in 2018, so this funky MPV from France now looks much cooler than previous generations. Citroen has filled the van’s interior with clever shelves, cubbies and storage spaces, which come in very handy when you’re packing, and there’s loads of storage space for for tents, sleeping bags, etc. The current model has different body sizes, so it’s possible to have a boot of 1,050 litres, even with all seven seats in place. Fold them flat and there’s up to 3,500 litres available – ideal for an air mattress. The passenger versions have been electric-only since 2022, but petrol and diesel engines are available in used examples, and with the Berlingo van. Go for an electric one, and the range is fairly limited, so best download yourself one of the many phone apps that show you the availability of chargers in your area.
Citroen Berlingo Review
Search for a Citroen Berlingo on CarGurus
Kia Sorento (2020-)
The Kia Sorento has a been a solid and reliable full-size SUV since the second-generation model hit the market in 2009. The third-generation arrived in 2014 and the fourth went on sale in 2020, so there are now plenty of used examples to suit a wide range of budgets, plus new models. It’s also worth noting that Kia’s industry-leading seven-year warranty – which is transferrable between owners – will still be valid for many third-generation cars. More recent versions of the Sorento have advanced technology, but whatever the age, it will be spacious (it has an especially big boot), well equipped, practical, and economical for a big, four-wheel drive SUV. Sorentos aren’t class leaders when it comes to handling, but they are comfortable, consistent, and easy to drive, while the four-wheel drive system means it can handle even the muddiest of camping car parks.
Kia Sorento Review
Search for a Kia Sorento on CarGurus
Subaru Outback (2015-)
Rural owners like Subaru’s cars for their impressive off-road abilities, and the Outback is a prime example. The countryside is its natural habit, where it can often be spotted carrying bales of hay across fields or towing horseboxes, so it’s ready-made for campsites and far more capable than most estate cars and even many SUVs. It has a raised ride height and the four-wheel-drive system is tried and tested, so you don’t need to worry about muddy or uneven fields. The massive boot is well suited to lugging camping gear; the current model has between 561 and 1,822 litres of space, so chuck in as many backpacks as you like. An Outback should also prove reliable, as Subaru has a reputation for building tough cars. It's as good on the tarmac as it is off; the petrol and diesel engines have plenty of power and the ride and handling are as solid as its construction.
Search for a Subaru Outback on CarGurus
Toyota Land Cruiser (2009-)
It doesn’t matter where you choose to set up your tent, the Toyota Land Cruiser will get you there. It’s something of an off-roading legend, because it can handle deserts, muddy tracks and ice as well as a Land Rover Defender or a Jeep Wrangler, so your campsite should be breeze. With Toyota’s justified reputation for reliability, you can also be confident that it won’t break down in the middle of nowhere. The cabin is practical and utilitarian, but go for a higher trim level, and you'll get a few more niceties, such as an 8.0-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system and a DAB radio. The second row of seats in more recent versions slides back and forth, while the third row folds into the floor to maximise boot space. Speaking of which, the 640/1,270-litre boot should be big enough to carry all your camping equipment, and it can also tow up to 3,000kg if a trailer or a caravan are required.
Toyota Land Cruiser Review
Search for a Toyota Land Cruiser on CarGurus
Volkswagen Amarok (2010-2020)
Pick-up trucks with back seats have moved beyond trade and business use, as the likes of surfers, mountain bikers and other active sports fans appreciate their huge cargo space – so they’re ideal for camping. There are arguments for the Ford Ranger or the Toyota Hilux pick-ups, but we’ve plumped for the Volkswagen Amarok, because its familiar VW characteristics have a wide appeal to first-time truck buyers who are less familiar with commercial vehicles. The cabin, while filled with sturdy plastics, has that reassuring Volkswagen ambiance, especially in the front seats, and although there’s no doubt you’re driving a commercial vehicle, the rough edges have been smoothed out to make it comfortable. At 2.52 square metres, the loadbay is marginally bigger than that of its rivals, and it can handle up to 1,147kg, so it should be able to accept all the usual camping kit: just remember to install a rolltop loadbay cover if you want to keep it dry. All Amaroks have strong and powerful diesel engines, while the 4Motion all-wheel drive system means it can handle the slippery surfaces campers are likely to encounter – and it also has an excellent towing capacity.
Volkswagen Amarok Review
Search for a Volkswagen Amarok on CarGurus
Skoda Kodiaq (2016-)
The Skoda Kodiaq is one of the best SUVs on the market – the kind of large car that’s as happy on a campsite as it is on a high street. Incredibly practical and spacious, the Kodiaq is also well built, well equipped and flexible enough to cope with various combinations of people and luggage, thanks to its seven-seat layout. The boot, in common with most Skodas, offers plenty of space, ranging from 270 litres (with all seven seats in place) to 720 litres (five seats up) to 2,065 litres (all rear seats folded), so you won’t have to worry about stowing your camping equipment unless you’re travelling seven-up, in which case, you’ll need a roofbox or a trailer. The Kodiaq is composed on the road, even if it isn’t the most dynamic of SUVs; the steering is accurate and consistent, and the ride is comfortable. It’s also a good-looking SUV, which is obviously important when it’s parked next to your tent.
Skoda Kodiaq Review
Search for a Skoda Kodiaq on CarGurus
Audi A6 Allroad (2012-2018)
If you want a car suited to camping trips, then boot capacity or towing ability are basic requirements, while four-wheel drive could also prove very useful off-road. If you can also factor in a level of premium quality – the type you get with the Audi A6 Allroad – then you’re laughing. The Allroad is essentially an A6 Avant estate with slightly jacked-up suspension, plastic mouldings on the bodywork to add a little protection, and a four-wheel-drive system. This means owners have all the advantages of an A6 Avant – a large boot, a high-quality interior, and plenty of equipment – as well as off-roading abilities. The A6 Allroad also offers the kind of on-road comfort we’ve come to associate with Audi, with some models getting air suspension. There are four generations of A6 Allroad, so you can pick up an older car for a reasonable amount of cash, while later models are posh enough to make your tented neighbours envious.
Search for an Audi A6 Allroad on CarGurus