Auto-Trail Expedition 68 XL campervan

If bikes are a big part of your touring lifestyle, Auto-Trail’s latest campervan has the answer…

The Expedition has been a solid success story for Auto-Trail since its post-Covid introduction, offering an affordable entry to campervanning. Once known for its big tag-axle motorhomes, the company now builds more panel van conversions than coachbuilts.

And its campervan range continues to grow, with the Expedition 68 XL amongst the novelties for this season. There was already an Expedition 68 in the range but this newcomer has an important difference – deleting the wardrobe has allowed a bigger bed for lengthways sleeping.

There’s also a new 68 XL Flex model with an electrically height-adjustable rear bed, but that’s a story for another time.

Designed for explorers and cyclists

Key to all the 68 models is the huge rear garage – 1.73m by 1.27m with 93cm headroom. In keeping with Auto-Trail’s mantra that this is a campervan “designed for explorers and cyclists”, there is the factory option to add one or a pair of slide-out garage trays (£425 each), perfect for storing your bikes and making them more easily accessible.

The space is also well lit and has a mains socket that can be reached from the living area as well as through the barn doors at the back. Above your cycles is the enlarged double bed, although its generous 1.90m (6ft 3in) length is only available on the nearside, the centre and offside of the mattress are a more modest 1.74m (5ft 8.5in).

You could still sleep across the camper as the bed is 1.83m (6ft) wide but lying lengthways allows you to sit up and to get up without disturbing your partner. 

There’s plenty of clothes storage in the bedroom, as well as a trio of reading lights with built-in USBs. The most unusual feature, though, is the upholstered zipped panel at the end of the bed that keeps your pillows dry and your bedroom warm if you open the back doors in inclement weather. Why don’t all fixed bed campervans have this?

Based on Fiat Ducato

What many do have, of course, is a Fiat Ducato base vehicle. Here, it’s the extra-long (6.36m) van with 140hp engine and manual gearbox (the automatic gearbox costs £3,840 extra). 

The Artense Grey metallic paint adds £780 but the black alloy wheels and front fog lamps are included in the £58,702 list price.

If you want the Pioneer 9in multimedia unit (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) in the cab that’s £549, while a reversing camera linked to that screen is a further £199.

Add a pop-top for four berths

Externally, an electric step and flyscreen have been omitted to keep down costs but the biggest factor in pricing is whether or not you go for the pop-top (£5,800), which turns this into a four-berth (with 1.96m by 1.30m mattress on a solid base).

It’s the simplest of roofs to raise, almost springing open after you’ve released two clasps on each side, and there’s a 200W solar panel on top. For once, its ladder isn’t clattering around loose in the garage; instead, it neatly folds away into the cut-out for the roof.

Clever folding table

There’s more neat design in the half-dinette lounge, where the table folds flat against the wall to create more room. Its design also means there’s no leg to get in the way, while a pair of cup holders clip into place for rear passengers when travelling. A full-height cab (without the shelf) is another aspect that helps with the feeling of space.

Kitchen and washroom

Things get more restrictive in the kitchen, with the usual slim aisle, but an oven/grill is a bonus here and a folding flap increases worktop. The 84-litre compressor fridge is at waist height for convenience and below that are three useful drawers.

Here you’ll also find an open recess with a hanging rail and room for a couple of jackets.

Opposite, the washroom has a bench cassette loo and a fixed corner basin, but the only storage is in a couple of wall-mounted baskets, although a robe hook and towel ring are fitted to the door. Showering is best described as cosy with the curtain pulled all around you.  

The new XL version of the Expedition 68 has an enhanced bedroom that allows lengthways sleeping and hence easier access. It still has the very generous garage area below and the option of neat, pull-out trays for your cycles. Keen pricing is a further plus point.