Benimar Benivan 122 campervan

A campervan that walks the walk – blending practical touring benefits with everyday usability

The campervan market is awash with vehicles promising adventure. Some lean heavily into rugged imagery, others focus on luxury touches. The Benimar Benivan 122 takes a more level-headed approach. It’s a campervan designed for real people rather than glossy brochures – couples or solo travellers who want dependable comfort, practicality and sensible pricing without feeling short-changed on specification.

The 122 is part of the campervan range of Spanish motorhome brand, Benimar, but there’s lots here that will appeal to the British buyer, both in terms of spec and layout.

Despite being manufactured at Trigano’s campervan factory in Italy, this 6.36m Fiat Ducato has a typical UK layout of front half-dinette, central galley and washroom, and a rear lounge. The sliding door is also on the nearside, unlike many European campervans. The 122’s return to the Benivan range sees it gain a number of improvements along the way, including Isofix and a two-burner Dometic hob.

One of the deciding factors in choosing a campervan is what you are likely to use it for. That might sound pretty obvious, but if you’ll primarily be using the campervan for regular short trips to facilitate a hobby as opposed to long road trips across Europe, you’ll have completely different needs. 

At the moment, my focus is on hillwalking. Later this year, I’m walking up Snowdon to raise money for Cavernoma Alliance UK – if I’m going to do the charity justice and reach the summit, I need some serious prep. So, as part of my training regime, I took the Benivan 122 to Fineshade Wood in Northamptonshire to put it through its paces. 

One of the biggest advantages of a campervan for going walking is that it allows you to be exactly where you want to be without the hassle of hotel check-ins/outs or having to drive home straight after your walk.

Getting ready for your walk, you can stand up, move around, lay your kit out properly and check the route, without rushing or juggling bags in a car park.

Back at the campervan after the hike, muddy boots come off and go straight into storage rather than messing up a car boot. And after a long walk, a proper shower and warm air make a huge difference.

Instead of hunting for a café, you can make a hot drink immediately – or cook something simple and filling. The Benivan is perfect for all of this, whether you’re out exploring on your own or as a couple.

Of course, it’s not just about walking trips. The Benivan has plenty of room for carrying leisure equipment, with four eyelets on the floor in the rear lounge to keep items lashed down while driving. Or, if you just enjoy getting away and relaxing, it’s comfortable enough for that, too. 

Sitting at a size that’s easy to live with day-to-day, yet spacious enough for proper touring, the 122 aims to be a versatile all-rounder, rather than a niche lifestyle statement. 

Base vehicle

Benimar has a reputation for delivering value-packed vehicles and the Benivan 122 continues that ethos. Let’s start with the basics.

The 122 is a two-berth Ducato-based campervan with a spacious rear lounge and front dinette. With prices starting at just under £62,000 on the road via importer, Marquis Leisure, it has a 140hp engine and manual gearbox. An automatic gearbox is an extra £2,995. It’s a lot to pay for a more relaxed drive, but, for a growing number of drivers, it’s become a must-have feature. I was pleased to see the test model was an automatic.

The campervan measures just over 6.30m long and 2.05m wide (mirrors folded), which puts it firmly in the “easy to live with” category. You’re unlikely to use it for the weekly supermarket run, obviously, but while it's not as compact as some ’vans, driving and parking are still relatively straightforward .

The Ducato is easy to drive, especially with the automatic gearbox, and it has enough manoeuvrability to cope with the winding, narrow roads you’re likely to encounter when you’re heading for a day on the hills. There was some rattling from the back (mostly from the oven), but it only became really noticeable when I ventured onto one of those potholed rural roads that only seem to undergo repairs once in a generation.

For £95, the Smart Drive Pack adds a bundle of features with a retail value of £999, including a 9in Pioneer touchscreen with integrated reversing camera, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB radio and sat-nav. 

Other than the automatic gearbox, pretty much everything else you might want is included as standard, such as cab air-conditioning and cruise control. The leather steering wheel with integrated media controls gives the cab a car-like feel. It all adds up to make a very comfortable driving experience, which is important when you consider how much time you’ll spend behind the wheel.

Outside appearance

Externally, the Benivan 122 keeps things understated. It comes in two colours – Expedition White on the manual and Campovolo Grey if you upgrade to an automatic. There are no wild graphics or exaggerated adventure branding, just clean lines and a neat finish. That’s not to say ä there aren’t a few flashy touches – the 16in alloy wheels, for example. The height of around 2.65m allows comfortable standing room inside without feeling overly tall on the road, although, of course, it does rule out access to many car parks.

The rear doors open wide to reveal a generous storage area for bulky outdoor kit or touring essentials. The sliding side door has a flyscreen, an electric step and an entrance light.

A 200W solar panel fixed to the roof comes as standard, helping keep leisure batteries topped up during off-grid stays. 

Inside the campervan

Inside, the Benivan 122’s large double-glazed windows and a generous rooflight let in plenty of natural light, while neutral, two-tone upholstery keeps the interior feeling open and welcoming. The contrasting dark wood ‘Pamplona’ furniture is smart. 

The front dinette area includes two Isofix travel seats for safe, child-friendly travel, making it possible to use the campervan for family outings even if it’s just a two-berth when it comes to sleeping.

The front lounge is created by swivelling the cab seats, forming a comfortable dining and social area for four people. A table with extension provides flexibility – it’s small enough to avoid dominating the floor space, but large enough for proper meals.

Storage in the front includes overhead lockers with chrome catches and accessible cubbyholes that keep everyday items within reach without cluttering the campervan. There’s a USB charging port in the lounge area, as well as one 12V and two 230V sockets and it comes pre-wired for a coaxial TV aerial.

You’ll also find the digital control panel for the Webasto heating and the lighting and water at this end of the campervan.

Kitchen layout

In the middle is the kitchen – in addition to the hob and oven, there is a good-sized Thetford compressor fridge with a freezer compartment. Even more welcome for many UK buyers is the inclusion of a Can oven and grill, which opens up your culinary options. 

Typically for a campervan of this size, worktop space is limited but there is a fold-out extension at the end of the kitchen unit for extra food preparation space when needed. Kitchen storage includes several drawers and cupboards below the sink for cookware and supplies and a large overhead locker. A small wardrobe is located under the fridge.

Washroom

On the opposite side of the central passage, behind the sliding tambour door, sits the washroom. They don’t call this the littlest room for nothing, and, as with most campervans, compromise is inevitable, but Benimar has made smart use of the available space. The all-important shower and riser rail sits to the left and there’s a towel rail and shower tray, too. On the right is a space-saving foldaway basin and a 12V flushing loo that can be swivelled to give you more space to move. There’s a storage shelf in there, too, for your washroom essentials and a small window with flyscreen.

Taller campers may find showering slightly tight, but for everyday use it gives you a realistic option if you don’t want to use the campsite facilities.

Rear lounge

At the back of the Benivan 122 is the spacious rear lounge with bench seats facing each other down each side, with storage underneath. These seats, in the same fabric as the cab and dinette seating, are comfortable, although the backrests do feel quite low. Open those rear doors on a sunny day and bring the outside in.

At night, the lounge converts into either twin singles, measuring 1.85m by 60cm, or a double bed measuring 1.85m square. It’s quick and easy to set up as a double – simply slide out the base and move the cushions and it’s ready in a couple of minutes. Mattress comfort is good, and decent-sized overhead lockers on both sides provide easy access to clothing and personal items.

And as there are no lockers above the back doors, you can sit up in bed and enjoy an early morning cuppa, without clattering your head. That’s never a good way to start your day! Flexible reading lights, with USB charging ports, are also fitted here. There are blinds and bug screens on all the windows, including those on the rear doors, and in addition there are curtains across the back which provide extra privacy and help keep the heat from escaping.

Speaking of which, heating throughout the campervan is provided by a 2kW Webasto Air Top diesel blown-air system (most rivals boast at least a 4kW heater).

Water systems include 90-litre fresh and waste tanks, offering enough capacity for several days of independent travel. Draining your waste water is straightforward. 

Unlike some campervans where you have to fiddle with an awkwardly positioned tap to empty the tank, the Benivan has an easy-to-reach T-handle under the chassis. Access to the gas bottle locker, located under the driver’s side couch, is through the rear barn doors.

For those needing extra sleeping capacity, an optional manual pop-top roof, costing £5,495, adds another double bed and transforms the standard two-berth into a four-berth, providing versatility for families or occasional guests.  

General living

Overall, I found the Benivan easy to live with. Systems are intuitive, controls are logical and everyday tasks straightforward.

Driving into town doesn’t feel daunting and setting up on site takes minutes. It’s equally suited to quick weekends away, overnight stops after events or extended tours. Cooking, eating, sleeping and relaxing all have their own space. 

No campervan is perfect, and the Benivan 122 has a few limitations. The washroom is compact, particularly for taller users. The kitchen, while practical, lacks extensive worktop space, even with the fold-out extension. Optional extras such as the pop-top roof or automatic gearbox can also push the price upwards, so realistic budgeting is essential.

But none of these issues undermine the Benivan’s core appeal which is practical design, reliable comfort and genuine versatility. It is of course NCC approved, which means it is fully road-ready and safety compliant.

The Benimar Benivan 122 is a thoroughly sensible campervan that delivers exactly what most buyers actually need – practical layouts, comfortable touring capability and strong everyday usability. It may lack some of the premium polish of high-end conversions, but its balanced design, decent specification and good price make it a versatile companion.