Hillside Birchover Classic T7 campervan

All the approvals and a five-year warranty make the Birchover a safe choice.

Even an entry-level campervan is a big investment these days and many buyers do so with the idea of keeping their vehicle for a good few years. With that in mind, it’s reassuring to feel that you have the support of the manufacturer beyond years one and two.

The latest Volkswagen Transporter comes with the 5+ Promise – five years’ warranty, five years’ servicing (with three MoTs) and five years’ roadside assistance. Hillside Leisure is matching this with a five-year warranty on its conversion – but then perhaps you’d expect nothing less from this leading VW campervan conversion company – few firms build more Volkswagen campers.

Volkswagen approved

Hillside is one of just six businesses in the country that is included as a Volkswagen Motorhome Qualified Converter, it is also NCC (National Caravan Council) approved and its vehicles have Whole Vehicle Type Approval.

So, a new camper from Hillside is big news and, of course, this latest Birchover Classic is part of a whole range based on the latest Transporter, which is a tad bigger and more spacious inside than the old T6.1. 

The Derby-based company hasn’t just made the Birchover fit the larger van, it’s given the model a fresh new look.

Conventional layout

This is still a conventional side kitchen camper but all the carpentry has been completely changed, now with a squarer design and edge banding.

There are new domestic-quality resin worktops with integrated mood lighting and new colours for the cabinets – choose from Cement Grey, Dust Grey, Harbour Oak, Nordic Black and Nordic Pine.

Also ameliorated are the cupboard catches and there are new soft-closing mechanisms, while a cutlery drawer has been added. The new Victron control panel has a cover and now includes a water level gauge (the underslung tank holds 30 litres).

Keeping costs down

Despite all the updates, Hillside has tried to keep its campervans affordable, so the starting point (£65,000) is a 110hp Commerce-spec base vehicle. Commerce Plus (from £66,500) adds parking sensors, a reversing camera, leather steering wheel and Cat 1 alarm.

Then Commerce Pro (from £68,550) adds adaptive cruise control, heated cab seats, wireless phone charging, alloy wheels, colour-coded bumpers and more. More powerful (150 or 170hp) motors, automatic transmission, 4Motion all-wheel drive and even fully electric BEV versions (from £79,995) are also offered.

High-quality roof

Hillside still uses a German SCA pop-top but now with a dimmable halo light around the roof and a sprung roof bed with plastic Caraflex springs. Webasto programmable diesel heating is also standard, while the leisure battery is now a 175Ah lithium unit linked to an app to monitor its condition. A 100W solar panel is £595 extra.

L-shaped kitchen

The side kitchen retains the previous Birchover’s distinctive L-shape with the deeper section behind the driver’s seat allowing the inclusion of a grill and (larger than usual) 65-litre fridge. Both are hidden behind a door that incorporates a shelf for spices, condiments, etc. A new oversailing worktop maintains preparation space in front of the hob with the door open.

Leather seats

The rear seat is still a fixed two-seater from RIB, here shown with optional (£2,595) leather upholstery. You don’t sleep on the hide side when this is folded down into a 1.77m by 1.20m double bed.

There are dimmable spotlights above the head of the bed, which can be raised chaise longue style. Vanshades blinds provide privacy and a portable loo is included, stored under the back seat.

Open the rear tailgate and you’ll discover a larger cupboard at the side and plenty of boot area storage. There’s an outside shower, too, with hot and cold water.

So there’s more standard spec here than with most VW campervans but you can still add more. The Warm Green metallic paint and 20in alloy wheels seen here are £800 and £1,195 respectively.

One of the most respected VW converters has updated its best-selling Birchover Classic, giving it a much more contemporary look to suit the new T7. There’s a generous spec as standard but still room to make the camper suit your needs and budget.