Hillside MVX eHybrid Campervan

The MVX is a stylish new hybrid campervan designed for daily driving and weekends away.

It’s no secret that the price of fuel has skyrocketed in recent months, with the cost of diesel soaring by almost 50p per litre. In fact, at the time of writing, it looks likely that the average cost of a litre of diesel is about to smash through the £2 barrier. And for campervanners that means filling up could soon set you back anything between £120 and £200, depending on the size of your fuel tank.

Inevitably, this has reopened the EV debate. Will the rising cost of fossil fuels push campervanners into fully electric vehicles? Well, the current lack of EV campervans on the market and the still unreliable UK charging network suggests that’s unlikely. But there is another, more realistic, money-saving alternative, and that’s a petrol/electric hybrid.

The new Hillside MVX is built on the eHybrid version of the VW Multivan featuring Volkswagen’s 245hp, 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine coupled with an 85kW electric motor. The plug-in hybrid offers up to 57 miles of (eerily quiet) electric driving, making it ideal for short daily journeys. For longer trips, the petrol and electric work pretty seamlessly together, increasing your mpg and, of course, easing the strain on your wallet.

According to Hillside, the battery can be charged on a home wall charger in around five and a half hours and, while driving, the petrol engine can replenish the hybrid battery through regenerative braking and direct engine charging. 

Multivan platform

VW has already launched its own hybrid campervan, the new California, on the Multivan platform. Derby-based Hillside, though, is the first company in the UK to be supplied with the Multivan to create its own conversions, receiving it from VW with the manual pop-top already installed, twin sliding doors and two front swivel seats. The shell is delivered with factory-finished trim, but no floor coverings or rear seats, allowing Hillside to have free rein on the conversion.

The result is a refined four-berth campervan that drives like a dream, as I discovered during a couple of sun-drenched days in Derbyshire. In fact, I had so much fun scooting around the Peak District that I was genuinely reluctant to return the campervan to Hillside!

It has everything you’d expect to find in a high-end car, from a touchscreen control panel with reversing camera and eight-speaker audio to optional extras such as heated front seats and leather upholstery.

The MVX also features Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system, which provides greater traction on wet roads and uneven terrain. Combined with adaptive cruise control and a suite of driver assistance systems – including keyless starting, parking assistance and VW’s Emergency Assist – the MVX feels very much like a modern passenger car rather than a van conversion.

Lighting is another area where the MVX benefits from the Multivan platform. The IQ.Light LED matrix headlights adjust to traffic conditions, maintaining visibility without dazzling other road users. There’s also a dynamic cornering function, which improves illumination when turning onto darker roads. 

For those who remain unimpressed by VW’s new Transporter, this will provide further grist to the mill as the Multivan is a serious upgrade on that controversial joint venture with Ford. It’s a really comfortable ride, with plenty of power to draw on when required and you’ll struggle to notice the hybrid switch between electric and petrol. 

Of course, there are some people who simply don’t fancy going electric at all and would prefer to stick with diesel, and for them there is a 150hp TDI version with automatic transmission. 

Everyday comfort

Hillside has positioned the MVX as a campervan that can realistically double as your only vehicle. Indeed, it has been described as a luxury car with some campervan features. That’s reflected not just in the way it drives, but also in the technology and convenience features built into both the base vehicle and the conversion. The 10in infotainment system is intuitive to use, with clear menus and good connectivity, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard. There are also six USB-C ports spread throughout the cabin, which should keep everyone’s devices topped up on longer journeys.

Externally, the Monosilver paintwork of our test vehicle was fairly low-key, but there are other colour options if you want to make more of a statement. Also fitted here are an optional roll-out Thule awning and 17in alloy wheels. Even with the pop-top roof, the MVX comes in at under 2m in height, meaning it clears most car park entry barriers, essential if you plan to use it every day.

Inside, the Hillside conversion looks superb. The California Ocean is the MVX’s biggest competitor, and while the two campervans have some very obvious similarities, there are some significant differences, too. While the Ocean has two single seats in the back, the MVX has a two-seater RIB bed with Isofix, which is fitted to rails so it can slide forward to create more storage space in the boot while you’re driving. 

Sleeping set-up

The seat folds out quickly and easily into a bed, and the advantage of the RIB is that the sleeping surface is the flat – and more comfortable – underside of the seating.

Unfortunately, when the bed is set up, there’s almost no floor space left and no access to most of the kitchen storage or, crucially, the fridge. So, no chance to enjoy a morning brew without having to put the bed away first! 

The bed itself is a fairly generous 1.94m long, but is just 1.04m wide, possibly a bit narrow for two fully grown adults. You might then consider sleeping in the pop-top, where the mattress measures 2.05m by 1.14m and sits on plastic springs to provide more comfort. The pop-top is operated manually, rather than the electric mechanism seen in the California, but to be honest the powered version is hardly essential. Lifting the roof into position (and pulling it closed again) is unlikely to be testing for many people. Once closed, the roof is secured with a couple of levers, rather than the straps that are still widely used in many conversions, even though that feels like quite dated technology. An access hatch slides over the entrance to the pop-top to contain the canvas and keep it neatly tucked away.

Back downstairs, in daytime mode, the front driver and passenger seats swivel round to face the RIB bench to create a comfortable lounge/dining area. The table is stashed away under the bed when not in use. Like the Cali, the MVX has twin sliding side doors but, unlike the Cali, there’s no access through the offside entrance due to the position of the kitchen unit, which stretches the full width of the opening. Although the door does fully open, it really only works as a method of ventilation.

The stylish kitchen unit has Scandi-style ribbed oak panel running its length, edged by smart LED strip lighting. With the white work surface and grey furniture (other options are available) it looks very classy but there’s only a single-burner hob, which will limit your cooking options, and while the round stainless-steel bowl is very tasteful, it is quite small. On the other hand, the 35-litre Dometic compressor fridge under the cooker should offer plenty of room for essentials.

Storage limitations

Where the MVX perhaps falls a little short is in storage, which means you’ll need to be fairly disciplined with what you bring. There are cupboards and compartments dotted around the interior, but they don’t offer the same capacity that you’d find in larger conversions. For shorter trips, that’s unlikely to be a major issue, but for longer tours it could require a bit more planning.

I feel there was a missed opportunity to add a full-height cupboard at the end of the kitchen unit. It would certainly impact on the feeling of spaciousness inside, but that would be offset by the practical benefits of having somewhere to store your clothes. Hillside’s counter to that would be that the Multivan is smaller inside than the Transporter, so some compromises have to be made – another being the use of a single-burner hob instead of a double. 

The sliding RIB bed does offer some storage flexibility. Being able to move it forward to increase boot space is useful, particularly when you’re carrying bulkier items along with essentials like a mains cable and levelling blocks. It also makes it easier to balance passenger space and storage, depending on your needs for a given trip. 

The rear parcel shelf provides plenty of space to store your bedding during the day. Hillside has also incorporated a SavvyVan control panel, which manages the on-board systems such as lighting, battery levels and water. 

Water, power and heating

The water system consists of 22-litre fresh and waste tanks, both located under the vehicle. They’re not especially large but should be sufficient for short trips and weekends away. Blackout curtains rather than blinds, gas-fired blown-air heating from Whale, ambient LED lighting and flexible reading lights create a cosy living space in the evening.

Power comes from a 105Ah lithium leisure battery and a 400W inverter. There are three 230V sockets on board, including a pop-up that also has a wireless phone charging pad. There are 12V and USB outlets, too, so you’re well covered for charging devices and running low-power appliances.

It’s not designed for extended off-grid living, but it should comfortably handle typical touring needs. With only a Campingaz 907 cylinder on board, though, it’s a pity the heating isn’t petrol-powered – you might run out of butane quite quickly. The MVX has seating and sleeping capacity for four, but with its limited storage I’d see it more as a two-berth. 

It’s also worth noting that Hillside is a Volkswagen Motorhome Qualified converter and is approved by the NCC (National Caravan Council). The MVX is also backed by a five-year warranty, matching Volkswagen’s own coverage, which adds further peace of mind.

The MVX as tested costs £86,120 and that places it firmly in the premium bracket. There’s no getting away from the fact that it’s a significant investment, but it does compare with high-end SUVs. It comes back to the concept that this is actually a high-end car with camping elements. You pays your money and you takes your choice.

Campervan supplied by Hillside Leisure 

Thanks to Lees Meadow Farm campsite 

The Hillside MVX isn’t the most spacious campervan, but it’s a high-quality, easy-to-live-with vehicle that blends everyday practicality with the ability to get away at a moment’s notice. If your priority is a stylish campervan that drives like a car, offers modern plug-in hybrid efficiency and can slot into daily life without compromise, the MVX makes a strong case.