Hobby Prestige Van First Edition 640 ET campervan

First of a new breed of Hobby campervans with added spec

We all want to be first. From first in the egg and spoon race at school to first in the queue to get off the ferry in our motorhome, being first never loses its appeal.

The car industry has long known this. It used to be a competition to have the first new registration in your street on the first of August. But now that has waned and auto makers instead tempt you with special first edition spec, loaded to the gills with extra toys to get you to buy the latest model – and get it first, before anyone else.

Up until now, the motorhome industry has been relatively immune, although there’s still the temptation to wait until 1 March for delivery if your new campervan rolls out of the factory in January or February. For 2025, though, Hobby has revised its campervan range and it’s goading you to be first with its First Edition version of the already top-of-the-range Prestige Van 640 ET.
 

An upmarket campervan

Previously, Hobby’s campervans lived under the Vantana moniker, now instead you can choose from the entry-level OnTour Van or premium Prestige Van. Instantly recognisable from its darker Lanzarote Grey paintwork (OnTour Vans are Expedition Grey), the Prestige Van swaps blue graphics for red and comes with fully framed habitation windows.

With its Hobby Top opening double-glazed overcab sunroof and bicolour alloy wheels, the Prestige Van is unmistakably an upmarket camper.

First Edition spec

The First Edition doesn’t stop there, as it comes with the more powerful 180hp engine and eight-speed automatic transmission as standard. The Eco Pack with start/stop and LED headlamps are also both included, along with a heated waste water tank.

There are two further packs provided on this special model, too. The Lounge package adds digital climate control with pollen filter, inductive smartphone charging and a 7in digital instrument cluster. Then, the Vision Level 2 package gives you electrically folding door mirrors, parking sensors, and the blind spot assistant with cross traffic alert. 

As you’d expect with a name like Prestige Van, this Hobby isn’t exactly sparse even if you miss out on getting a First Edition. The company describes it as having a ‘unique and sophisticated design, reminiscent of modern yachts.’ Even if that’s a bit too much brochure-speak, it impresses with its clean lines, unfussy and high-quality finish and solid wood edging below the top lockers.
 

Classic European layout

The Prestige Van (unlike the OnTour) only comes with one layout, the 640 ET – based on the extra-long Fiat Ducato, it has a larger rear bedroom for lengthways sleeping. Of course, the HobbyKomplett All-Inclusive Package is standard, so you don’t have to wade through a lengthy list of options.

A Thule awning, fog/cornering lights, 90-litre diesel tank, M+S tyres, automatic lights and wipers, cab blinds, B6 high-performance insulation, flyscreen for the sliding door and the Hobby Connect app to control habitation functions are all here.

The layout holds few surprises, following the European fixed bed norm, but there are plenty of neat details to catch your attention. Starting at the rear, the slide-out base for the gas locker will make cylinder changeovers easier. 

At the other end of the camper, the full-height walk-through with cupboards flowing neatly and uninterrupted into the cab is another plus.

The kitchen might be too Germanic for some, with its omission of an oven or grill, but it makes up for that with supersized drawers and a little more worktop than in many rivals. The 90-litre compressor fridge is mounted at waist-height for easy access, too.

The washroom is stylish and benefits from an opening window and fixed corner basin, while the slide-out cover for the cassette toilet when showering (no curtain required) is something we’ve not seen before. 

Finally, there’s the generous rear bed – up to 2.01m long on the offside (1.87m nearside) and 1.82m wide (manufacturer’s figures).

The new Prestige Van moves Hobby up a gear in the campervan market, while the First Edition adds even more spec. A top-quality campervan that looks good value.