Hymer Grand Canyon S Crossover

Tough on the outside, refined on the inside – this special CrossOver edition of the Hymer Grand Canyon S is an off-roader’s dream

On the outside, this Mercedess Sprinter-based 4x4 has all the attributes of the sort of robust vehicle you’d take off the beaten track for cross-country adventures – chunky all-terrain tyres, raised suspension, a 44in LED lightbar along the front and an electric off-road step at the side door. The exterior graphics – light grey and lime green, contrasting with the Tenorite Grey bodywork – give it a dramatic, sporty look, too.

If the outside of the campervan is all about getting down and dirty and tackling rough terrain, the interior is a different story. In contrast to the chunky exterior, inside the mood is refined, almost serene, with design touches that could easily have been borrowed from an upmarket hotel. 

The walnut wood strip panels on the walls contrast nicely with the warm felt lining and the curved edges on the kitchen unit and overhead lockers add a stylish look along with the chic leather pull straps on the soft-close cupboard and drawer handles.

The ambient light system has multiple levels, including individually adjustable light temperature, and adds to the chilled-out vibe of the camper’s interior design.

Ivy Green furniture style is standard with the Indiana seat fabric, and the olive green finish provides a suitably outdoorsy look for a ’van that is designed for exploring the natural world. The CrossOver special upholstery, Lund Leather, is an optional extra (£1,770) for the cab and bench seats.

Amid all the interior design features, practical matters aren’t forgotten – the wall panels feature multifunctional rails which you can choose to use for extra storage or more decorative objects. 

The 90-litre refrigerator at the rear end of the kitchen is three-quarter height, so it allows some through vision and a greater feeling of space than if it was full height.

In the downstairs sleeping area, the double bed is a generous 1.95m by 1.35m and features the innovative Lattoflex mattress, a roll-up sleeping system with integrated disc springs that follow the shape of your body and improve comfort. There is storage under here and plenty of room for carrying equipment which can be fixed to the fitted lashing points while driving. To increase the storage area, you can just lift the bed base and roll the mattress up to one side.

The campervan is a two-berth as standard but for an additional £4,430 you can go for the option of a pop-top roof, which has a double bed ‘upstairs.’ This is even more spacious than the downstairs bed, measuring 2m by 1.22m.

The centrally located washroom has slate-effect walls, a folding basin to create more showering space, a bench cassette toilet and a showerhead that can be passed through the washroom window and attached to the exterior for al fresco washing.

The Grand Canyon S CrossOver features the Hymer Connect system which includes a touchscreen that controls most of the campervan’s systems, from the battery and water levels to solar power and lighting. The app also allows you to remotely monitor and adjust some elements when you are away from the camper.

If your off-road adventures also involve going off-grid, Hymer reckons the CrossOver will give you up to 10 days of self-sufficient camping. For maximum off-grid capability, it comes with Hymer’s new smart battery system comprising four 80Ah lithium batteries, as well as a 95W solar panel and 1,300W inverter. A fresh water filter, a second toilet cassette and a 6kW diesel heater all add to the off-grid credentials. 

The Merc base vehicle is the 419 CDI with nine-speed automatic transmission and the standard spec list is impressive, including a 10.25in MBUX display screen, cruise control, sat-nav, DAB radio pre-installation and an electric parking brake. 

You’ll not be remotely surprised to learn that this all comes at a price, and a not insubstantial one at that. The Grand Canyon S CrossOver starts at around £121,000 and, although it does come with a lengthy spec list as standard, there’s no getting away from the fact that it’s a hefty price tag. The version we looked at was loaded with a tonne of extras, including the elevating roof and thermal blanket for the roof, leather seating, cab seat heating, an extra rear bedroom window on the left side and more.

It even comes with a toolkit, complete with a folding shovel and pickaxe!

Judging by the number of new campervans we’ve seen based on 4x4 Sprinters, the UK’s dirt tracks are going to be chock-a-block with off-road campers in 2025. 

There little doubt that four-wheel-drive campervans are the big trend for this year. The good news for everyone else is that the main roads should be deserted! 

Well, maybe not… but if you like the rugged look, with a huge amount of luxury inside, the new CrossOver edition of Hymer’s Grand Canyon S is sure to tickle your fancy.