Full review

Rolling Homes’ Mark Cooper believes that the latest version of the compact Merc van has a number of advantages over the ubiquitous VW. Not only does the Vito – converted here in mid-sized Long form, at 5.14m – offer a bit more interior space than the usual, short-wheelbase T6, but it’s a little lower overall. That means that the Magellan is only 1.93m tall with its pop-top lid down – so it’s more likely to go into a domestic garage, multi-storey car park or under  a height barrier. A number of rivals now creep over the crucial 2m mark. Keeping things lower also means easier access (especially if you’re not as ‘bendy’ as you once were) and a lower, more car-like driving position.

While the VW Transporter hasn’t changed a lot in appearance since the T5 was launched way back in 2003 (with the T6 barely distinguishable from the ‘T5.5’ facelift of 2009), the Vito has a more contemporary feel. It also comes with a wide range of options, including both front and rear-wheel drive and power outputs from a modest 90 to a much more impressive 190 horsepower.

It’s at this point that we should, perhaps, mention price because although a Magellan, in theory at least, starts at £45,995 on-the-road, this demo model carries at £57k price tag. And you could spend quite a lot more than that if you want the ultimate spec.

As shown here, it’s a front-drive Vito 111CDI with 114bhp, which is adequate around town and on A-roads but might be found wanting with four folk on board. It’s certainly a smooth, quiet motor but we’d be tempted to go for one of the rear-drive versions – offering 163bhp or 190bhp – and the fully automatic transmission. We’ve sampled the top-spec power unit in a Marco Polo and, if you’re giving up a prestige car to go campervanning, it’s the one you’ll want. Pity it would add over £7,500 to the price, though, but Mercedes-Benz options prices have always required a healthy bank balance…

All models are based on a passenger-carrying derivative of the Vito, rather than a basic panel van, and all have a six-speed gearbox and a multi-function steering wheel as standard. Rolling Homes has also grouped together a range of Mercedes features in its £3,995 Executive Upgrade. This includes air-conditioning, cruise control, body-coloured bumpers, rear parking sensors, automatic wipers and driving lights, a leather steering wheel, foglights, heated mirrors, a Category 1 alarm, alloy wheels and electric lumbar support. 

Something else seen here that requires you to dig deep is the immaculately finished, Bentley-esque quilted leather upholstery fitted front and rear. It’s stunning and – unless you don’t like hide trim – easily worth the £2,190 extra. It’ll be surprisingly practical, too, especially as the way the RIB seat converts into a bed means that you sleep on the reverse (fabric-trimmed) side.

The star of the show – as ever with a Rolling Homes camper – is the handcrafted cabinets. Mark Cooper was originally in the bespoke domestic kitchen business before he turned his attentions to campers and the craftsmanship and experience is obvious to see. The solid oak furniture here has beautiful framed doors, rigid cabinet frames and black Corian worktops, while the varnish is applied in Rolling Homes’ own spray booth to get a perfect, even finish. Such a perfectionist approach continues with the voltmeter and fuse box being tidied away in the wardrobe, while real lambs’ wool is used for insulation.

The Magellan’s offside furniture is the same width as the unit in the company’s VW Columbus conversion, but here the bed is wider – 1.12m by 1.90m. Its party piece is that you can angle the section closest to the tailgate to create a sort of double-width chaise longue for daytime chilling out or breakfast in bed.

There’s also a second double bed – 1.27m by 2.00m – in the SCA Deluxe roof, with the mattress here resting on flexible plastic springs for increased comfort.

The side galley finishes short of the driver’s seat so that tall pilots can be easily accommodated behind the wheel, while the second sliding door, on the offside, provides access to some of the storage, via a door in the back of the kitchen unit. Up top, the cook’s kit includes a stylish Thetford hob and sink combination unit with a black glass surface under the gas burners and an inset stainless-steel bowl. Alongside, a top-loading 40-litre compressor fridge is deep enough to hold 2-litre bottles of pop, while its location frees up more cupboard/drawer space. The top drawer also comes with a neat worktop cover to give the chef more preparation space.

There’s room to keep a chemical loo under the back seat, while the boot area offers generous storage space, especially as the rearmost section of mattress can be raised to a vertical position for taller loads.

Life-long devotees of the VW roundel will probably not be swayed by this new camper with a star on the nose but there’s a lot to like here if you can afford to splash out on spec. Somehow, Rolling Homes’ superb handmade cabinetwork has never found a more appropriate (motor)home than here in the new Magellan.

If you enjoyed this review, you can read loads more like it in What Motorhome magazine. You can get a digital version of this latest issue of What Motorhome magazine here.