Full review

Words & photos: Peter Vaughan

Page contents

• Introduction
• The specification
• The layout
• The kitchen
• The washroom
• The beds
• Summary                                                            

The Weinsberg CaraCompact 600 MEG Pepper

On spotting the 2022 version of the Weinsberg Pepper (for short) at the opening of SMC’s swanky new showroom in Newark, I almost did a double take on the price. With campervans now routinely starting with a six, here’s a German low-profile with a rather generous kit list and a price tag that dips below £60k – albeit only just. With the optional spare wheel and oven, you could drive this motorhome away for £59,710.   

What’s included

And you really could drive away without first spending an arm and a leg on extra accessories. The Pepper (now in its fifth season, with sales of over 20,000 vehicles recorded) has always come fully loaded and the latest version includes a roll-out awning, Oyster satellite dish with 24in smart TV, a DAB radio with sat-nav, reversing camera, and 6kW Truma Combi heating.

The base vehicle is the latest-generation Fiat with the 140bhp engine and six-speed manual gearbox. Cab spec includes 16in alloy wheels, driver and passenger airbags, a leather steering wheel with radio controls, air-con, cruise control, ESP, Crosswind Assistant and even a head-up display. On the road, you’ll also appreciate that this isn’t a large motorhome, the 2.20m overall width making it much easier to handle than wider coachbuilts.

That slimline body has caravan-style windows that sit proud and a windowless habitation door but there are no other indications of cost-cutting. The door shuts with a certain Teutonic solidity, there’s a GRP roof and the water systems are all located together behind an external hatch, named Easy-Travel-Box. There’s a full-sized garage, too (1.18m internal headroom), with a pair of equally full-sized loading doors. Even the opening overcab sunroof is included as standard.          

The layout

Inside, there’s a spacious floor area immediately inside the entrance and a half-dinette lounge facing you. The duo-tone upholstery is part faux leather and has Weinsberg branding embroidered on it, while the swivelling cab chairs come with height adjustment and twin armrests. The TV is perfectly placed for viewing from the front seats.             

The kitchen

The galley runs aft of the entrance and is necessarily quite compact but it has a flap by the door to increase the chef ’s preparation space and the table (with its swing-out extra leaf) is close at hand. Importantly for British buyers, the Duplex oven/grill is fitted under the cutlery drawer (rather low down but better than too high up), while the slimline Thetford fridge has a super 142-litre capacity and automatic energy selection.               

The washroom

Opposite, it’s a welcome surprise to find a separate shower in the washroom and, neatly, the basin slides across into the shower area to give you more space on the loo. With a roof vent, twin drains in the shower tray, and a clothes drying rail, this is an excellent space.     

The beds

But this layout is all about the twin beds at the back – both of them almost 2m in length (just a couple of centimetres shorter on the nearside). Reading lights are provided, although you won’t be able to sit up as there are lockers along the back wall. You won’t be short of clothing storage as there are more cupboards (open-fronted with elasticated retainers) down each side of the bedroom. Then there’s a wardrobe under the nearside single bed and a large shelved cupboard opposite that.

If you prefer to use a double bed from time to time, an infill cushion extends the centre part of the mattress area to 1.63m, but access is then via a ladder. A small roof vent and offside window ventilate the bedroom.          

Summary

It’s no surprise to find that the Pepper continues to top the sales charts in its homeland. If you haven’t considered it, you’re missing out on one of the best deals of 2022.

Read an earlier in-depth review of this model here.