Full review

We’d recommend going for the superb seven-speed automatic in this new campervan from Wellhouse – that’s when the Vito really starts to make sense. There’s nothing wrong with the manual model, though we’d still prefer to drive a Renault Trafic. The German wins on badge appeal and feels suitably Teutonic in its build, although the fascia is rather too black and bland. Fortunately, Wellhouse’s superb optional leather does much to lift the ambience (especially with red piping and stitching), but the Vito’s firm ride did elicit rattles from the rear seat and the hob lid.

The back seat – from German firm, Schnierle – is another plus. Not only does it slide easily on its floor tracking but it locks into almost limitless positions – close to the cab for maximum load carrying or to have the kids close by, or right back to the tailgate for extra floorspace. In its most obvious camping position it leaves plenty of room for bedding (and more) on the rear section of mattress.

The rear bench is a three-seater with adjustable head restraints and three-point belts for every passenger, but the height of its backrest completely obscures through-vision for the driver. That reversing camera (standard on the SE, £540 on the S) is, therefore, an essential.

At night the Schnierle transforms easily into a double bed that’s flat and firm and cloth covered. The conversion is quite heavy to operate, though the bed is a decent size and it leaves adequate floorspace up front.

The kitchen has plenty of room for a Can combination hob/sink unit with divided glass lid, though galley storage is compromised by having to house the loo, too, and the fridge is minuscule at just 25 litres. Nevertheless, there’s an extra-deep drawer under the hob and the drop-front to the locker alongside makes a useful serving shelf.

The wardrobe adjacent has a deep drop and removable/adjustable shelf, while all the furniture is of top-notch construction. Its bright red hue might be more controversial but you can also have cream or grey. Whatever colour scheme you go for, the grey Van-X curtains with track top and bottom work supremely well and the amount of interior lighting (even in the cab and the roof) is truly impressive.

The German SCA roof is the one recommended by Mercedes for the Vito and it works well, offering plenty of height and ventilation. Zipped panels in the front and nearside cover flyscreen mesh, while the offside panel is a window. The optional roof bed is almost identical in its dimensions to the lower berth but probably wins on comfort as its one-piece mattress sits on Clima Plux plastic springs.

If you enjoyed this review, you can read the full version and more in the March 2017 issue of What Motorhome magazine.

You can get a digital version of this latest issue of What Motorhome magazine here.