Full review

This campervan based on the all-new VW Crafter represents a milestone for German premium campervan manufacturer, Westfalia, which also makes models for Ford and Mercedes-Benz

The Sven Hedin is the company’s latest campervan and one of the first in Europe to use VW’s medium-wheelbase, high-roof Crafter as its base.

It is set to be one of the star campervans of 2018 as it is made by one of Europe’s leading converters and built on one of the finest base vehicles on the market. The Sven Hedin (he was a Swedish explorer) uses a pop-out section cut into the rear nearside panel to fit a full two-metre double bed transversely in the rear of the narrow Crafter body (it is just 1.83m wide inside).

The electric pop-out section extends the foot of the bed and is retracted when not in use. So well hidden is it, that a casual observer would have no idea of this neat trick engineered into the side of this panel van.

But this is no ordinary panel van. The Crafter is completely new and is, arguably, a more comfortable, better equipped and a better drive than its smaller T6 sibling. Both cab seats swivel to face a half-dinette with extendable (and removable) table and twin forward-facing contoured travel seats with individual headrests.

Directly behind this is an all-new washroom with swivel cassette loo, shower with twin drains and corner basin. There is an internal 96-litre fresh water tank, which is positioned over the nearside rear wheelarch. Over the opposite wheelarch is a gas compartment for bottles up to 5kg. Warmth is courtesy of an Eberspächer 5kW diesel-powered water heater that feeds five radiators, in the cab, dinette, washroom, kitchen and bedroom as well as underfloor heating in the washroom.

Opposite the WC is the side kitchen that extends partially across the sliding door, which is positioned on the UK offside.

There is a forward-facing 75-litre Dometic compressor fridge with drawers, which can be opened from inside the campervan or outside. There is also a glass-covered twin-burner hob and a small round sink, below which are three storage drawers. Beside this is a large cupboard, which adjoins the double bed.

The fixed transverse double bed, which is the highlight of this layout, measures an impressive 2.0m long (with the pop-put extended) by 1.0m to 1.35m wide. It is equipped with the latest cold foam mattress and can be folded away or removed completely to allow through loading of large items. Even with the bed in place, there is a huge amount of storage space below.

Additional storage has been provided under and next to the dinette bench seat. British prices and specifications have to be confirmed, but the price in Germany is €59,990.

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