Full review

Incredibly, the Fiat Qubo (the passenger car version of the Fiorino van) is shorter than a Ford Fiesta, but that hasn’t stopped Wheelhome converting it into what must be the most practical one-berth micro-campervan on the market

There’s an elevating roof to provide standing room on site but it remains a very garageable 1.83m tall with the roof down, and the roof also includes one of the Vikenze’s cleverest – and unique – features: a pair of storage pods that wind down for access. In such a small space it’s this fresh thinking and practical design that makes this tiny camper so usable.

There are more surprises in the galley, which runs down the offside, behind the driver’s seat. Here, there’s an induction hob (which looks like a smaller version of one from a high-end domestic kitchen) – so this is a completely gas-free camper. The hob (and optional microwave) runs from the leisure battery, via an inverter, or from the campsite’s mains hook-up. Using just 12V, Wheelhome says you’ll have enough power to cook an evening meal, plus breakfast the next day, before recharging. And the enhanced automatic battery charging system will have you ready to cook again after an hour or less of driving, so you’re not reliant on campsites for power.

Alongside the hob is a sink, with that rarity in modern motorhomes, an integral draining board. This is a ‘full-sized’ item, not one scaled down in relation to the Wheelhome’s dimensions. One thing that is smaller, though, is the cooler – a 7-litre Waeco unit that should be adequate for milk and fresh food for a couple of days.

There’s room to store a Porta Potti, too, in a cupboard at the forward end of the kitchen. With the front seat pushed forward, the hob swings out of the way and the loo can then be used in situ, even with the bed made up.

The bed is a single measuring a claimed 1.93m by 0.66m; again, hardly downsized. It’s completely flat as it doesn’t use the cab seats. On site, the front passenger seat is slid forward and its backrest tipped up, revealing a comfortable single seat backing onto it. This reclining seat is surprisingly comfortable and it faces another position, so two can be accommodated for a meal. Want more space? Just add a free-standing awning.

The Vikenze II shown here is based on the Fiat Qubo, which comes with a lift-up tailgate instead of the Fiorino van’s doors, as well as twin sliding side doors and extra windows. The kitchen blocks the offside door but the fresh water reservoir (10 litres) is accessed this way. Power comes from either a 1.4-litre petrol engine or a 1.3 diesel. Although new base vehicles can be supplied and converted, this is a typical new conversion on a 13-plate, 11k-mile car, and, as such, offers a good saving. Here, the price was £24,500.

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