Hillside Hopton high-top campervan (2024 model)

Five years after its debut, this rear lounge campervan gets some useful improvements and a choice of chassis brands

Words and photos: Peter Vaughan

The Hillside Hopton

Five years ago, there wasn’t a great deal of choice – apart from a bespoke build – if you wanted a campervan based on the Volkswagen Crafter, so Hillside was a bit of a trailblazer with the ( front lounge, end washroom) Heatherton and, soon after, the much more successful (rear lounge) Hopton. 

But then came Covid and the world – and the world of motorhomes – changed forever. As Fiat struggled to  supply the leisure industry with anything close to the numbers of panel vans it wanted (to satisfy a seemingly insatiable demand), campervan manufacturers looked for other marques to convert – and many have cottoned on to the appeal of the big VW – and its twin sister from the same Polish production line, the MAN TGE.

In the past year, I’ve tested new MAN campervans from Adria, Dormobile and WildAx, and others now building on the Crafter/TGE include 8 Ball Camper Conversions, CJL Leisure, Dirty Weekender, Globe-Traveller, IH, Knaus, Vanworx and Westfalia. Then, of course, there’s Volkswagen’s own Grand California (in two sizes). 

But the majority of these models cater for the fixed bed market and many are based on the long (6.84m) panel van.

Perhaps now is the perfect time, then, for Hillside to relaunch its Hopton, with some useful updates but retaining the 5.99m overall length and rear lounge that are so intrinsic to its appeal. 

For the first time you can now also choose – as a no-cost option – either a VW or MAN logo on your Hopton. And, with many of the models mentioned above knocking on the door of £100k (or more with a few options), it’s good to see Hillside still competing directly with lower-cost Fiat-based rivals, thanks to a starting price of £71,995.

The base vehicle

Only if you’re a new reader of MMM will you have missed the fact that I’m a big fan of the MAN. The truck maker’s first foray into LCVs might just be a rebadged VW but it’s also great to drive. 

And, by choosing a TGE-based Hopton over a Crafter version, you gain automatic lights and wipers, switchable LED courtesy lights in the living area and access to a service network that works longer hours to suit its HGV customers.

Unsurprisingly, if you cover up the lion logos, you’d be convinced that this was a Volkswagen. It has that  solidity in its interior plastic trim and the way the doors thunk shut, as well as familiar fonts and switchgear.

Everything from the nicely integrated 6.5in touchscreen (for DAB, phone, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) to the radio and cruise control switches on the wheel will be recognisable to owners of a T6.1 looking to trade up, or even Golf drivers.

The options

Only the plastic steering wheel spoils initial impressions, although a heated leather wheel is available as a £360 option. And on the subject of extras, it’s worth pointing out that this test vehicle’s handsome looks are in part thanks to £1,295-worth of special-order Flannel Grey paint and 17in Tomahawk alloys with chunky Yokohama Geolandar off-road rubber, costing £1,595.

The flush, tinted habitation glazing is standard, of course, along with the black window surrounds that complete the automotive feel. Fortunately, there are no unnecessary graphics; just brand and model names.

The biggest additional cost on this example was accounted for by the mechanicals – an upgrade from 138bhp (140PS) to 175bhp (177PS), along with an eight-speed automatic (torque converter) transmission.

That’s a £4,500 option, but if you want easy two-pedal driving without the extra oomph then you can save £2,200. 

And, in a campervan that’s unlikely to be loaded up to the full 3,500kg (there are no rear travel seats and no garage), you may well feel that the standard power unit is sufficient.

Either way, sit back in the comfy driver’s chair (with lumbar and tilt adjustment but just one armrest – the passenger gets two), adjust the tilt and reach-adjustable wheel to suit, and it’ll only take a moment before you appreciate that the TGE feels much, much more modern and sophisticated than the ageing Ducato/Boxer. 

It’s a smooth, refined companion (not spoilt by much in the way of conversion noise) that almost manages to feel like a supersized car. 

The gear changes are slick, the ride quality is comfortable and stability is excellent.

The spec

Of course, where the MAN cannot match the Ducato is in internal dimensions, especially width, which narrows towards the roof. So, Hillside has done really well to incorporate this popular rear lounge, two-berth floorplan into the space – albeit with some compromises along the way.

The Derby-based converter can hold its head up high in terms of quality and safety, too, building all of its vehicles to meet both NCC (National Caravan Council) approval and stringent European Whole Vehicle Type Approval.

It has also listened to customer feedback in updating the Hopton, so gone is the underslung LPG tank which owners were finding harder to refill. In its place is a locker for a pair of 2.75kg Campingaz cylinders (which can be swapped on the Continent as well as in the UK) – and, if you think that’s not a lot of gas, then note that it’s now just for cooking. 

Another change is the fitment of a Webasto diesel/230V heating system with seven-day timer and a constant-flow hot water system.

The conveniently positioned gas compartment is revealed when you open the sliding door and, alongside, you’ll see a mains socket, the external ‘activity’ shower (now standard) and the optional outside barbecue point. 

The electric step is also an extra-cost item but, more interesting than the cost (£295), is the fact that Hillside has managed to fit one where other converters have said it’s not possible (due to the location of the fuel tank).

You can also enter this camper via the barn doors at the back, where the £270-extra rear step is incorporated into the bumper (along with parking sensors). That’s one option I wouldn’t want to forgo, along with the factory-fitted reversing camera above (£300).

Note, too, that the rear doors’ windows are from MAN, so they’re single-skin glass, rather than the double-glazed plastic used at the sides, and they don’t open (although they have the same pleated blinds as elsewhere in the Hopton). 

Be careful if you open the lounge’s nearside window, though, as this could clash with the sliding door.

Up front, Remis cab blinds are now fitted as standard, while a swivelling passenger seat offers an alternative place to relax (complete with dimmable spotlamps in the ceiling).

The lounge

It’s at the back with the doors open, of course, that this layout has maximum appeal but, even when the weather won’t allow that, it’s easy to be won over by the feet-up relaxation offered by two sofas of over 6ft in length. 

I was very taken, too, by the smart half-leather upholstery here but there are many alternatives to choose from (and six wood colours for the cabinets, too).

Rear speakers and dimmable reading lights (with built-in USBs) in each corner are further positives, but I’d have liked a lighter shade for the headlining (which is available), especially as Hillside says it can’t fit a larger rooflight over the lounge. Combined with the tinted windows, the dark grey ceiling here is just a bit too gloomy.

Scatter cushions and armrests increase comfort but the settees do seem a tad high when you’re sitting more formally and the island leg table is rather slim, at just 35cm across. 

What can’t escape your attention, however, is that, in order to fit sofas long enough to act as day beds, your feet have to tuck under oversailing furniture on either side.

A double bed (again, sleeping lengthways) is also possible, thanks to slatted bed frames that slide out from each side. The larger backrest cushions slot in on top to make a wide bed in which the joins are not really an issue.

Whether you kip together or apart, you’ll find the mattress quite firm and, of course, your toes go towards the cab, beneath the fridge (offside) or hob (nearside). There’s marginally less room for big feet under the cooker, where the gap from upholstery to furniture is 31cm.

The kitchen

Having the fridge (an 84-litre compressor model) mounted high is great for access to your grub, while a clever slide-out worktop that appears from underneath seems so much neater than a flimsy flap.

Opposite, the hob is another unit that’ll reduce your reliance on Campingaz as it includes an induction ring as well as the two gas burners. 

The black glass base to the cooker contrasts with the mottled Corian worktop and deep sink in shiny stainless steel to give a thoroughly contemporary vibe to the galley – and a high-quality one as well (only marred, perhaps, by the plastic tap). 

Another huge plus is that there are no cupboards in this galley – all of the (fairly generous) storage is in drawers of various sizes. There’s a built-in gas oven/grill, too, but only an opening window (no roof vent) to deal with culinary odours. 

And the two three-pin sockets are at the rear end of the galley, meaning that my coffee machine had to rest on top of the hob; power points at the forward end would be more useful (if a bit close to the sink).

The washroom

While the kitchen scores top marks for storage, the washroom – opposite, behind a practical sliding door – has none. 

What it does feature is the superior Dometic cassette toilet and, in contrast, a rather old-fashioned tip-up basin. There’s a showerhead on a riser bar, too, and I ended up hanging my bath towel and loo roll from this.

Space on the toilet is actually pretty good for a van conversion but room for showering is something you may wish to try for size as the MAN van narrows noticeably at shoulder height. 

On the plus side, though, there’s no need for a shower curtain in this all-silver cubicle and Hillside has added an electric fan in the roof to extract steam. Also, even with just one outlet in the Hillside-embossed shower tray, water flowed away surprisingly well.

Storage

Final notes concern storage, because, unlike other MAN campervans that we’ve tested, this one has an overcab shelf rather than full-height walk-through.

There’s also a small wardrobe (19cm wide, 75cm floor to ceiling) alongside the fridge and, beneath this, a couple of small drawers, where you will probably stash your underwear and toiletries.

We’ve no issue with the storage below the seats, which is both generous and easily accessible (in three ways). 

Hatches in the end of each sofa allow chairs to be loaded from outside, while there are drop-front doors and the bed frames are now easier to lift as the squab cushions are in two sections per side. There’s a large under-seat drawer on the nearside, too.

Winter bedding for two fits easily under the offside settee and, if you prefer single beds, then it’s just a matter of removing the backrest cushions (if these, too, were split they’d be easier to stow). 

Motorhome supplied by Hillside Leisure
Tel: 01332 207976
hillsideleisure.co.uk

Insurance: £558.45
Tel: 0800 975 1307
shieldtotalinsurance.co.uk
For quote details: motorhome.ma/QuoteInfo

<p>Take an ever-popular layout for couples and install it in the best base vehicle of its size and you should be onto a winner, especially when there is little direct competition for the Hopton.&nbsp;</p>
<p>As ever, Hillside has built a well-finished and fully approved camper, but now with some useful updates.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It&rsquo;s keenly priced, too, especially if you can avoid some of the pricier optional extras.</p>