Hobby Vantana OnTour K60 FT campervan

Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato Price from: £42,995 Berths: 3 Travel seats: 4 Length: 5.99m Width: 2.05m Height: 2.64m Gross weight: 3,300kg Payload: 577kg

Hobby’s Vantana van conversions are now available in three spec levels – OnTour, De Luxe and Premium – each of which can be had with a transverse rear double bed in a six-metre camper (K60 FT) or lengthways twin beds in the extra-long panel van (K65 ET). OnTour is the entry-level, with prices starting at £42,995 (£1,500 more for the single bed version).

But, despite the keen price tag, the standard spec still includes right-hand drive, cab floor mats, a heated 90-litre waste water tank (and frost-protected 95-litre fresh tank), the additional cushion required to make a third berth in the dinette (often an extra cost item), Truma 6kW heating operating (not just the 4kW version) from both gas and mains electricity (rather than gas only), an electric step and an LED awning light.

Of course, there are opportunities for you to upgrade your OnTour, too, but the only extra cost item fitted to the show model seen here is a 3,500kg Ducato base vehicle, rather than the standard 3,300kg model. That’s an additional £499 but not really necessary as there’s already well over half a tonne of payload.

You don’t need to upgrade the engine, either, as the standard 115bhp, 2-litre, Euro 6, diesel is smoother and more economical than the ubiquitous 2.3-litre unit.

The only body colour available for the OnTour is white, while the unadorned steel wheels and black plastic bumpers give off a slightly back-to-basics vibe.

As you step on board, though, you’ll notice that important practical elements like the flyscreen for the sliding door and pleated blinds on the windows are in situ, even if the front seats don’t match the soft furnishings in the rear.

The cab chairs swivel, of course, and the wall-mounted table has an extension leaf, while the rear bench comes with individual automotive-style head restraints. There’s a large push-up rooflight over the lounge and one reading light above the table, but no such spotlamps for the cab chairs’ residents.

The kitchen impresses immediately because there’s so much worktop, with preparation space forward and to the rear of the combined hob and sink unit. Under the front end of the galley is a 70-litre compressor fridge, which can easily be accessed from outside, while a low-level wardrobe (with 850mm hanging height from its rail) sits under the opposite extreme of the galley.

The lack of tall furniture along the offside makes for a more open and spacious interior here, while the only obvious omission is a soft-closing mechanism on the kitchen drawers.

The washroom looks upmarket despite the OnTour’s entry-level pricing and comes with an opening window, fixed corner basin and a smart plastic trim moulding on the side wall. The latest swivel toilet is fitted and a false floor ensures that you don’t have dangling legs when sat on it – remove the floor to reveal the shower tray and headroom is OK for showering, too. Two mugs and two shower drains are fitted, while bathroom storage is adequate.

In the rear bedroom, plastic trim panels on the side walls (and no windows) maximise usable bed length (1.93m), while width is 1.48m. A small roof vent and top-hinged glazing in the rear doors provide ventilation, while reading lights are fitted on the offside. Only the centre section of the bed has a slatted base, though, and overhead cupboards on both sides of the camper prevent sitting up in bed with the Sunday papers.

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This is the entry-level model in Hobby’s Vantana range and, for the keen price tag that comes with it, buyers get a good range of standard spec and a kitchen that boasts impressive worktop space