Westfalia Jules Verne rising roof campervan

An unusual layout and a rare choice of base vehicle

Words & photos: Peter Vaughan

The Westfalia Jules Verne

Pop-top campers are, perhaps, the only sector in the motoring world where a VW badge is more desirable than the three-pointed star. With the exception of Mercedes’ own Marco Polo, therefore, there are few Vito/V-class-based campervans on the market. 

However, the Sprinter’s baby brother is not without appeal because it has garageable height and rear-wheel drive amongst its attributes. It also comes with a choice of 136, 163 or 190bhp power outputs and a nine-speed automatic gearbox (fitted as standard to the Jules Verne).

This Westfalia is not a new model but it’s shown here in 2023 guise. Unlike the VW-based Kepler conversions, right-hand drive is available, and the look here (in the cab and externally) is very automotive, very Mercedes-Benz. White is probably not the most flattering colour but three metallic shades are optional. You can also choose from Elegance or Avantgarde spec. 

At 5.14m, the Jules Verne is a little longer than a short-wheelbase VW T6.1 or Ford Transit Custom but the real difference is inside. This is not just another side kitchen layout campervan.

The washroom

Open the rear tailgate and you’ll see straight away that the Westfalia follows its own formula. Instead of seeing the back of the rear seat and a boot area for storage, there’s a swivel cassette toilet on the left and a wardrobe on the right and you can actually walk into the camper from here. 

So, immediately the Jules Verne scores a plus, with the convenience of a built-in, err, convenience. There’s a pull-out screen from the nearside furniture to the wardrobe but it really only provides a modicum of privacy and there’s no washbasin; you’ll have to rinse your hands in the kitchen sink. 

Space is also quite tight ‘on the throne’ – you’ll need to try it for size before ordering. Surprisingly, though, there is also a shower – and a shower tray recessed into the floor – but it’s hard to imagine doing much more than hosing off sandy feet from a day on the beach here.

The kitchen

Forward of the wardrobe, the galley does stretch down the offside, so technically this is still a side kitchen camper, but here the galley stops short of the sliding door. UK models actually come with twin sliding doors, although the offside one offers the more practical access. 

The kitchen here has the usual two-burner hob and sink combination, from Can, but there’s also plenty of worktop forward of this. There isn’t a huge amount of storage but the two drawers are quite large and there’s a cupboard with bottle straps at floor level. Then, at the forward end, the galley has a further slide-out compartment with three shelves. 

Opposite, there’s a waist-height 50-litre compressor fridge, with two more drawers below and a fold-away vanity mirror above. 

The lounge

The lounge is quite different to more typical pop-top campers. There’s an L-shaped rear settee with comfortable shaping but it’s quite slim, in order to allow passage between here and the galley to reach the loo. Both cab seats swivel and an island leg table caters for dining. You can also make the dinette into a small bed (1.72m by 1.20m), using two infill cushions that store behind the travel seat.

You’ll be more comfortable sleeping upstairs in the pop-top, which is front-hinged to serve this layout better. A ladder is provided to reach the 1.90m by 1.12m roof bed and the mattress here benefits from Froli springs, but access is not for those of large build.

Summary

Fit and finish throughout seems very high quality and very automotive but storage space suffers in this layout in order to accommodate the shower/toilet facility, leaving the Jules Verne as a stylish and unusual camper with niche appeal.

Where to buy

Westfalia has four UK dealers – Campersales in West Sussex, Harbour Creek in Hampshire (Jules Verne and Kepler models only), Roseisle in Edinburgh and Wandahome in East Yorkshire.

In Ireland, Westfalia is represented by Anchor Point in Co Tipperary.