Can you use a campervan as your daily drive?

We all have that idea in the back of our minds that it will be super easy to pack everything you need into the car and head out for an overnight, weekend or week-long camping getaway. But the reality is that not everything will fit and owning a separate campervan or caravan is going to financially stack up.

A sparkly new Aussie-made campervan isn’t exactly cheap and probably will be sitting unused in your driveway for much of the year while you’re busy working or running a household. But what if you could combine the two investments into one by using a holiday-house-on-wheels as your daily driver and family runabout?

We asked our sister site caravancampingsales.com.au this question and they hooked us up with a campervan for the day to see if you can have the best of both worlds.

For this test, we were given Avida’s smallest, cheapest and arguably cleverest motorhome, the Escape. This 6.3m long, Sydney-built, four-berth campervan which can be driven with a regular car licence is based on the latest Fiat Ducato commercial van so it is no stranger to the inner urban and suburban lifestyle.

Life as a daily commuter

While bigger and bulkier than your average family runaround (it’s about 12cm wider and 130cm longer than a 200 Series Toyota LandCruiser), the Fiat Ducato is easy to get comfortable in behind the wheel, with an elevated driving position and panoramic windscreen delivering excellent forward vision, and comfy seats that like the steering wheel are multi-adjustable.

Surprisingly the latest Fiat Ducato is a far cry from the noisy, bare-boned ‘old-school’ delivery vans of old, now with its punchy 130kW/450Nm, 2.3-litre turbo-diesel engine and nine-speed automatic transmission, it delivers a close to car-like experience on the road.

Many of the creature comforts we have come to expect from our city cars and SUVs have found their way into the van as well. These include driver and front passenger airbags, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, reversing camera, parking sensors, stability control, anti-lock brakes, roll-over mitigation, hill-hold assist and cruise control.

There’s also a 5.0-inch touch-screen infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity, leather steering wheel with audio controls, manual air-conditioning, and power windows and side mirrors.

Peak hour performance

The Fiat’s torquey turbo-diesel combines well with the nine-speed auto to deliver smooth, zippy performance from the lights and in peak hour city traffic, making light work of its three tonne-plus kerb weight.

It’s also quiet and refined out on the highway, with the engine ticking over at 1750rpm at 110km/h and only some minor wind noise and a few cupboard rattles to disturb the ambience.

It feels stable in the corners at suburban speeds, and parking and reversing into tight spots is made easier with light steering, big side mirrors, a relatively tight turning circle and a decent reversing camera.

Recorded fuel economy was close to 12L/100km during mostly stop-start traffic, which translates to around 750km from the 90 litre fuel tank.

A forgiving front coil/rear leaf spring suspension set-up also means it handles the bumps well, at least on patchy bitumen, although its front-wheel drivetrain and minimal ground clearance make it unsuitable for extended dirt road driving.

The biggest issue in a suburban setting is the 2.8m overall height, which restricts movement through underground car parks and larger shopping centres.

Family transport

The Avida Escape is unique for a campervan of this size in not only providing an ensuite and internal bedding for four 'full-size' people, but on-the-move seating for them too, with two bucket seats joined by a bench seat with three-point seatbelts up front that’s wide enough for two lanky teenagers.

You couldn’t get a more practical vehicle for carting kids around either, with the fridge, sink and toilet all close at hand for those inevitable roadside pit-stops and other family ‘emergencies’.

Working parents can also pull-over and set up a laptop work station on the rear dinette/lounge if the boss wants that Powerpoint presentation ASAP, and getting the troops in and out is super-easy through the big sliding side door and 270 degree rear opening ‘barn’ doors.

With the rear table removed, there’s also room to cart a bicycle or two, or perhaps a few tools if you need to get to the worksite. The front dinette table also clips to the outside of the van to create an external picnic table.

While the Fiat van can tow a trailer weighing up to 2500kg, you won’t be able to fit roof racks with the space taken up by two skylights, an air-conditioner, TV aerial and optional solar panel.

Life as a weekend getaway vehicle

Transitioning from dropping the kids off at soccer practice to packing up and heading away on a long weekend camping trip is effortless for the Avida Escape.

Whether pulled over for the night or just a roadside coffee break, it’s super-quick to settle into camping mode with the front seats swiveling around to form a four-person reading or boardgame area at the front, with another family lounging zone down back on the bench seats separated by another removable table.

Then wind out the side awning and flip on the electrics including internal and external LED lights, before kicking back with a coldie...

The kitchenette is missing a rangehood so you’ll need to open a window or door when cooking, but there’s just about everything else you’ll need for a family cook-up including a 90 litre compressor fridge/freezer, microwave, three-burner gas cooktop and sink with mixer tap.

The combination shower/toilet is a tight squeeze through the twin doors but also well equipped with a showerhead and flexible hose, corner sink, ceiling light, mirror and fan hatch, while the fibreglass cubicle also features a drain hole, shower curtain and plastic toilet cassette to help keep the splashing water under control.

When you’re ready for bed, the electric-operated bed takes about 20 seconds to lower from the ceiling to a suitable height using the wall-mounted switch, with enough room above the two single beds below which are created by removing the Velcro-secured backrests. 

As long as family members’ legs aren’t too long, you can look forward to a restful snooze on the thick foam bases for both the drop-down double bed and two singles.

For ventilation and privacy, there are two opening windows on both sides of the van with in-built fly screens and blinds, along with two rear ‘porthole’ windows and roof hatches. 

Other camping conveniences include three different mounting and connection points for the 24in Smart TV, which can be set up for viewing at the front or rear of the layout or mounted externally behind the kitchen, so you can watch your latest Netflix binge under the stars.

So does a campervan work as an all-rounder?

At around $137,000, the Avida Escape is a pricey family runaround for most people, but could pay off in holiday savings and as a work and play vehicle that in theory could be used 365 days of the year.

While there are cheaper ensuite campervans on the market, you'll struggle to find one that can sleep, shower and transport four family members in such a neat package.

The icing on the cake is the Escape’s trendy grey metallic paintwork with silver/black decals, that not only ensures it blends in with the SUV crowd but should prevent neighbours from thinking a backpacker is stealth-camping out the front of your house!

Price: $136,998 (drive-away Victoria with optional rooftop air-conditioner)
Base vehicle: Fiat Ducato XLWB MR
Licence: Car
GVM: 4005kg
Towing capacity: 2500kg
Occupants: Four seatbelts, four berth
Travel length: 6363mm
External body width: 2100mm
Travel height: 2772mm (with air-con)
Engine: 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Power/torque: 130kW/450Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel tank: 90 litres

Vehicle supplied by Roberts RV, Campbellfield, Victoria

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