Travel Content // Best Cars for Camping*

Although we’re heading towards the middle of winter, this is the time most people start planning their summer holiday. Lots of places get booked up early when people are feeling blue from the cold and need something to look forward to. Yes that even includes camping sites in the UK. As the economy worsens, more people are looking for holidays in the UK and I’m not just talking about the seaside. If you have a car there are endless opportunities whe it comes to adventuring not too far from home. From The Goodwood Festival of Speed for those who live and breathe cars, through to Whale watching in the Highlands, there is literally is something for everyone.

Why not get closer to nature along the way? – gazing at the stars in an inky blue night sky, beats a five star hotel any day. To help you get the most out of the experience, Lookers has compiled five of the best cars for your camping trip and these are; Nissan X-Trail, Ford Galaxy, Volvo V90, Range Rover, Volkswagen Touareg. Not only are these cars great for packing up, but they have enough room for sleeping in too.

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Nissan X-Trail
Looking to brush up on your wilderness survival skills? If you fancy a bit of bushcraft  à la Ray Mears, then the Nissan X-Trail  makes an ideal travelling companion.  Load up the bikes, kayak and even the family dog. The five rearmost of the Nissan X-Trail’s seven seats can fold flat into the floor when not in use, making it perfect for throwing an air mattress in the back for a night’s sleep. Once day breaks and you want to get on the road again, you can do so in a smooth-riding, well-built, economical SUV. A win-win for everyone.​

Ford Galaxy
The Ford Galaxy is bigger and more practical than before. If your family extends beyond the average 2.4 children, or if you just prefer more space, then you need a car that not only has enough room to seat everyone but also has enough room for the tent, bags and multiple essentials – a bit of a tall order. Step forward the seven-seater Galaxy – it could be just what you are looking for. This exceptional  people carrier has flexible seating with the Easyfold system meaning that you can effortlessly fold each second row seat flat at the touch of a button. Powerfold also makes loading heavy items a little less time consuming with its automatic third row lowering and raising setting.​

Volvo V90
No camping vehicle roundup would be complete without a Volvo. Over the years the Swedish giants have produced many models that are ideally suited to exploring the outdoors. The new Volvo V90 continues this long-standing tradition in some style. Featuring cutting edge tech such as Large Animal Detection and Run-off Road Mitigation, the V90 is built for these environments. The handy collapsible back row with two stage child safety seats, offer peace of mind when travelling long distances with younger children. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Volvo without a cavernous boot. Perfect for loading up on those trip essentials. Just don’t forget to pack the sleeping bags!

Range Rover
Going off-road? Then consider journeying in the Range Rover which is more than capable to take you off the beaten track. Adjustable air suspension allows even the most luxurious Land Rover to clear above rocks which might otherwise damage the underside of the car, while a wading depth of 90cm should make the occasional river crossing stress-free. Go for the 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6 engine which boasts the torque to scale for the most intimidating of inclines.

Volkswagen Touareg
Camping is all about the journey and the destination. For that purpose the Volkswagen Touareg is one of the best 4X4 for staycationing. With those Volkswagen credentials it’s reliable of course – important on those coast to coast overnight journeys – and luxurious too. It has an impressive engine and permanent four wheel drive so it won’t let you down when you’re parking on ground that’s less than terra firma.