Mercedes camper is simply vantastic

THERE’S a constant bombardment from car company marketing people about their SUVS being aimed at young people with an adventurous, outdoor lifestyle.

Well, I went to the Lake District on a sunny bank holiday last month for a bit of climbing and walking with a mate. The car park was full of young people with active lifestyles out for a day like us.

But climbing out of their SUVS? No. Almost all were in bespoke VW camper vans or the like.

Active people like vans. We fitted right in with our Mercedesbenz Marco Polo; Merc’s answer to Volkswagen’s California camper.

Like the California, the Marco Polo is not cheap (ours was £56,115 without options), but it’s not just a car, it’s a home from home. But two sweaty 50-something blokes aren’t the best people to test a camper van. Instead, we’ve sent Mirror production editor Trudi Peel and her family away for a week in an identical Marco Polo 250d Sport.

“The only problem might be,” I warned Trudi, “that you won’t want to give it back.” So I’ll let Trudi take over from here and the Peel family can be the judge...

After years of camping under leaky, freezing canvas, the excitement levels of husband Kevin, 44, and our children Izzy, 11, and Billy Mercedes-benz Marco Polo Sport 250d

Price: £56,115

Engine: 2.1-litre diesel, 190bhp

0-62 mph: 9.8 sec Range: 297 miles

eight, were off the scale at the prospect of spending a week in a warm, dry camper van. The Marco Polo didn’t disappoint for our trip to very beautiful, but often very wet, Wales.

Kitted out with all mod cons, it sleeps four comfortably and there’s bags of room for all your crucial kit... four bikes on the cycle rack, three crates of beer and a

BBQ. After driving a 1997 Mini Cooper for the last three months, the Marco Polo handles like an absolute dream.

I was a bit concerned it would feel heavy (I’m a slight 5ft 4ins) but even loaded up it was incredibly smooth and light. Fully automatic it pretty much drives itself.

Parking is a doddle with what seems like a whole camera crew

The fourth generation of BMW’S X5 SUV goes on sale this month from £56,710. Around 2.2 million X5s have been sold since the first model appeared in 1999. I doubt this one will be any less popular. Totally new inside and out, the X5 features a...

SITE FOR SORE EYES Peel family loved the comfort and practicality