10 of the Best Used Cars for Camping

Dacia is one of the best brands if you’re after a car that has a true focus on value and the Jogger is a fine example of why this company has risen through the ranks in recent years. More importantly, it’s absolutely bang-on for camping.

Why? Well, despite its humble MPV bodystyle it’s actually got space for seven people. Don’t need that many chairs? You can remove the two rear seats entirely and they’re light and simple to take out, freeing up extra boot space in the process. We also really like the Jogger’s roof rails; they integrate special ‘fold out’ bars which you loosen off with a Allen key and then swivel to create proper crossbars onto which you can mount a roof box. It means that when you’re done, you simply fold the bars away neatly – simple!

Sometimes, if you’re heading out camping, then all you really need is as much space as possible. In this instance, an estate car can make the most sense and the Skoda Superb is one of the very best around. Big, comfortable and with a boot that’ll leave most other cars looking pretty inadequate, the Superb is an all-rounder that’ll get the job done.

We like the Superb’s robust build quality that’ll handle anything you can throw at it, but it’s also great when it comes to accessories – you can get it with a variety of roof rack options, or even a split-design that means you can carry both a top box and a bicycle all on the roof of the car. Skoda’s involvement in world cycling means that the Superb has loads of bike carrying options, too, if you’re planning on heading out on two wheels once you’ve pitched your tent.

The SUV continues to be a popular option for all types of drivers and they do make a great choice for those who love camping, too. We’re big fans of the Kia Sorento, too, as it brings a no-nonsense approach which is backed up by some great in-car features and an excellent track-record for reliability.

With seven seats it’s immensely practical and ideal if you’re often taking more people along for the adventure with you. Plus, the Sorento comes with a seven-year transferrable warranty, so there’s a good level of coverage to be had even on older models. Headroom and legroom are both excellent – though the rearmost row is a little tight – so it’s a great place to passengers to get some kip if it’s been a busy weekend in the wild.

The Land Rover Discovery has always had close ties to adventure, with this car’s roots being well engrained in that go-anywhere spirit. With clever off-road systems, the Discovery should be firmly on the list of campers who like to take to the roads less travelled, but it’s also got loads of creature comfort for when you want to take things a little easier.

The latest generation Discovery might have been on sale for a little while now, but it still looks as fresh as the day it first arrived. With seven seats and a large boot, it’s great when it comes to space while plenty of USB sockets mean there are plenty of ways to charge up devices such as phones, torches and cameras. It’s also got acres of storage, with cubbies dotted throughout the cabin which can help to keep the inside of the Discovery as clutter-free as possible.

The Countryman is a car which packs a lot into quite a small package. Of course, being a Mini it’s got bags of character and charm, but the Countryman builds on this with a pleasantly spacious cabin and plenty of on-board tech, regardless of which specification you opt for.

You can get the Countryman with four-wheel-drive (which Mini calls All4) if you’re after a little extra security when things get slippery, but you’ll get the best efficiency from front-wheel-drive versions. One of the best features of the Countryman is that it can be equipped with a roof tent which was supplied directly from Mini – though third-party versions are available too. It’s a great way of making the Countryman even more useful, though it’s great for more ‘regular’ camping too.

While Volvo might have recently stopped producting its estate cars, there are still plenty of used examples available of these practical wagons, which are ideal for camping. Though there’s the larger V90, we reckon the V60 should offer more than enough space for most.

With its large boot and generous rear seats, it’s ideal for family duties and for a camping holiday, with a comfortable ride making it perfectly suited for longer-distance breaks. Renowned for its safety, Volvo offers a more rugged Cross Country model, which gets raised suspension, a more robust look and all-wheel-drive as standard.

A compact crossover like the Ford Puma might not be the most obvious car of choice for camping, but this mini SUV has a trick up its sleeve when it comes to its boot, as it has what’s known as a Mega Box. It’s a plastic box beneath the boot floor that allows tall items to be stood upright, as well as muddy boots and clothes to be kept away from the main interior. It even has a plug so you can wash it out afterwards and then it can double up as a cool box filled with ice

It’s a cool trick, and ideal for camping. But there’s lots more up the Puma’s sleeve, including an excellent driving experience and plenty of standard equipment. Its small hybrid petrol engines are also fantastic in terms of performance and fuel economy.

The Volkswagen Golf is one of the most talented cars around, and is suitable for a whole range of uses, and despite its small dimensions, it is also ideal for camping. Though available as an estate car, as long as you travel fairly lightly, you should be just fine with the regular hatchback.

The boot is a great size for a hatchback, with a height-adjustable floor allowing you to seperate different items. The Golf is also available with a great range of petrol and diesel engines, with the latter being great for longer trips. With great build quality and a huge choice of examples for sale, the Golf makes for a great buy.

Pick-ups were once purely used as working vehicles, but increasingly they’re being tailored more towards lifestyle. They appeal especially to those wanting to go wild camping as they’re easy to mount a roof tent to, or sometimes these are placed over the load bed, while you’ve also got the added benefit of four-wheel-drive if you want to head off the beaten track.

The Ford Ranger is one of the most popular pick-ups, and we recommend a look at the previous generation model sold between 2011 and 2023. Boasting great on-road manners, it’s available with all manner of personalisation options and boasts sturdy looks with the reliability to match.

Have you ever thought about choosing an electric car to go camping with? Well, if not, we reckon the Hyundai Ioniq 5 could be the car to prove just how useful these cars can be. This large crossover offers a huge amount of boot and interior space, and with a range of up to 315 miles, offers lots of scope for longer-distance driving.

The Ioniq 5 also has an easter egg that is very useful for campers; a feature known as vehicle-to-load (V2L). This allows you, with a special cable, to use power from the car to charge other electrical equipment, such as boiling a kettle or charging electronic devices.