Should you buy one?

The Mercedes-Benz V-Class Marco Polo is a highly luxurious camper van that we find deeply desirable. It may not have the obvious van-life image cachet of a Volkswagen California in the UK, but the quality of finish is a step above this long-established competition. Load it up with some of the best camper van accessories, and a group of four will be the envy of the campsite.

The pricing reflects this, especially now that Mercedes has elected to stop selling the less powerful model in the UK. This leaves the Marco Polo unashamedly targeting high-end mid-size camper van buyers, an ambition the upgrades for the 2024-onwards model fully support. The updated dashboard brings it fully into line with the latest Mercedes design and quality, and better integrates the camping controls, too.

A polished driving experience completes the picture, while the optional air-suspension upgrade makes life easier whenever and wherever you stop for the night. Just take your time to consider whether the interior layout suits you – the Ford Transit Custom Nugget demands less dexterity to reach the roof sleeping area. On the other hand, you can get in and out of the Marco Polo’s roof without going outside, which is handy given Britain’s typical weather.

What we like

Beautifully finished inside and out, the Marco Polo is comfortable to drive over long distances and comfortable to live and sleep in once you arrive, with lots of handy storage and well-considered kitchen facilities. The latest updates bring it bang up-to-date, and the self-levelling air-suspension is worth the extra expense.

What we don’t like

The UK range is reduced to a single engine (fortunately a good one) and trim level, with one AMG Line option pack and just seven individual options available to UK buyers. This limits customisation and choice. The roof sleeping area isn’t as easy to access as the Nugget’s, and you can get the same decent level of camping functionality for less.