Camper van test: comfort, space and driving behaviour

German brand Weinsberg has unveiled a new generation of its CaraCompact Edition [Pepper] motorhome, featuring a revised interior layout without increasing external dimensions. The range gains a 580 MEG version measuring 6.38 m; the 600 MF and 600 MEG are 6.75 m long. It offers two longitudinal single beds over two metres long that convert into a King Size sleeping area, a 153-litre compressor fridge (83 litres in the 580 MEG), an extendable kitchen worktop, a swivelling washbasin that turns the washroom into a shower, and a standard Truma Combi 6 heater. Grey water capacity is 95 litres, fresh water ranges from 90 to 110 litres depending on version. Price is around 70,000 euros.

German manufacturer Kleox presented the Festival mini caravan at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf 2026. With an unladen weight of 220 kg and a gross vehicle weight rating of 750 kg, it measures 3.20 m long, 1.80 m wide and 1.60 m high. The 4 m² interior accommodates a 210×126 cm double mattress and includes felt lining, storage nets and opening windows, but no kitchen, water tank or bathroom. Pricing starts at €6,590, the same as the Shelter Travel, which can also serve as a utility trailer.

In Bielefeld, motorhomes and caravans left parked for extended periods are reducing parking space and obstructing traffic. According to the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, 211,809 motorhomes were registered in North Rhine-Westphalia as of 2025, with 3,654 in Bielefeld itself. In March 2026, the CDU faction in the Gadderbaum district council asked the administration about measures against permanent parking on Bollbrinkersweg and Bodelschwinghstraße. The administration's response, based on the StVO, stated that parking is permitted if the vehicle can be returned to traffic, but using it for residential purposes constitutes unauthorized special use. Caravans, as trailers, may remain in one spot for a maximum of 14 days.

Westfalia has unveiled the Jules Verne camper based on the Mercedes Vito. At 5.14 m long and under 2 m high, it offers four seatbelts and four berths, plus a separate wet room with shower and toilet. Pricing starts at 77,890 euros (as of September 2026); in 2022 a similar model cost from 61,000 euros. A 190 hp top version with automatic transmission and all-wheel drive is available from 89,040 euros.

The Kassner couple from Stuttgart live in a motorhome and travel across Europe, staying where the weather is best. They visit Zwickau once a year, which has been a fixed point on their routes for years. They travel with their dogs and e-bikes.

Several motorhomes caught fire late Friday night at a car dealership site on Nordring in Berlin-Marzahn. The fire started around 22:00, and multiple gas cylinder explosions were suspected during firefighting. Berlin fire services deployed significant resources, operations continued late into the night, and a police helicopter was seen over the scene. A smaller fire had occurred earlier that evening on nearby Wolfener Straße; no link between the two incidents has been established, and the cause of the Nordring fire remains undetermined.