Dossier COMPACT RVS
Compact vehicles, great future
Hymer Exsis-T
Will semi-integrated compact units be the most popular RVs in Europe in the future? Great handling, lower cost and lower weight play in their favour. A future inspired by the past ...
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n the European market there is great interest in compact vehicles. The campervan dominates the scene, but the rise of other compact vehicles is also detected. In fact, there are more and more semi-integrated models with smaller dimensions and there are also some compact motorhomes. Is this a passing trend, or will it have profound repercussions on the market in the near future? The term “compact” is relative, it must be related to the dimensions of medium-sized vehicles in a specific historical period and a specific market context. In Europe the average length of a semi-integrated model is about 7 metres, with a width of 230-235 cm and a height from 285 to 305 cm. As far as length is concerned, a
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semi-integrated that’s 599 cm long is certainly considered “compact”, but more and more manufacturers are defining 660-670 cm vehicles as “compact” as well. Many compact semi-integrated models also have a narrower width of 215-225 cm. As for the height, we must consider that from 2010 the semi-integrated models equipped with drop-down bed have begun to establish themselves on the European market. The height of these models is greater to make room for the additional bed placed above the living room. The semi-integrated compact, on the other hand, most of the time, do without the drop-down bed and therefore have a reduced height of approximately from 270 to 285 cm.
Semi-integrated and motorhomes Compact, semi-integrated models are the link between classic semi-integrated models and campervans. The handling is similar to that of a campervan, sometimes even better thanks to the reduced wheelbase. However, the internal space is greater, both vertically and wider, albeit slightly, and the same for the height. Very often, however, there is better thermal insulation due to the use of sandwich panels instead of insulated sheets. Another advantage, during the cold season, is having a narrower side door instead of a large tailgate. And the prices are similar to those of the campervans. The semi-integrated compacts were born following a change in the user: fewer and fewer families using campers,
