Home / Motoring / Travel and Adventure
Nissan’s collab with a German upstart transforms an average van into a camp champ in minutes.
Nissan
Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission.Learn more
When I was a kid, my incredibly industrious father bought an entirely white, essentially “naked” Dodge Ram van and personally, by hand, kitted it out to the nines for family road trips.
This thing had it all: a dining table and bench seats (with gear storage space) that converted into a bed, a fridge, a microwave, a bathroom, a gaming-compatible TV and, of course, a sweet beige-and-brown desert paint job with meticulous pinstriping.
The Nissan version of a “camper in a box” sits on detachable, height-adjustable wheels, enabling you to slide it into the back of the van, raise the accordion-like roof and have everything set up in, they say, five minutes.
These days it’s just a little easier to outfit your new rig, at least in Europe. That’s where Nissan has teamed up with a Berlin-based upstart called PlugVan on a modular concept that totally reinvents its Interstar commercial van — and floats the ambitious notion that a work van and a camper van can co-exist in the same space.
Plug and play
It’s funny because in the US, Nissan and “vans” are mutually exclusive (We just checked: There’s literally no sign of the category on the brand’s US site.)
Meanwhile, the Nissan x PlugVan concept — which will be on display at the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon beginning tomorrow — is essentially a “camper in a box” that can be loaded into the back of an Interstar in a matter of minutes.
NissanThis approach is basically what PlugVan does, but collaborating with Nissan really legitimizes it — and this particular execution, based on the PlugVan Life module, looks pretty dang cool.
The Nissan version sits on detachable, height-adjustable wheels, enabling you to slide it into the back of the van, raise the accordion-like roof and have everything set up in, they say, five minutes.
Essential amenities
Within the module, you’ll find a kitchen area that moves around on rails to suit how you want to use it. It features a single-burner portable stove that emerges from a drawer, plus a retractable dining table and a sink.
The entire kitchen surface can be raised up and out of the way when it’s time to sleep on the convertible double bed.
NissanUnique to the Nissan version is a fridge box that slides out from below the passenger-side bench. You can also add an optional Jackery power station to fuel the fridge and integrated lights.
In its cabinets, the unit stores water for the kitchen sink and (optional) shower — 43 liters of fresh and 43 liters of waste.
The module only fills about 3/4ths of the back of the van, leaving space to include PlugVan’s own expandable shower. Powered via a 12-volt connection, this unit comes with a 6-liter fresh water tank and recirculation system.
NissanDoing double duty, the shower could be used by campers and, assuming you are also using the Interstar as a work van, by workers at sites that lack facilities.
It’s worth noting that PlugVan also makes a number of Workshop modules, so in theory you really could use these magical boxes to work during the week and relax on the weekend. All with the same truly groovy van, man.
Availability and pricing
Right now the Interstar module is merely a concept, but the PlugVan Life module — basically the Nissan one minus the fridge box, stove and a few other touches — retails for €16,550 (approximately $18,330 USD). The shower module starts at €1,990 (roughly $2,200).
Oh and in case you are wondering, there’s also a PlugVan Small for minivans starting at just €5,880 ($6,500 or so).
PlugVanPlugVan Life
$18,330 at PlugVan
Airstream Just Released a Camper Van No One Saw Coming
The Next Generation of VW Camper Vans Is Here
The 27 Best Camper Vans and Conversions for Your Next Adventure
Get more stories like this in your inbox daily.
By continuing, you agree to our Privacy Policy.
Related Topics
Camping, Travel and Adventure
