HYMER Venture S Review

The new HYMER Venture S – redefining the van life experience

Few motorhomes have generated the same level of interest and excitement as witnessed for the award-winning HYMER Venture S.

The first true rugged off-roader for two to be produced by a German manufacturing giant, the Venture S has been designed with the latest wave of motorhomer in mind: the new generation that want to work, travel and go off the beaten track in their vehicles. This is a motorhome which epitomises the ideals of van life.

The motorhome started life as the HYMER VisionVenture and was the irrefutable star of the 2019 Caravan Salon Düsseldorf where it wowed the exhibition audience. What few expected at the time was that, three years later, the remarkably similar Venture S would burst onto the market.

The vehicle took its UK bow at the Motorhome & Caravan Show at the NEC where it was swamped by interested punters and swiftly won the Best Motorhome Innovation accolade at The Motorhome Awards 2023.

At under 6.5m long and 2.16m wide, this is a nimble and compact motorhome based on a 4×4 Mercedes Sprinter chassis with a high-riding stance to help deal with any terrain.

But there are far more features which ensure this can give any standard off-road vehicle a run for its money, including a scratch-resistant finish developed by BASF and a protection panel under the engine, along with 18in alloy wheels and all-terrain, studded tyres.

At 4,100kg, it’s not the lightest motorhome you’ll find, but the 190bhp engine, nine-speed automatic transmission and 440Nm maximum torque makes it a pleasure to drive, even through the most challenging bends.

Off-road credentials fully established, it’s onto the interior. The most striking aspect of the Venture S is its sophisticated pop-top roof which uses a revolutionary pneumatic system to fully inflate double-skinned walls in around three minutes. Not only that, but the mattress is also inflated at the same time…and that can be adjusted to your desired softness via the HYMER app!

This cosy pop-top area is accessed via a built-in staircase which is illuminated at night. There’s 1.5m of headroom at the top of the bed meaning its big enough to sit up in. And, thanks to the separately adjustable heater outlet, you’ll be warm enough when bedding down in winter.

There are three 115W solar panels on the roof and four 80Ah lithium batteries built into the floor which, along with a 1,300W inverter and both fresh and waste water tanks, mean going off-grid for up to 10 days at a time is a breeze. With the clearliQ travel water filter, motorhomers can enjoy freshly filtered drinking water at any time. The system treats up to 120 litres of water per hour – from whatever source it’s drawn from.

The lounge area is full of innovation, too. A glass infinity screen surrounds three sides of the Venture’s living space, offering panoramic views and flooding the interior with daylight. Best of all, a tailgate opens to expand the living space. With a ladder leading up to it and a maximum load of 350kg, this creates a yacht-inspired sun deck for uninterrupted views of the beach, countryside or lake.

A table smartly slides out on rails from under one of the sofas and the interior walls are trimmed with bamboo to give a homely feel. For quiet nights in with tunes or a movie, a Sonos Smart Speaker can be flexibly attached to the wall panels and lights can be dimmed at the touch of a button.  If you don’t fancy sleeping in the pop-top during a storm, there’s also the option of creating a bed at the back of the vehicle with a few simple reconfigurations.

The kitchen is well equipped with a two-burner hob, powered by a 6kg gas bottle, and packed with clever storage. Worktop space is generous and the chopping board can be pulled out to create an extended work surface. The black-matt tap is built into the wall with a tile splashback, while elasticated straps ensure condiments and equipment are safely stowed while travelling. The 115 litre fridge provides plenty of storage.

The compact washroom features a cassette toilet and corner basin. The limited space has been addressed with a swing-wall design to rotate the inner wall and create a larger shower cubicle.

The cab is as comfortable as you’ll find in any top-end motorhome, featuring leather upholstered seats with tilt and height adjustment. Of course, there is a fisheye reversing camera and sat-nav on the state-of-the-art 26cm touchscreen display.

Another clever feature of the Venture S is that the passenger seat can spin completely around to create a workstation with a fold out desk, lamp, six mains sockets and nine USB sockets. It’s further evidence that this vehicle has been created for the van life movement.

The Venture S is available in stone grey or sue blue metallic, complete with honeycomb design graphics that give the vehicle an unmistakable look.

HYMER said they aimed to “reimagine motorhoming from the ground up” when they designed the Venture S – and they really have raised the bar when it comes to off-roading. It truly does have the potential to disrupt the industry and become an icon of its time.