Compact, refined and cleverly designed, the Marco Polo blends everyday practicality with premium campervan comfort.
EURO DRIVER
In Australia, campervans and motorhomes come in all shapes and sizes. At the big end of town, there are motorhomes on something like an Isuzu chassis, which are around 10m (32ft 10in) long. At the other end of the scale, a VW Transporter campervan conversion measures just 5.45m (17ft 11in). In between, there are plenty of coach-built motorhomes and large van conversions.
I've always thought that the VW Transporter and its Japanese equivalent, the HiAce, were the smallest in the business, but then I came across the Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo, which has a body length of just 5.14m (16ft 10in).
Available exclusively from JB Caravans, the Marco Polo is a derivative of the Mercedes-Benz V-Class. Some years ago, I travelled around the UK in a Vito that was part people mover, with flexible seating, and part camper, with a few basics like a fridge. I was quite impressed by the vehicle for what we were using it for and was keen to experience the latest derivative, the Marco Polo.
Given its German origins, it's not surprising that the Marco Polo is a great van to drive. The steering wheel is nicely positioned, and I really like the high seating position compared to a conventional car. In front of the driver are the typical speedo and tacho dials, but there's also a 300mm infotainment system and digital display. However, features like the air-conditioner controls are still operated via conventional switches.
The 140kW, 1.95-litre turbo diesel delivers very torquey performance via the nine-speed automatic gearbox, and the vehicle schleps around town without a problem. Heading down the highway is a breeze and, if you’re into European vehicle handling, then step aboard purely for the ride.
As a van, the Marco Polo has cab doors and sliding doors on both sides, and a tailgate at the rear. What makes this campervan stand out from the V-Class is the Westfalia pop-top roof, which is hinged at the rear. The pop-top is manually operated and can be opened and closed quite easily by one person. Factory-fitted in Europe and designed for left-hand-drive vans, the built-in Fiamma-style awning is on the driver's side. Given the way the van is set up, that’s not really a problem.
VERSATILITY
The Marco Polo, even in its basic form, is a very flexible-use vehicle. It's designed as a five-seater. In the front, both cab seats swivel and, in the rear, the three-person seat can be moved back and forth as required.
A notable feature is the table, which, like the rear seat, slides along on rails. With hinged tabletops on either side, this multifunctional table can be used effectively between the front and rear seats. It's not too heavy, so it can be lifted out if not needed.
In the back, there is storage space above and below the rear shelf. However, part of that space is lost if the optional kitchen is fitted.
There’s a 2m x 1.12m bed fitted into the pop-top roof, which requires some agility to get into but offers the option of space for a second bed. There are no windows in the gusset area.
The rear seat folds down into a bed measuring 1.9m x 1.36m. It’s not difficult to fold the seat down, but pushing the bed back and forth does take a bit of effort and is best done with two people.
CAMPING
I've seen a couple of European Marco Polo layouts that have a small kitchen bench along the nearside wall, but this variant by JB offers something different: an optional, all-electric kitchen.
It fits into the rear of the van, accessible from the outside tailgate. The kitchen is powered by an EcoFlow 3.6kW Delta Pro Portable Power Station, which can be charged in several ways, including from 240V mains power, the vehicle alternator and solar panels.
The optional kitchen features include a Dometic 50L fridge-freezer combo and Smeg-branded induction cooktop, kettle and coffee machine with steam wand and stainless steel frother jug. You also get a sink, cutlery and pot drawers for a price tag of around $20,000, or less without the Smeg appliances.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Obviously, the Marco Polo isn’t quite like your average campervan, but it doesn’t pretend to be. What sets it apart is its versatility. It doubles as both a daily driver and a weekend escape vehicle. Around town, it still fits into standard parking spaces and is manageable in urban environments, like supermarket car parks. The dual-purpose function is a big plus.
It’s not a cheap proposition because the campervan is significantly more expensive than many competitors, and optional extras, like the kitchen and power station, push the price up.
That said, if Euro chic is what you desire, the Marco Polo is looking good. Storage is a weak point, but the van makes no pretensions about being a heavyweight camper; it's more of a weekender.
It’s less about serious van life and more about being a 'glamper' – easy to sleep in overnight, especially if a local coffee shop and café aren’t too far away. Consider it a commuter vehicle with benefits: some very classy and versatile.
SPECIFICATIONS
VEHICLE
MANUFACTURER JB Caravans
MODEL Marco Polo
BASE VEHICLE Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo
TARE WEIGHT 2,655kg
GVM 3,100kg
LICENCE Car
PASSENGERS 5
MECHANICAL
ENGINE 1.95 litre turbo diesel
POWER 140kW @ 4200rpm
TORQUE 440Nm @ 1200-240rpm
GEARBOX 9G-TRONIC
BRAKES ABS disc
DIMENSIONS
EXTERNAL LENGTH 5.14m
EXTERNAL WIDTH (INCL AWNING) 1.93m
EXTERNAL HEIGHT 1.97m
INTERNAL HEIGHT 1.22m
UPPER BED Wesfalia mattress 2m x 1.12m
2ND BED 1.9m x 1.36m
EQUIPMENT
COOKTOP Smeg induction (optional)
FRIDGE Dometic 50L fridge-freezer
COMBO (optional)
MICROWAVE OVEN No
LIGHTING 12V LED
BATTERIES EcoFlow 3.6kW Delta Pro Portable
Power Station (optional)
SOLAR PANELS No
AIR-CONDITIONER Vehicle only
TOILET No
SHOWER No
HOT WATER HEATER No
WATER TANK 30L (optional)
GREY TANK No
GAS CYLINDERS No
PRICE
FROM $89,990
