Full review

Words & photos: Peter Vaughan

The Kaktus Oasis

If you went to the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show at the NEC back in February, you won’t have missed this campervan. In fire engine red, with grey geometric graphics, it’s hardly a vehicle for shrinking violets. 

Other colours are available, as well as a medium-wheelbase version (called Dune), but even in a more subdued shade, the Oasis would look ready to deal with some kind of camping Armageddon!

It’s not even immediately obvious what base vehicle it’s built on, as MAN branding has been substituted by  Kaktus across the new mesh grille and the standard bumper has gone, too, with its angular replacement looking like it’s almost designed for a bit of ram-raiding. 

Inset lights and a winch are then joined by a row of circular spotlamps on the roof, while a snorkel stops your exhaust from getting swamped, should you decide to pitch up alongside Noah and his Ark.

What’s included?

How much for this motorhoming eyeful, you’ll want to know? Well, the starting price is £142,500 but, as shown in Birmingham, the cost swells to £182,000.

Underneath the show, it’s a MAN TGE in long-wheelbase 177hp 4x4 spec that provides the go.

Here, there’s an optional lift kit, too (60mm here but other heights are offered), as the MAN van doesn’t usually offer the sort of ground clearance seen on all-wheel drive Mercedes Sprinters.

Additional spec on the base vehicle also includes LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera and leather multifunction steering wheel. 

The exterior

Externally, Kaktus fits the typical flares to increase width in the rear bedroom area but its USP is the roof pod that increases headroom (by around 200mm), as well as daylight via three opening roof windows. It really does make for a more spacious interior and it’s a standard feature on Kaktus Adventure Vans. 

And there’s Kaktus branding everywhere you look, even on the wheels and rear-mounted spare wheel bracket.

The aerial view of the Oasis on Kaktus’ website reveals another unusual design feature, the roof-mounted solar panels that extend sideways like wings, increasing their surface area and gaining an extra 150W output (up to 400W). 

That’s ideal for off-grid camping, especially in combination with the 3,000W inverter and 200Ah Victron lithium battery (optionally upgradeable to 400Ah).

The interior

The interior layout of the Oasis is much more conventional than the exterior, those roof windows excepted. There’s a half-dinette-style lounge up front and transverse double bed at the rear, using those side flares to achieve adequate bed length.

The lounge has an automotive-style rear seat with separate head restraints, while the swivel cab chairs here  are optional sporty – and pricey (£4,500) – Scheel-mann items. 

All the seats are trimmed here in a tartan-style fabric with echoes of VW Golf GTI. The wall-mounted table stores in the garage when not in use.

The kitchen

The galley is surprisingly expansive, benefiting from the long-wheelbase van, and includes solid worktops made from recycled glass. 

It’s an all-electric kitchen, too, with an induction hob and a combined grill and microwave.

The washroom

Opposite, the washroom is more conventional, with a Thetford bench cassette toilet and a curtain for  showering, as well as a wooden duckboard. 

Water tanks, which are underslung but insulated, have a modest  75-litre capacity each for fresh and waste. Water heating is 12V/230V electric only, while space heating comes from a 4kW diesel unit.

The options

Other options offered are many and various (a lot of them fitted on this demo campervan) and they include on-board WiFi, an external shower, TVs and a choice of HiFi systems. 

Then there’s security CCTV or tracking devices, awnings, the side ladder, 20in wheels, exterior storage boxes and Bilstein off-road shock absorbers.

Where to buy

Kaktus Adventure Vans was a first-time exhibitor at the NEC in February. Usually, you’d have to visit its premises at Pontypool in south Wales to see and order one of its boldly styled campervans.