Full review

Words & photos: Peter Vaughan

The Project Yonder Freedom 4X

One of the stars of the February NEC show was undoubtedly the Project Yonder Freedom 4X. This 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter campervan comes from a young company targeting the top of the market and its quest to use only the very best fixtures and fittings throughout soon shows through.

That starts with the base vehicle, a Sprinter 419 with the 190hp engine, nine-speed automatic transmission and, of course, a fully automated all-wheel drive system. 

Heated cab seats, an upgraded 14V/250A alternator, the 10.25in MBUX display, parking package with 360-degree camera, an electric sliding door, a removable towbar and wireless smartphone charging are all included, too.

The options

The 4x4 Sprinter already stands tall but Project Yonder really makes it look the business with its additions. Black Rhino off-road wheels are wrapped in BFGoodrich all-terrain tyres and there’s an optional LED light bar above the windscreen, plus floodlights front and rear. 

Then the company has raided the Dutchvanparts catalogue for a roof rack, side ladder, rear ladder and cargo box, plus a MaxTrax sand recovery system. 

The standard spec is pretty impressive but with all the extras on the show model the price tops £200k.

However, Project Yonder hasn’t just plucked a load of goodies off the shelf and loaded them like Santa’s sleigh.  Where it couldn’t find a product it liked, it developed its own – such as with the side flares that are essential to creating extra width (for a transverse bed) in the rear bedroom. 

The spec

Project Yonder has also equipped the Freedom 4X for real off-grid living, not just to look pretty. There are 300W of solar panels on the roof (more could be fitted if you forgo the Truma Aventa roof-mounted air-conditioning unit).

On-board power comes from two Victron 24V 200Ah lithium batteries, while a 5kW inverter provides mains power without the need to hook up. And if all that is still insufficient, you can add a Safiery Scotty 3kW DC/DC charger.

Water supplies (120 litres fresh, 60 litres grey waste), meanwhile, are catered for by underslung tanks but these are equipped with heat blankets that we’ve been told are tested down to minus 24 degrees. Heating is by a Truma Combi D 6 E diesel/electric blown-air system.

There’s no point in power without control, as the advertising slogan says, so Project Yonder has kept that part simple with a Garmin touchscreen, where you can monitor water/battery levels, dim the lights, etc, etc.

And, of course, you can mirror that display on your phone and operate it all without getting up.

The interior

Inside, the layout is fairly predictable – featuring a half-dinette lounge (with automotive rear seats), central kitchen and washroom, rear double bed over the garage – but the finish is first-class and, again, this new company hasn’t been held back by a history of doing things conventionally.

That starts with a marine cork floor that’s thermally and acoustically insulating and can even be sanded back to freshen it up after years on the road.

The kitchen

There’s almost infinite choice when it comes to the colours for walls, worktops and cabinets but, of course, there’s a solid surface for the kitchen counter and options include a microwave and the essential Nespresso coffee machine.

All the drawers are cork-lined and you’ll soon be spotting the Project Yonder logo on bespoke details everywhere you look.

The washroom

In the washroom, there’s a fully separate shower cubicle with stainless-steel shower tray and cork duckboard.

Even the soap holders are bespoke but the key feature here is the OGO composting toilet – again, it’s all about maximising time off-grid.

Clearly, this is a company that isn’t frightened of doing things its own way, or competing with the very best. On first impressions, it seems to have what it takes.

Where to buy

We saw Project Yonder at the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show at the NEC, Birmingham in February and it’ll be showing there again in 2025. In the meantime, you can view its demonstrator vehicle at the company’s factory unit in Hastings.