Renault Crusader camper: a new VW California competitor?

Escape Campers are taking the Renault Trafic off-grid. At £52,995, can the Crusader challenge the Volkswagen California and the Ford Transit Custom Nugget?

A new competitor?

This may be a fresh Renault Crusader camper, but the people behind its creation are far from newbies. After more than 10 years in the game converting Renault vans into campervans, Escape Campers have gained the French brand’s full endorsement to turn the Trafic into an ‘advanced’ camper.

This manufacturer blessing puts the Crusader comfortably in the ring with the likes of Volkswagen’s in-house California camper, or Ford’s Transit Custom Nugget which is made in partnership with conversion legends Westfalia. But there is one huge difference: while the new Cali will set you back at least £63,000, and the latest Nugget is over £77,000 OTR, you can get hold of the Renault Crusader for a (relatively) cheap £52,995. Oh, and as a bonus, the Trafic van’s 3-year or 100,000-mile warranty carries over to the conversion — which we won’t complain about either.

So why the Trafic specifically, you ask? It may not be most people’s default camper-base choice, but the logic behind this seems strongly linked to the alluring price-point, with the medium-sized van selected ‘because of its high-spec and low-cost trims’.

“The Renault fits the bill perfectly with its reliability, size and high specification base trim.” — Andy Burgess, Escape Campers General Sales Manager

And it’s true, you get a lot for your money. The current Trafic offers an impressive capacity up to 8.9m³, and a payload up to 1166 kg, offering a substantial blank canvas for Escape Campers to work their magic within. Combine this with an equally spacious cabin littered with updated screens, tech, creature comforts, and storage among its crisp trim materials, and things start to make a whole lot of sense.

The making of an off-grid camper  

Ok, now this is where Escape Campers do their thing, making the most of the current Trafic model before it potentially faces some pretty significant changes…

Renault Trafic goes in. Off-grid capable campervan comes out. But what does this ‘off-grid’ part mean? In simple terms, the Renault Crusader can run without needing to be plugged in to an external electric source, allowing for ventures further afield.

But fear not, you won’t be out there without a few luxuries to help you along the way. Customisable in nature, even the almost kitchen-less six-seater ‘dayvan’ camper showcased at the 2025 Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Showstill comes with a portable pod kitchen, complete with gas and water for cheffing up goodies on the road. You can even opt for an air-fryer if you’re feeling fancy. 

In addition to this, there’s a space maximising pop top, diesel heating to keep you warm in the wilderness, and solar power options to give that extra little boost. Moving towards the ‘nightvan’ end of things — and true off-grid capabilities — you’re looking at options for full gas-powered setups, inverter battery powered systems, and a handful more high-spec capabilities to match the Trafic base.

So, with a cut price, but plenty of options to ensure it doesn't pack a cut feature list, we reckon the new Renault Crusader might just be ready to challenge the established competitors in the campervan market.

Hero image credit: Renault