Features / 15 May 2024 / Albert du Toit

This budget-friendly Suzuki camper van concept could become a reality in South Africa

Someone in South Africa has built a one-off camper van concept of the Suzuki Eeco which may soon become readily available.

Following the launch of the utilitarian panel van in April 2023, fans of the Eeco wanted to craft a characterful camper based on it that would be capable of sustaining two people or one solo adventurer for anywhere from two to five days.

Out of this vision the Eeco Vanlife Concept was born, featuring a number of exterior upgrades and a decked-out interior that will have you glamping off the grid.

Budget-friendly bundu basher

The Eeco Vanlife sports a Front Runner roof rack carrying sand recovery boards and jerry cans with extra fuel, together with a awning that when not in use is rolled up neatly and hangs on the side.

It rides on the same 13-inch steel wheels as the panel van which should be relatively cheap to replace if they get damaged during your treks through the great outdoors, and the concept model is wrapped in a flashy #WhereToNext? livery that we don’t expect will be carried over to the production model, should it materialise.

Credit: Dieter Pey (Instagram)

Inside is where the real magic happens.

The Eeco’s load space is completely kitted out with faux wood decor and a comfy couch that can be transformed into a 3/4 bed.

There are plenty of drawers and cupboards for storing your bits and bobs, as well as an inverter with plug points for charging devices and powering the interior and exterior LED lighting.

There is even a showerhead and curtain that can be fitted to the rear door, and should you require more space, Suzuki will even remove one of the two front seats upon request.

Credit: Dieter Pey (Instagram)

Powering the off-roading Eeco is a 1.2-litre petrol motor churning out a modest 59kW and 104Nm paired to a five-speed manual shifter.

It offers a ground clearance of 160mm which should be enough to get it into somewhat remote areas, provided the roads don’t look too bad.

The total cost of the Vanlife conversion amounted to R166,015, not including the R212,900 base price of the Eeco.

While Suzuki has not yet revealed whether the camper will be available to the average consumer at a later date, the automaker hinted that it is not completely out of the question.

When queried by TopAuto on the availability of the Eeco Vanlife, the manufacturer avoided giving a straight answer and said that more information will be provided in the near future.