Far from the luxuries of home, camp life forces a slower, more thoughtful approach to living. Mornings are savoured. Coffee is sipped rather than gulped down in a rush. Making meals is less of a chore and more of an event. This is the life that a Suzuki Eeco campervan conversion allows you to live.
The Suzuki Eeco was introduced on the South African market in 2023 and it was an immediate hit with companies needing a small run-around delivery vehicle. However, the folks from Suzuki SA decided to see if they could turn it into a campervan.
So why a tiny camper van? Well, because much like the Jimny three- and five-door, it serves as a gateway to the camping and adventure life. Priced around R212 900, the Eeco is definitely a budget option. The full conversion is done by a supplier to Suzuki and will set you back around R100 000. So, for just over R300k, you will have everything you need for a week in the Kruger or – in our case – a weekend breakaway to the mountains outside Lydenburg.
The Eeco is a small panel van fitted with a 1.2-litre petrol engine delivering 59kW and mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. It’s not quick, but who wants to go fast when you’re on an outdoor adventure? It has a 32-litre fuel tank and according to the claimed fuel consumption, you could get close to 500km on a tank. We achieved just over 400km.
The campervan is fitted with a bench the length of the rear of the Eeco that converts into a three-quarter bed – ideal for a couple in the ‘honeymoon’ phase, but probably better suited for a single person or even a dad-and-lad excursion.
There is a small cupboard installed next to the couch/bed, and this is where the dual battery system with its 1 000W inverter is housed. Because it is a commercial vehicle there are no windows on the side, but curtains on the rear window and between the front seats and rear cabin allow for some privacy.
On top of the Eeco is a Front Runner roof rack. The one we tested was also fitted with a couple of ammo boxes, two jerry cans and a 40-litre water tank with a tap that swings out (which means it could even double as a little shower!). On the passenger side an awning was fitted to provide some shelter in the hot African sun.
For a little camper there is actually plenty of storage space, with three drawers located below the couch/bed. There is also a large drawer in the rear of the bed and two behind the passenger seat. Fitted to the roof are a couple of LED lights, so there’s no fumbling around in the dark.
But how does it drive? Well, it has a small engine, so the going is slow. Going uphill was a challenge and I doubt we would have been able to tow anything behind it. The driving position is fairly upright, but not uncomfortable. The vehicle is 2WD, with power going to the rear wheels. It would have been a whole lot of fun if it was available in AWD, but it’s so light that it should be fine when driving on sand, especially when fitted with slightly bigger tyres.
The verdict
To be honest, this is a tad small for me. However, I do believe it could be ideal for a younger couple just starting out their van life – especially if you consider fitting a rooftop tent on the roof rack to create ample space inside. The conversion we tested was very neatly done, considering the cost. It’s a pity that the conversion is not (yet) available directly from your local Suzuki dealer and would have to be done aftermarket.
