Price £23,495 Berths 2/3 MiRO 520kg MTPLM 750kg Those looking for a practical little micro camper should definitely take a look at this new, more rugged Mink
Words and photos Sarah Wakely
Beefier wheel arches feature mug holders for al fresco dining Grab handles are at a useful height to help manoeuvre the Mink Large sunroof above the bed area floods the interior with light Like its Sports Camper sibling, the Highlander is based on an Al-Ko chassis
IF THE MINK Highlander looks familiar, that’s because the 2.0 Sports Camper, on which it’s broadly based, was reviewed by us around 18 months ago (issue 441).
Of the Icelandic micro caravan, we said: “The Mink is considerably more stylish than many mini-caravans we have seen, and feels better built, too.”
Now there’s a new kid on the block, in the form of the Mink Highlander: a regular Mink with a fresh, beefier appearance. We took a look at the Highlander at the NEC show: would it still impress our testers?
Pitch and set-up
The Mink’s diminutive proportions mean it should be very easy to set up on site; there are no corner steadies to worry about, so it should simply be a case of moving the van into position, then putting the kettle on. The grab handles look streamlined to the overall design, and their height means they should be easy to keep hold of when you’re manoeuvring the van onto a pitch.
The Highlander is light, too: it has an MTPLM of 750kg and a MiRO of 520kg, leaving a decent payload of 230kg. Because it’s so light you won’t need a huge tow car, either: something similar to a VW Polo or Vauxhall Corsa could be suitable, while still observing the 85% guideline.
One of the benefits of owning such a small van is that it should also be much easier to store than a regular-sized tourer – with its height of 1.88m and overall length of 4.12m, the Mink could be comfortably stowed in an average-sized garage.
The Highlander’s 2.0 Sports Camper sibling looks funky, with its bright yellow bodywork, but the new model appears equally as smart. It features matt-black bodywork, and larger tyres and fenders; there’s also a higher ride height to help adventurous caravanners explore even further over rougher ground than before. And as with the 2.0 Sports Camper, the Highlander sits on an Al-Ko chassis.
A standard-fit 105W solar panel is on the roof – ideal if you want to go off-grid.
Lounge
There’s no dedicated lounge area in the Highlander – relaxation space is confined to the double bed inside. But it’s a pleasant place to sit, with your back against the faux-leather headboard; and you should stay warm and comfortable, th
