The Hymer Free S 600 and Westfalia Sven Hedin are motorhomes with many attractions. We show you all
Hymer Free is the cool motorhome series from Bad Waldsee: compact, innovative and not as massive as the larger Hymer motorhome models. And the S 600 is, so to speak, the diamond tip of the entire series.
Our tester looks very stylish in black and is equipped with a high and tilt roof. A really clever solution that offers a reasonable standing height even with a certain height and also has two sleeping places on the upper deck.
However, that alone adds up to around 5,000 euros, although the total height of the vehicle also increases to an impressive 2.87 meters.
A luxury motorhome for customers who also expect something extraordinary in the van segment. And the Free S 600 offers a lot of that, because it starts with the vehicle it’s based on: It has to be a Mercedes, of course!
The most modern van you can currently buy. With assistance systems as numerous and modern as is only known from luxury saloons: adaptive cruise control or blind spot assist, for example.
In addition, it has a multifunction leather steering wheel, a large screen with the large MBUX multimedia system, a reversing camera, seats with good lateral support, leg rests and adjustable armrests. Simply great!
A large control panel is located in the headlining between the driver and front passenger, where it is easy to reach and see.
The passage to the rear is very airy thanks to the high ceiling. However, uneven flooring can become a tripping hazard if you’re not careful.
Inside
The distribution is classic with a two-seater bench, table, narrow kitchen block, bathroom and transverse bed in the rear.
Compared to the very automotive appearance of the Sven Hedin, the Hymer looks more like a mobile home: apart from the comfortable front seats, the fabric-covered walls, a full kitchen block, even with a worktop extension, tall cabinet and a classic refrigerator guarantee absolute comfort.
There is also a practical bathroom, a small closet and a mirror on the bathroom wall.
This is how the Hymer Free drives
It is totally comfortable and safe. There are also no complaints in the slalom test or in the evasive maneuver. ESP always intervenes quickly and safely.
Westfalia Sven Hedin: clear and demanding
Sven Hedin, that’s a true classic in the motorhome industry. It is named after the Swedish geographer and explorer Sven Anders Hedin (1865-1952), who undertook daring expeditions into the mountains and deserts of Central Asia.
Originally based on the VW LT, the current edition of East Westfalia’s roomy station wagon is based on the Volkswagen Crafter’s twin, the MAN TGE.
We are talking about a first-class motorhome with a great history. Even the greeting on the cockpit screen with “Welcome” letters and a lion symbol is a sight to behold.
Otherwise, the connection to Volkswagen is obvious: dashboard, cockpit, seats, everything as you know it from the Crafter.
And there are many great details from the camping specialist Westfalia, which also equips Mercedes or Ford models: super solid furniture construction and well thought-out equipment with many practical solutions.
The one on the bed extension, for example, is downright clever. Unlike the Hymer with its bulges at the rear, the Sven Hedin is cramped there when driving. And you can extend it at the touch of a button when you need the cross bed. That provides the last necessary centimeters.
The ergonomically well-contoured two-seater bench seat can be moved forward a few inches for a more comfortable position; in that case, the backs are no longer so steep.
The table with extension is enough for four people. While driving, you can occupy a designated spot in the rear under the bed. The long, narrow kitchen unit with a two-burner hob offers a considerably larger work surface than that of the Hymer.
There are three drawers at the front, the top one with a cutlery insert. The two lower ones belong to the compressor refrigerator.
There is also storage space in the front in three drawers and a cabinet. The gas shutoff valve is also located there.
Very nice: the oil-fired hot water heating system with four convectors as standard, which can be supplemented with underfloor heating.
This is how the Hedin drives
Top notch, although the suspension is tighter than the Sprinter. As a result, the TGE feels much more grippy and active in the slalom and evasive test.