Eriba is known as Hymer’s caravan brand, so it is all the more surprising that the “Eriba Car 600” has now been presented to the public under the Eriba brand umbrella at the CMT.
At first glance at the Eriba Car 600, it is immediately apparent that Hymer clearly wants to attack the Grand California 600. As die-hard Cali fans, we took a look at the Eriba Car 600 and tell you here whether Volkswagen should fear Hymer as a competitor.
The basis of the Eriba Car 600
In April 2023, the Hymer Group announced in a press release(click here for the press release) that Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles would become a new supplier. The first step was to order 6000 Crafters, laying the foundation for the Eriba Car 600. The basis is the Crafter with a length of 5.99 meters, optionally with a 140 or 177 hp diesel engine.
The first look
At first glance, the roof immediately catches the eye; unlike the Grand California, the Eriba Car does not have a GRP roof, but comes with the steel roof of the Crafter. However, this does not noticeably restrict the headroom for us.
The attached GRP flares tell us from the outside that this is also a transverse sleeper.
Hymer offers its Eriba Car 600 in three colors, Ocean Blue, Cherry Red and Indium Grey Metallic.
But let’s finally go inside and take a look at the centerpiece.
The interior
Brown leather seats, blue furniture fronts and indirect lighting are rounded off with fleece-covered walls. Somehow the Eriba seems cozy, not as tidy as the Grand California, but my first impression of the interior was really positive. As an absolute GC fan, this came as a surprise to me, because with all the Crafter-based vans I’ve driven so far, I’ve usually walked out in reverse after a second.
The kitchen
The body is quite reminiscent of the Grand California, okay there aren’t many options left in a van at this point either. Two-burner gas stove with sink and a stylish Reich tap.
The refrigerator comes from Thetford and has a total volume of 90.2 liters, with 7.1 liters for the freezer compartment.
From the outside there is a small table attached to the fridge, you’d think a few people from Hymer had read in the forums what people are missing in the Grand California.
The controls for the interior lighting and sockets are located on the front of the kitchen, which is the first major design…
The bathroom
Tidy and spacious, that’s how the bathroom looks. The washbasin and shelves are all cleverly integrated into the rear wall.
A shower curtain ensures that the walls and toilet do not get wet when showering.
The rear garage
We were a little taken aback by the rear garage, which should have been a harbinger for the second look at the Eriba Car 600. In fact, there is no storage space in the rear, except for the area directly under the bed. There are simply no cupboards that could be used as storage space in the rear; the two existing cupboards serve as a technical and gas cupboard.
Even the really clever hatch can’t make up for that.
The biggest problem with the Eriba Car 600
As good as the concept may seem, a van that offers virtually no storage space is simply useless. There are a couple of wall units and two tiny drawers in the kitchen, that’s it! No joke.
Do you remember the introduction where I mentioned that Hymer uses a steel and not a GRP roof? Here, too, there is a lack of storage space due to the height; where there is a large compartment in the Grand California, there is nothing in the Eriba.
This makes the interior appear much more spacious than it really is.
As cleverly designed as the bathroom is, a look at the room for cosmetics once again clearly shows the biggest problem. There is no room.
Hymer advertises with three sleeping berths, but where do travelers put their luggage?
Configuration & price
The list of possible extras is long and expensive. The basic version comes with a 140 hp diesel engine and manual gearbox; if you want the large 177 hp engine and an automatic gearbox, for example, you will have to pay an extra 5000 euros.
However, Hymer achieves what Volkswagen does not. The customer can order a lithium battery ex works. The configurator also offers a choice of the usual Volkswagen extras and the associated prices.
If you are missing an awning or solar system among the extras, you have not overlooked anything, Hymer does not offer these options.
If you order the Eriba Car 600 with all the extras, the vehicle costs a whopping 103,700 euros.
Conclusion
Hymer does a lot of things right, the design of the furniture is different and looks valuable, but there is a lack of storage space in every nook and cranny. The lack of the option to order an awning is also annoying, but certainly due to the chosen roof. Considering the asking price and the base delivered with it, the vehicle is rather expensive.
So is the Eriba Car 600 a competitor for the Grand California or not? When it comes to design, certainly, but functionally the GC is on a different level. Many features that Hymer pays dearly for are standard in the Grand California.
The Eriba Car 600 will find its customers, it is just questionable whether the target group has the necessary small change in the end.
ATTENTION! There’s something for free:
Would you like to take a spontaneous look for yourself at the CMT? Then fill out our feedback form by Thursday and get the chance to win two tickets for the CMT this weekend. Of course, legal recourse is excluded 😉
