Hertz Fiat Benivan 120 Camper-Van Review: Our First Iceland RV Trip
Photo note: Unless explicitly credited otherwise, the photos in this Iceland article are our original images from our September 27-October 6, 2024 Ring Road trip.
อ่านบทความนี้เป็นภาษาไทย: เปิดเวอร์ชันภาษาไทย
An Iceland road scene from the early part of our camper-van trip.
For our Iceland Ring Road loop, we rented a Fiat Benivan 120 camper van from Hertz. It was our first RV trip, and we chose this model because it is closer to a large van than a full-size motorhome.
Why the size worked
The van was manageable on Iceland's roads and easier to park and maneuver than a larger RV. It seats up to four people and the front seats rotate to face the dining table.
The tradeoff is space. The main bed runs across the width of the van. At 6 feet 2 inches, I barely fit when lying perfectly straight. The upper bunk has an 85 kg / 187 lb weight limit per person, so we used it mainly for luggage.
What was included
The kitchen came with two gas burners, a sink, refrigerator, and cooking and eating utensils. The refrigerator ran continuously. The bathroom had a toilet, shower curtain, heater airflow, and enough comfort to be much better than an airplane bathroom.
There were USB and USB-C ports, but they were not fast chargers. The two European-style 220V outlets only worked when connected to campsite shore power.
Driving details beginners should know
The Benivan 120 has a six-speed manual transmission. It does not have a rearview mirror or backup camera, and there was no built-in phone mount. Bring your own dashboard phone holder and take extra care when reversing.
The daily campsite chores
- Drain gray water from the sink and shower at the designated dump point.
- Remove and empty the toilet cassette from the outside access panel.
- Rinse the cassette, add a little fresh water, and use the supplied blue enzyme packet.
- Refill the fresh-water tank using the hose marked for fresh water.
The reward is flexibility: you are not tied to hotel reservations, and you can choose a campsite that fits the day's weather and driving distance. Always check current campsite rules and seasonal opening dates before traveling.
The side of our camper van during the Iceland trip.
The arrival and return routines mattered as much as the driving. We checked the van carefully at pickup, learned the dumping procedure before the final morning, and allowed time for a final fuel stop and inspection. The arrival-day checklist and departure checklist collect those practical steps.
Read this alongside our complete counter-clockwise Iceland Ring Road itinerary, then continue to the South Coast and Jokulsarlon guide.
Quick Q&A
Will a tall traveler fit? At 6 feet 2 inches, I just fit across the main bed. Taller travelers may find it cramped.
Can you use the 220V outlets while driving? No. They require shore power at a campsite.