PANAMA P12 (2024-) Review

Built on the comfortable new Ford Transit Custom platform, the Panama P12 is a dream to drive. In all guises, from the panel van version recently reviewed by Auto Trader to camper vans just like this, I’ve found every model of the Transit Custom I’ve driven to be a benchmark for driving comfort. Packing a ULEZ-compliant 136PS 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine under the bonnet, and mated in the Panama P12 with an 8-speed automatic gearbox, driving is easy as well as smooth. The Custom’s big windscreen keeps visibility clear with unintrusive ‘A’ pillars - in camper van format, you’ll be using your door mirrors a lot to make sure you have clearance around the vehicle and these are gratifyingly big. The driver assistance tech is also well-specced with cruise control, speed assist, pre-collision assist, emergency braking, hill start assist, lane keeping, driver alerts, traction control, trailer sway control, keyless entry, wrong way alerts, stability control and LED headlights. The Panama also provides rear-view cameras, front and rear parking sensors, climate control, air con and heated front captain chairs. The infotainment system is very easy to use, being the updated Sync 4 system with a 13-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and multiple control input methods (hand gesture, voice and steering wheel). Building the camper on such a well-equipped version of the Transit Custom really has paid off when you consider that list. The rear bench in the P12 has ISOFIX points for child seats when it’s not folded out into its comfortable double bed setup. Additional travel seats can be yours for an additional £950 including VAT each, and are removable and worth considering if you want to carry additional people or use the vehicle as an MPV. For peace of mind, the P12 also comes with a spare wheel. Overall, it’s hard not to be impressed with the high specification level of this vehicle when it comes to driving comfort and spec - but that’s the ethos of this vehicle, it’s about providing everything you need in a camper for a competitive price. That it’s built on such an outstanding and well-equipped van platform is a strong start to this review.

The Ford Transit Custom is a good-looking van, so on the outside it’s already got a head start in terms of design quality. External touches include alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers and body trim, and a sharp orange line with the name ‘Panama’ tastefully printed on the bottom of the side sliding door and tailgate rear door - the small Panama logo at the end of the sliding door’s rail is also a nice touch. Inside, lightweight brushed metals, coated wood boarding and durable black plastics make up the storage and surface materials, while dark grey textiles and a little bit of pleather keep the seats comfy and durable. The P12’s layout is what I’d describe as a ‘standard’ camper layout - captain’s chairs in the front, roll-out bed/seats in the back, storage, kitchen and pop-top sleeping area. It’s a well-designed interior that makes good use of the space inside the Transit Custom’s body. So, overall, the design of this vehicle is top-notch. I could quibble about some of the materials used inside, but when you consider this vehicle’s price of £59,995 OTR there has to be cost saving somewhere… because when I say I would be quibbling I really do mean it.

A medium van camper van is designed to be a base of operations for time away with friends or family, or on your own, and the Panama P12 offers enough space for up to four people to sleep and live within its walls. The 3cm thick flooring on the base of the vehicle interior keeps you insulated, offering noise reduction and improved temperature control. LED lighting is everywhere, either spots upstairs or ambient downstairs, and some of it can be dimmed to set the right mood. There is storage in all the right places, with water and scratch-resistant coverings on the doors. The door catches are all very positive and will stop unexpected items from forcing the doors to pop open. The table is freestanding with fold-out legs, making it very stable, it clips onto the work surface above the fridge freezer and is nicely housed on the back of the roll-out bed with strong clasps that stop it from rattling around while driving. When you’re sleeping, the vehicle comes with its own set of thermal privacy blinds for the front and rear windows. Sockets are everywhere, including 3 USB charging ports, a 12v socket, one USB-A and one USB-C socket in the cabin, two 230v plug sockets, all powered by the main consumer unit that’s kept in check by the 12v fuse board. In the P12 you get a nice Porta Potti for those times when you get caught short of proper facilities. Heat is provided by the on-board diesel heater, and water by the fresh water pump for cold water from the sink that’s drawn from the 50-litre tank. As you can see, the vehicle is packed with features that make living with and in the vehicle very pleasant.

As you’d expect, the Panama P12 is kitted out with an integrated gas cooker fed from a 2.8-litre gas bottle with two burners. Underneath it is a 42-litre fridge freezer, a cutlery drawer and other storage. The sink is a cold-water sink, supplied by the integrated tank. You can eat in the main area using the fold-out table (which is very stable and clips onto the work surface above the fridge), or if you’re doing it as camper van users often prefer to do, you’ll cook inside and eat outside. However, considering the comfort of the captain chairs, the stability of the table and the excellent bench seat, eating inside and following up a meal with a game of cards is perfectly possible inside the van.

Beds are located ‘upstairs’ in the pop-roof and ‘downstairs’ in the main body of the vehicle. Upstairs you get a generous double bed with a 4cm-thick high density comfort mattress on a sprung and slatted base, and downstairs you push back and roll out the bench seat into another double bed. Both sleeping areas are comfortable and spacious. The top deck features a very easy-to-deploy canopy pop roof with mosquito nets and a nice feature that allows you to unzip the canvas at the front of the vehicle to create a panoramic opening. It’s arguably the area this vehicle does best - sleeping is likely to be the main activity in the camper, so it needs to do it well. I had no trouble getting the roof up, the beds deployed and enjoyed a cheeky lie down in the upstairs bed while I got my review notes together. Another strong showing for this vehicle.

This might be the easiest section of the whole review. The Panama P12 is exceptional value for money - just take a look through the previous sections. At £59,995 OTR, this might be one of the best kitted out, best equipped and best looking campers on the market available right now. For individuals, families and friend groups looking for a competitively-priced camper van that still offers all the mod cons of a far more expensive camper, there really is only one place I’d be pointing them at this price point - right here.

You’ll buy the Panama P12 because you’re looking for a modern camper, built on a reliable platform that’s packed with mod cons and sleeps four people with no issues. When I first looked at the spec list, I paused for thought, and when I saw the vehicle up close and spent time in it, I was convinced. In short, a sub-£60,000 price tag for a camper of this quality and spec should do very well in today’s marketplace where £70-80,000 price points are commonplace. No hesitation in recommending this excellent medium van camper to anyone in the market for one. To see the Panama motorhomes currently available, click here.