Today we're doing a head to head comparison between the Hymer Aktiv 1.0 and the Roadtrek
Zion SRT.
Which one of these short camper vans will come up the winner?
It's hard to say because both these vans are really great in their own way.
Hi everyone I'm Neil Balthaser
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I do reviews and head to head comparisons like this every week.
Now this isn't the first nor the second head to head competition for the Aktiv.
We've previously pitted it up against one of my personal favorites the Pleasure-way
Lexor FL and the ever-popular Winnebago Travato 59G.
Each time the Aktiv's come up the winner.
But this head to head comparison's different because both these vans are built on the Ram
Promaster 2500 chassis and that gives them exactly the same exterior and interior dimensions.
BOTH are also built by Erwin Hymer Group North America.
That means they have similar levels of fit and finish, quality and warranties.
But, each has a different layout and each has made different compromises and design
choices that set it apart from the other.
Does one do a better job than the other?
Let's jump inside and find out.
The biggest difference between the Zion SRT and the Aktiv is that the Zion has the ever-popular
(at least here in North America) rear lounge with a convertible sofa bed setup.
Why is this layout so popular here in North America?
Because it is a superior lounge to the Aktiv's.
All the short comings of the Aktiv's lounge are addressed here: You've got lots of comfortable
seating for 4.
If that wardrobe wasn't there you'd have room for 5.
Not only is there lots of seating the sofa electronically reclines so that you can lay
back and watch a movie.
Speaking of movies the 24 inch flat screen tv is sensibly placed so that everyone in
the lounge can watch it.
An important note however is that the TV is not standard in the Zion.
It's an $850 upgrade.
A table can be easily put up so that family and friends can share a meal.
There's plenty of head room, lot's of light from all those windows and when the weather's
nice you can fling open those back door and with the optional screen package let the outside
in.
I mean as lounges go, this is a great setup.
There's also 2 3-pt seatbelts which makes the Zion SRT as suitable for family camping
as the Aktiv.
As a bonus you get a front lounge as well.
Just move the pedestal table up to the front and swivel the captain's chairs around.
Now someone can be using the front lounge while someone else is in the rear lounge/bedroom.
Now let's head into the Aktiv's lounge.
It's a permanent lounge situated here in the front of the van.
It's kind of cool because it uses the cab as living area when you swivel those front
seats around.
I like that the table has an extension that flips up when you need it.
Like the Zion SRT there are 2 3-pt seatbelts for the jump seat which means that like the
Zion the Aktiv is suitable as a family camnper van.
The jump seat however is on the small side.
You're not going to get a couple adults sitting there comfortably like you can on the Zion.
Also, the jump seat doesn't recline.
The TV's in a terrible position sitting behind the jumpseat so movie night with the family
isn't going to be possible.
On the plus side, it is a standard feature, unlike the Zion.
Lighting is poor in the Aktiv's lounge but I love that giant pop up sun roof.
It gives the Aktiv an open and airy feeling during the day.
So the lounge in the Aktiv is nice but the Zion's lounge is superior.
Moving on to the galley.
The galleys are pretty similar.
They're both located on the passenger's side of the van and like the Aktiv you get about
the same counter prep space, a 2 burner propane stove, the same microwave and a similarly
sized sink.
But the Zion SRT gives you a ton more storage since that refrigerator and microwave can
stay on the driver's side freeing up all the cabinet space above and below the counter.
Plus, the refrigerator is much larger at 5 cubic feet.
Also, the Zion offers an induction cooktop option which the Aktiv doesn't.
As far as electrical systems are concerned: They're almost identical.
Both come with 2 lead acid batteries standard, a 2000 watt inverter and optional solar.
An underhood generator is optional on the Zion so as a base package the Zion is pretty
lacking.
Here we are inside the Aktiv's galley.
You can see that there's a lot less galley storage than on the Zion SRT because the microwave
and refrigerator have been moved onto this side of the van to free up space across the
aisle for the bathroom.
While the microwave is the same size, the refrigerator is considerably smaller.
Speaking of bathrooms let's just get this out of the way: The Aktiv features a 5 gallon
cassette toilet.
You'll either love or hate the cassette toilet.
The Zion has a much larger 9 gallon black tank.
Now I prefer a black tank because you have to empty your gray tank anyways so... while
you're at it you can simply pull the black tank valve and empty your black tank as well.
That's just me.
We touched on the electrical systems but it's important to note again that the Aktiv comes
with that underhood generator standard while the Zion's is optional.
Like the Zion you can upgrade the Aktiv to 400 amp hours of lithium with a $5,000 Eco-Trek
upgrade.
It's the same upgrade for both vans.
Also both offer Voltstart as a $1900 option so that you can have the van start its engine
automatically to recharge your lithium batteries.
That's useful if you have pets and you're away and need to run the air conditioner.
So I'm kinda torn on the galley.
On the one hand the Zion SRT's gives you a lot more storage and a bigger refrigerator.
But without a standard generator its electrical system is lacking.
Is it better to have more kitchen storage or a standard underhood generator?
I know what my preference is.
Do you?
Alright, let's talk bedrooms.
Here we are in the Zion SRT's bedroom.
On the Zion SRT the lounge converts to the bedroom.
You push a button to lower the sofa into a good sized bed.
It's plenty big for 2 people and it has the added bonus that you can either fill in that
middle section with cushions to have one large bed or leave it open and have two twin beds.
Flexibility in your bed configuration is a real strength of this particular layout.
I prefer leaving that middle section open so that it's easier to get in and out of bed
without crawling over the other person.
Another plus for the SRT's bed is that it is a good height.
You're not going to have to climb up and down into bed.
Just swing your legs out and your feet are touching the ground.
A minus though for the SRT's bed is that it is not as comfortable to lay in as the Aktiv's.
You can feel the seams and those ottomans don't use memory foam.
Because the bedroom is converted from the lounge you get the benefit of having a 24
inch TV in your bedroom.
Jumping into the Aktiv's bedroom we can see we have a completely different configuration.
Here the bed is permanent.
You can leave it down and made up and still have your front lounge.
That's a big plus for the Aktiv's.
It's not a huge deal to have to make your bed up every night but it sure is nice not
having to.
The bed is a pretty good size.
Two people are going to sleep comfortably AND I can tell you that the bed in the Aktiv
is much more comfortable to lay in.
The mattress is a proper mattress and there's a wooden slat system to give the mattress
support.
The biggest disadvantage of the Aktiv's bed configuration is that you're going to have
to climb over the other person to get into and out of the bed.
That and the bed is up higher so you're going to have to climb up and down to get into it.
Those may not be deal breakers but its an important consideration.
The biggest difference between the Aktiv and the Zion SRT's bedrooms is that the Aktiv's
converts into a garage!
Just flip that bed up against the wall and you have a huge garage with tons of storage
above and below including pass through storage for long or bulky items.
That's just a huge advantage the Aktiv has over the SRT.
So whos wins this head to head comparison?
The Zion SRT with its highly functional lounge and tons of kitchen storage or the Aktiv 1.0
with its versatile front lounge and tons of garage storage?
PAUSE...
I have to give it to the Aktiv 1.0..... again!
The biggest strength of the Zion SRT is its rear lounge but honestly, the Aktiv's lounge
holds its own.
It's not like the SRT's lounge just blows it out of the water.
But, the bedroom/garage of the Aktiv does blow the SRT's bedroom out of the water.
In a bedroom sleeping comfort is paramount and the Aktiv delivers.
Plus you get the added bonus of all that storage when you convert the bedroom into a garage.
The SRT gives you more galley storage but I can't store a canoe in the kitchen.
One of the reasons why it's so hard to beat the Aktiv is because it balances its tradeoffs
so well.
It's one of the ONLY class b vans on the market that gives you a permanent rear bed; a permanent
front lounge; pass through storage in a garage; loads of standard features and tons of options
AND does it all in a short 19 foot package.
With it's industry leading 6 year warranty and 2 years of road side assistance it's no
wonder the AKtiv is so hard to beat.
I love doing these head to head comparisons and if you like them too then you should watch
some more of them by clicking the playlist to the right.
If you want to support me and my channel and encourage me to make more camper van reviews
and comparisons then please subscribe by clicking the circular subscribe button below.
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