KuKu Campers review

KuKu Campers is an Icelandic camper rental company with a distinctive graffiti-painted fleet.

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Profile reviewed and updated on

Background

Company overview

The business began in Iceland in 2012 with an older Renault Kangoo. It has developed into a direct rental company with its own vehicle handover and service operation in Reykjanesbær, close to Keflavík Airport. Rentals are offered throughout the year.

Painted vehicles remain part of KuKu's identity, although a rental can also be assigned a plain white vehicle. The company books by category: the vehicle supplied may be a similar or higher category, with the requested travel and sleeping capacity retained. A particular model or interior layout is not guaranteed.

Our verdict

Editorial review

The strongest part of KuKu's offer is the freedom to choose how much camper to take on the road. A small sleeping vehicle and a van with standing room represent quite different ways to travel, and the range gives both a clear place. The interiors favour straightforward camping over a fully equipped motorhome experience; the appeal depends on whether that simplicity matches the trip.

There is also a distinction between the standard and experienced categories. The latter explicitly accommodate older, higher-mileage vehicles, so choosing one means accepting that part of the product. In the small selection of customer accounts considered here, staff assistance was repeatedly praised, while reports of vehicle condition and supplied equipment were mixed. Those accounts give useful context without establishing a typical outcome for every rental.

Good points

  • Distance and a second driver are included.Unlimited mileage and a free additional driver apply across the range. Sharing the driving and covering more ground do not themselves trigger a mileage supplement or second-driver fee; the separate daily road charge still applies.
  • Practical help when problems arise.Several travellers in the small review sample described helpful instructions or practical help when something went wrong. Accounts include a replacement offer after a heater failure and a separate report of a replacement vehicle arriving within hours. These are individual experiences, rather than a promised response time.

Things to consider

  • No bathroom-equipped category.Even the larger vans have no fitted toilet or indoor shower. Moving up the range buys more living or sleeping space, but does not add an onboard bathroom.
  • Late arrivals cannot collect a camper.Vehicle handover takes place at the depot during its opening hours. There is no after-hours pickup, so a late flight can require an overnight stay before collecting the vehicle.

Our assessment

Ratings

Editorial score

7.1/10

Our rating

Fleet and collection logistics score most strongly; transparency and rental terms pull the overall result lower.

Fleet choice and traveller fitWeight: 25%

8/10
8/10

Clarity of fleet categories and specificationsWeight: 20%

5.8/10
5.8/10

Depot network and trip flexibilityWeight: 20%

7.8/10
7.8/10

Rental terms and cost transparencyWeight: 20%

6.5/10
6.5/10

Support and handoverWeight: 15%

7.2/10
7.2/10
How our ratings work

Editorial score

Our editorial score is a weighted assessment of five areas: vehicle choice and traveller fit, clarity of fleet categories and specifications, depot network and trip flexibility, clarity of rental terms and costs, and support and handover. We review the company’s published fleet and locations and the rental conditions that apply to the brand.

Vehicle categories

KuKu Campers fleet

A

Seats
2
Sleeps
2
Toilet
No
Shower
No
Transmission
Manual

AA

Seats
2
Sleeps
2
Toilet
No
Shower
No
Transmission
Automatic

AB

Seats
2
Sleeps
2
Toilet
No
Shower
No
Transmission
Manual

ABx

Seats
2
Sleeps
2
Toilet
No
Shower
No
Transmission
—

B

Seats
3
Sleeps
3
Toilet
No
Shower
No
Transmission
Manual

B EX

Seats
3
Sleeps
3
Toilet
No
Shower
No
Transmission
Manual

BA

Seats
3
Sleeps
3
Toilet
No
Shower
No
Transmission
Automatic

C

Seats
5
Sleeps
5
Toilet
No
Shower
No
Transmission
Manual

C EX

Seats
—
Sleeps
—
Toilet
No
Shower
No
Transmission
Manual

C3

Seats
—
Sleeps
—
Toilet
No
Shower
No
Transmission
Manual

CA

Seats
5
Sleeps
5
Toilet
No
Shower
No
Transmission
Automatic

CA3

Seats
—
Sleeps
—
Toilet
No
Shower
No
Transmission
Automatic

D

Seats
2
Sleeps
2
Toilet
No
Shower
No
Transmission
Automatic

E

Seats
3
Sleeps
3
Toilet
No
Shower
No
Transmission
Manual

EA Campervan(new)

Seats
3
Sleeps
3
Toilet
No
Shower
No
Transmission
Automatic

EAX

Seats
3
Sleeps
3
Toilet
No
Shower
No
Transmission
Automatic

F

Seats
—
Sleeps
—
Toilet
No
Shower
No
Transmission
Automatic

G

Seats
2
Sleeps
2
Toilet
No
Shower
No
Transmission
Automatic

H

Seats
2
Sleeps
2
Toilet
No
Shower
No
Transmission
Manual

I

Seats
2
Sleeps
2
Toilet
No
Shower
No
Transmission
Automatic

KuKu's range runs from small vehicles with a bed inside to tall campervans, with two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive choices.

The A, AA, AB and ABx categories are the smallest van-based options. A is a manual spring-and-summer camper without a heater; AA adds automatic transmission and heating, while AB has a heater and a sitting area that converts to a bed. These compact interiors keep the vehicle small rather than providing standing-height living space.

B and BA move into the larger Trafic-style format, with three travel seats and three sleeping places. Their 200 × 160 cm bed is appreciably wider than those in the smallest categories, although B's 135 cm interior height still means sitting rather than standing inside. B is manual and BA automatic. C and CA use taller Master-style vans with bunk beds, a convertible dining area and about 188 cm of standing height; C is manual and CA automatic.

The experienced categories are a separate choice within that range. B EX, for example, is offered with mileage starting at 260,000 km, while ABx and C EX also belong to the older or higher-mileage part of the fleet. This is a category characteristic, not a promise of the mileage on the assigned vehicle.

Four-wheel drive: SUV sleeper or campervan

D, G, H and I put the bed inside an enclosed 4×4. They differ substantially in the sleeping space and heating: G has a heater and a 193 × 113 cm bed, whereas H and I have no overnight heater. H's mattress-to-roof clearance is 65 cm and I's is 68 cm, so these are sleeping spaces rather than upright living areas. I is explicitly unsuitable for children.

E, EA Campervan(new) and EAX use a van format, with heating and a wider 185 × 160 cm bed. E is manual; EA and EAX are automatic. The F category adds standing room, bunks and a two-ring stove. Four-wheel drive does not remove KuKu's named road restrictions or cover damage from river crossings.

Cold-season equipment

Heating and running water need separate consideration. For B, B EX, BA, C, C EX, C3, CA, D, E, EA and EAX, running water is suspended from late October to early April. CA3 and F describe their water supply as a summer facility. A heated vehicle therefore need not have working running water during a winter rental.

Locations

KuKu Campers pickup locations

Open each country to see its pickup locations.

Iceland 1

  • Reykjanesbær depot Klettatröð 19, 262 Reykjanesbær

Before booking

Practical facts

TopicWhat to know
DriversThe minimum age is 20, with a valid driving licence held for at least one year. A standard licence is accepted. An additional driver is included without an extra fee.
Minimum rentalThree days, or 72 hours.
Mileage and road chargeMileage is unlimited. KuKu applies a fixed road/fuel charge of EUR 11 per rental day, regardless of the distance driven.
Rental paymentDirect bookings normally take full payment, with an option to pay a minimum 25% advance. Payment of the remaining balance in cash on arrival can be requested. The advance is part of the rental price, not a security deposit.
CancellationFor cancellations more than 48 hours before pickup, direct website bookings are refunded after a EUR 100 processing charge per reservation. Less than 48 hours before pickup, and for no-shows, no refund is paid.
Booking changesChanges made at least two weeks before pickup carry no extra change fee. Changing dates does not guarantee the same rental price. Extras can be changed at pickup.
Collision protectionBasic CDW is included, with EUR 3,000 responsibility for covered collision damage. SCDW costs EUR 20 per rental day and reduces that amount to EUR 750. PCDW costs EUR 30 per day and reduces the covered collision excess to EUR 0. These figures are damage responsibility, not card-hold amounts; exclusions still apply.
Protection packagesGolden costs EUR 35 per rental day and combines SCDW, gravel and sand/ash protection. Platinum costs EUR 50 per day and combines PCDW, gravel, sand/ash and tyre protection. Wind-door protection is a separate EUR 25-per-day option and is not listed in either package.
Excluded damageRiver-crossing damage, undercarriage damage, wrong fuel, lost keys, height damage and negligence are among the protection exclusions. Wind-door damage requires its corresponding cover. A reduced collision excess is not a maximum liability for every type of loss.
Included camping equipmentA mattress, stove, utensils and cleaning supplies are included. Bedding and gas are extra: a sleeping bag costs EUR 23 per item, and a pillow or blanket EUR 7 per item.
GasA, H and I use the listed Gas 450 bottle at EUR 10 per bottle. The listed AA, AB, B, BA, C, CA, D, E, EA, F and G categories use CP250 at EUR 7 per bottle.
Child seatsKuKu vans lack Isofix. A child under 15 months requires advance confirmation of the child seat. A baby seat costs EUR 30 per item; a 15–30 kg booster costs EUR 20 per item. Hiring a seat does not establish that it fits every category.
Collection and airport transfersThe depot opens daily from 08:00 to 18:00, with no after-hours collection. The free, prebooked shuttle from Keflavík Airport runs hourly from 08:00 to 18:00. Return shuttles to the airport run hourly from 07:45 to 17:45 and are arranged at pickup. Airport meeting is for the transfer; camper handover is at the depot.
Hotel transfersTransfers can be arranged in advance between the depot and a specified Keflavík hotel. This service does not include Reykjavík hotels.
Out-of-hours returnsA camper can be left at the depot after hours, locked with the keys through the door hatch. A separate airport-area return at the Geysir car-rental return point costs EUR 75 per return outside office hours; handover instructions specify the return procedure.
CleaningInterior cleaning can be prepaid or charged after a dirty return. The published charge is EUR 50 per rental for A, AA, AB, D, G, H and I, and EUR 100 for B, BA, C, CA, E, EA and F.
Fuel returnReturn with the same fuel level as at collection. A shortfall is charged as the missing fuel cost, plus a 10% per-litre surcharge and EUR 10.
Late return or extensionAn agreed extension requires consent. The contract allows a charge of up to another 24-hour rental when a vehicle is returned one hour late.
Roadside assistanceKuKu's assistance line operates daily from 08:00 to 20:00 on +354 415 5858, option 2.
Permitted roadsD, E, EA, F, G, H and I may use F-roads except F-88, F-210 and F-249. Closed roads and off-road driving are excluded. A, AA, AB, B, BA, C and CA may use smooth gravel, but lose protection on the gravel sections of roads 35, 550, 208 and 864. Prohibited-road use, including taking a non-4×4 onto an F-road, carries a EUR 500 penalty per violation. River-crossing damage remains excluded from protection.

Quick answers

KuKu Campers FAQ

Do KuKu campers have a toilet and shower?

The range has no fitted toilet or indoor shower, including its taller vans. Choosing a larger KuKu camper increases interior space without adding those facilities.

Which KuKu campers have heating for a winter trip?

A, H and I have no overnight heater; the other categories have heating. Winter tyres are supplied in winter. Running water is a separate seasonal feature and is switched off during the colder months in many categories, so a heater does not mean that every onboard facility is available year-round.

Can a KuKu 4×4 use every F-road?

No. For D, E, EA, F, G, H and I, F-88, F-210 and F-249 are excluded. Closed roads remain off limits, and permission to drive a road does not provide protection against river-crossing damage.

Can I collect a KuKu camper at Keflavík Airport late at night?

No. Collection takes place at the Reykjanesbær depot between 08:00 and 18:00. The airport service is a prebooked shuttle to that depot, not vehicle handover at the terminal, and after-hours pickup is unavailable.

Are sleeping bags, pillows and gas included?

KuKu supplies a mattress and cooking equipment, but bedding and gas are paid extras. Sleeping bags cost EUR 23 each, pillows EUR 7 each and blankets EUR 7 each. Gas costs EUR 7 or EUR 10 per bottle for the categories listed against each bottle type.

Does KuKu's Platinum package include wind-door protection?

No. Platinum combines PCDW, gravel, sand/ash and tyre protection at EUR 50 per rental day. Wind-door protection is listed separately at EUR 25 per day. Platinum's EUR 0 covered collision excess does not remove liability for excluded damage.

What does an experienced KuKu category mean?

It identifies an older or higher-mileage part of the range. B EX, for example, starts at a published 260,000 km; ABx and C EX are also experienced categories. That description does not guarantee the age, condition or mileage of the vehicle assigned to a booking.

Does unlimited mileage remove KuKu's daily road charge?

No. The EUR 11 road/fuel charge applies per rental day irrespective of distance. Unlimited mileage means there is no separate distance allowance to run through.

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