What’s it like inside?
The forward section of the Volkswagen California features two wide, comfortable and supportive captain’s chairs, which feature sizeable armrests to help make longer journeys that little bit more comfortable. These can rotate round to face the rear seats and create an open seating area once the vehicle is stationary.
There’s plenty of storage dotted throughout the cabin, and you have the cooker and sink positioned under a glass top to the side of the car. There’s even a fridge.
Up top, you can pop the roof (electrically) to extend the headroom of the California, and this also features a roof bed and stowage component. You can even program the heating when parked via remote control.
Everything feels sturdy and built to last – which is just what you want from a vehicle which is going to be going here, there and everywhere.
What’s under the bonnet?
The California uses Volkswagen’s tried-and-tested 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel, which here pushes out 150hp and 340Nm of torque to the front wheels via a seven-speed automatic gearbox.
Its 0-60mph acceleration is hardly what you’d call brisk, at a claimed 14.2 seconds, and neither is its 110mph top speed. However, out on the road it rarely feels underpowered or unable to deal with the job in hand, which is impressive considering the amount of weight it has to pull around.
Economy-wise, Volkswagen claims 40.9mpg on the combined cycle, while emissions stand at 179g/km of CO2. Neither of these is bad for the segment, and when coupled with a 70-litre fuel tank means that the California has a decent touring range of over 600 miles – depending on how you drive it, of course.
What’s it like to drive?
Uneventful, predictable and safe – not necessarily driving traits that will get the blood pumping, but all ones you want to associate with a camper van.
The California steers and handles well given its size and weight, and there’s a little less roll in the corner than you’d expect. The steering is relatively light, but it’s reasonably accurate and allows you to get the van through bends with little fuss.
Though that engine may not be all that punchy, it gets up to a lick pretty quickly, and it feels far quicker than the numbers suggest, in fact. The automatic gearbox is the star of the show here, mind; it’s smooth, efficient and responsive.
The only issue here is an occasional loss of front-end traction when pulling hard away from a junction. It’s something we’ll admit that not many people will suffer with, but hard starts from a dead stop can get the front wheels spinning in an almost impressive fashion.
Verdict
The Volkswagen California is geared towards adventures and, if that’s your thing, then you won’t for a second be disappointed by picking this well-finished Volkswagen.
It’s easy to drive – one of its biggest merits – yet it looks premium enough to be parked up in even the smartest of campsites.
Expensive it may be, but many will see the California as an investment, in the same vein as a classic sports car, to be enjoyed over many years and in all manner of places. If you look at it that way, it makes a lot of sense indeed.
Key specifications
Model as tested: Volkswagen California Ocean
Price (on-road): £63,155
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 150 hp
Torque: 340 Nm
Top speed: 110 mph
0-60mph: 14.2 seconds
Fuel economy (combined): 40.9 mpg
CO2 emissions: 179 g/km
