• Exceptionally clever packaging and design
• Sleeping room for four
• Gas hob, fridge and sink included

One of the most appealing things about the California is just how cleverly VW integrates the camper van features. There are cupboards and wardrobes in the back, a two-ring hob (powered by a gas bottle integrated into the rear storage), 42-litre electric cool box (which can be used to keep things warm as well) and on-board tanks for both fresh and waste water.

The range-topping Ocean gets two large auxiliary batteries to power all this and its electric pop-up roof (the roof is manually operated on lesser models), and all versions come with an electric hook-up so you can plug them into the mains when you’re parked at a suitable camp site.

There’s also an awning on the side, a fold-up table hidden in the sliding door and a pair of fold-up chairs in the tailgate –  brilliant packaging, though note that the struts that hold the tailgate aloft are particularly strong as a result, and we’ve found it requires quite a tug to close. Here, the optional electrically-powered tailgate is a big advantage.

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Seating arrangements

You get four seats as standard in the California: two individual swivelling chairs at the front and two on the rear bench that doubles as a bed in the back. Beneath this is a large, strong drawer unit that is useful for storing items such as the electric hook-up cable.

This whole bench slides back and forth on the standard floor rails. Two extra individual seats can be added ahead of it in the entry-level Beach, but you can only add one to the Coast and Ocean models due to the included sink and stove. Similarly, the Beach has the option of a three-seater rear bench, and therefore the ability to transport up to seven, but this is too wide for the amount of space available in the equivalent Ocean.

There is room for further storage behind the bench seat, so you can adjust this using the rails as required.

Sleeping arrangements

The two-berth bed in the passenger compartment is created by folding the rear bench flat; if you’re thinking that can’t possibly be long enough for an adult you’d be right – you have to attach an additional frame and mattress portion to extend it. The process is a little bit awkward in our experience, but we’re sure you’d soon get used to it if you were using your California on a regular basis.

Up on the roof things are much more straightforward – as the mattress is ready and waiting as soon as the canopy is raised. However, to get up there you have to climb through a hole roughly the size of a sunroof above the front seats, so access requires a certain amount of physical dexterity.

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For pre-2019 facelift models, the upper mattress rests on sprung wooden slats; after the facelift these have been replaced by individual plastic coil springs, designed to be more comfortable and to allow people to shift around without waking their sleeping partner.

We’ve tried both beds at various campsites, and can attest that the top bed is the more comfortable. But both are on the firm side, so side sleepers or those who prefer a softer berth may want to invest in a decent mattress topper.

The pop-up roof area is surrounded by fully waterproof material with zip-out portions for visibility and ventilation. For 2019-on models, this material is darker grey than before to reduce the amount of light that leaks through; this works well but light sleepers may still want an eye mask.

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Let there be light – and auxiliary heating

Lighting features include built-in rechargeable torches that can be removed to help you find the shower block in the dark as well as all the proper interior illumination you’d expect – including upstairs in the roof area.

On 2019-onwards models with the camping touchscreen controller above the rear view mirror, this can be used to switch the lights on and off, and even activate a sunrise alarm feature, which instead of making lots of noise gradually brings up the lights at a set time to (theoretically) wake you gently.

An auxiliary heater is also available, so you shouldn’t freeze during especially cold nights, but only the Ocean gets three-zone climate control and a programmable parking heater as standard.

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Safety

Euro NCAP awarded the closely-related VW Transporter a Gold Medal in the 2022 Commercial Van Safety Awards stating: While it still lags behind the best offered on passenger cars, the Transporter remains one of the commercial vans that sets the bar for others in terms of safety.’

Standard equipment on all T6 models include six airbags and electronic stability control, but the number of active driver aids (standard or otherwise) has increased considerably during the vehicle’s lifetime – with examples being the inclusion of autonomous emergency braking (AEB) on all UK models from mid-2017.

T6.1 Californias have gained electrically power-assisted steering (EPAS), which has made even more active safety items possible, including crosswind assist (now standard on all models), lane-keeping assist and automatic parking. Other safety items available include blindspot monitors, adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition.

Isn’t the sliding door on the wrong side?

The California’s sliding side door is on the driver’s side in the UK when you might expect it to be on the passenger side so that people are less likely to exit from it into traffic.

However, since you can walk right through the cabin into the front of the van, any safety concerns about this are easily resolved by letting rear passengers out through the front passenger door instead.

It’s also worth noting the sheer size of the rear tailgate, which requires plenty of space to open, making it potentially difficult in crowded car parks. On the plus side it serves as a handy rain shelter when changing muddy boots. The Mercedes Marco Polo gets round this problem by including an opening rear window in its enormous tailgate.