Should you buy one?

The Volkswagen California is born of decades of practical experience. It’s an incredibly well-designed camper and, although it costs a fair bit, we can’t imagine there are many present owners who feel like they’ve got poor value for money. The California also holds its value well, so you’re unlikely to loose too much if you change your mind and decide to sell it on within the first three years.

While the number of car-manufacturer-created camper van rivals is growing, and there remain countless third-party conversions available on a whole range of vans both bigger and smaller, there’s nothing quite like the California for smart solutions and sharp thinking. Though the Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo is higher quality, inside faster and better to drive, it isn’t quite as clever inside. And costs more.

Considering its size, shape and van-based origins, this VW is still a comfortable and competent vehicle to drive, and one that will happily shrug off long distances, keeping its occupants relaxed and refreshed all the while. Avoid that basic 102hp engine, and the performance is more than adequate too, with refinement that shames plenty of regular family cars.

Of course, it’s the brilliance it brings to the camping experience that really shines through here. The original T6 model launched in 2015 was already exceptionally well sorted in this regard, but the newer 6.1 facelift that replaced it in late 2019 still managed to deliver meaningful improvements.

Fit and finish is well up to the task of surviving family camping life, and with a kitchen, you really are getting a home away from home – well as long as you don’t mind using communal campsite bathrooms.

VW California versus Grand California – which is better?

To some the larger Grand California’s on-board bathroom will be incredibly attractive, and the top of the regular California range is very close to the bottom of the Grand California range in price. But for others, the need to empty its built-in toilet will prove a distinct disadvantage.

The bigger model also has more living space on board, but the smaller model has a more convenient boot and will be a tad more convenient to park – certainly when it comes to dealing with height restrictors. Both are remarkably easy to drive.

In the end which you choose will come down to what better suits your camping ambitions and lifestyle – the regular California that’s the subject of this review could easily perform double duty as the family car in most situations; the Grand California’s sheer size counts against it again here, but it may prove more flexible if you intend to do really lengthy road-trips rather than the occasional weekend of camping.