• Petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid options
• Effortless to drive
• Feels a bit top-heavy, though

Volkswagen California petrol engines

Volkswagen California is available with a 2.0-litre, turbocharged TSI petrol engine that produces 204hp and 320Nm of torque (pulling power). It powers the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox. We’ve not had the opportunity to test the California with this engine, but we know it to be a smooth, refined performer in other VW Group vehicles. VW quotes a respectable 0-62mph time of 10.0 seconds, but that’s offset by pretty poor fuel economy. It’s not available on the entry-level Beach trim.

Volkswagen California diesel engines

The California’s diesel engine – available with all trim packages – is a 2.0-litre TDI unit that produces 150hp and 360Nm of torque – less power but a bit more muscle than the petrol option. It also drives the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox. The 0-62mph sprint takes a comparative leisurely 12.6 seconds – both the Citroen Holidays and Mercedes Marco Polo are quicker.

Regardless of the numbers, the diesel California gets up to speed effortlessly and will happily sit at 70mph on UK motorways – or 80mph on the Continent. By comparison, the old T6 California’s commercial vehicle origins sound and feel quite obvious.

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The diesel’s a smooth and quiet engine too, with enough get-up-and-go in reserve for country road overtakes. The gearbox shifts seamlessly, though it can be a bit slow to react if you suddenly floor the throttle.

Volkswagen California plug-in hybrid

The new-for-2025 California eHybrid plug-in hybrid is unique among campervans – at least until the equivalent Ford Nugget arrives in 2026. We haven’t yet had the opportunity to test it, but we’ll do so as soon as possible and report what’s it like.

The eHybrid combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 100kW electric motor to produce a total of 245ps and 350Nm of torque. A six-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox sends the power to a 4Motion all-wheel drive system. VW hasn’t quoted any performance figures but, given it weighs about 2.6 tons, we don’t expect it to be much of a sprinter. However, the electric boost should make it feel pretty nippy off the line and reasonably responsive at higher speeds.  

We have tested other VW Group cars with this powertrain and found that it switches between petrol and electric power smoothly, but the gearbox can be a bit dopey.

Check out our Volkswagen California specs pages for the all the stats on every engine.

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What’s it like to drive?

• Feels like a car from behind the steering wheel
• Accurate, responsive steering
• Feels top-heavy in tight corners

It’s behind the wheel that you really start to feel the difference between the new California and its predecessor. The T6 was based on a van and, despite being quite good to drive by van standards, it ultimately feels a bit heavy and slow-witted. The T7 is based on the same MQB platform that underpins vast numbers of VW Group cars and it’s a massive improvement.

The T7 is actually an even bigger, heavier vehicle than the T6 but never feels like it. The steering is light but weights up nicely as speed increases, it feels responsive and takes the California where you point it. The vehicles leans quite a lot in corners, but in a controlled manner rather than flopping over. The ride is generally smooth, big bumps and holes thump through but don’t deflect the vehicle off course.

Add it all together and it’s possible to comfortably drive the California along a national limit country road at the same kind of speed you would a car. Only in tight bends does it start to feel top heavy, prompting you to slow down a bit more than you perhaps anticipated. The experience isn’t quite as engaging as in the Ford Nugget, and the Mercedes Marco Polo’s air suspension gives a smoother ride. But it’s orders of magnitude better than any Fiat Ducato-based camper and, again, a big improvement on the old T6 Cali. Despite the T7’s size, the accurate steering and panoramic view out take the stress out of narrow urban streets and country lanes. And it’s as stable as any large SUV when cruising down the motorway.